Need advice - Won't open his mouth, just chomps

Hi,

Thought this whole BFing caper would be easy 2nd time round, I'm such an idiot :wall:.

Anyway, I can't seem to get DS2 to latch on properly to my left side, and I'm at the point where I can't even think about feeding him from that side without being in tears cos it's so painful, and I'm so frustrated. The problem seems to be that he won't open his mouth enough to take in the nipple, so just ends up chomping on the end, and after a couple of weeks of this I'm grazed, cracked & bleeding. On the odd occasion when he does open his mouth, he's fighting with his hands in the way, so by the time I co-ordinate keeping the hands still, the mouth closes again. I saw an LC yesterday back at the hsp, who was fantastic, and she managed to get him to latch on properly and it was a fantastic feed, but that was just one feed and I haven't been able to find that place again. I've tried alternating between football hold and the normal cross my chest but all that's done is to spread the problem right around the nipple. So, if anyone has any baby mouth opening tips, that would be fantastic...

I'll be back hun, have to go feed my own little one......but in the meantime, give the ABA helpline a call 1800 MUM2MUM :). You're doing a great job, hang in there, it will get better :hug:

Can you try wrapping his arms before you start?
Or try feeding lying down on your side with bub on his side - I found that at least meant I didn't have to worry abut bub falling anywhere while I sorted out hands and mouth and boob.
Also maybe try giving him the other side first every feed - sometimes until he's finished it, and other times just for a couple of minutes until he's got the hang of mouth-opening.
Sounds silly - but if you feed more often then he won't be as hungry and may be gentler too.
If you have to, keep getting help until it's OK.

I gather you've spoken to an ABA counsellor by now, that's great :D. A couple of things, just super-quickly....

*try the baby-led attachment, as you mentioned in your other thread

*if you are taking the lead with attachment, put some gentle pressure on the area between his shoulder blades, with the palm of your hand, this will encourage him to tip his head back and drop his lower jaw, therefore opening wide

*try feeding him in different positions - lying down, even standing up can be very helpful, strange as it sounds ;) It's worth a shot

*do you think there is the possibility that it is physically uncomfortable for him to open wide and attach correctly on the left side? Could he be a bit sore or tense after the birth? Some mums find that seeing a paediatric osteopath or chiropractor is very helpful. Maybe that's something to think about if the other suggestions you've been given are not improving the situation.

You are doing a great job hun :) I've no doubt that you and your boy will get past this issue and be breastfeeding very comfortably quite soon :D