Breastfeeding Help!!!! - Minneapolis,MN

I was bruised after 2 days, and that helped a lot. The lactation consultant at the hospital had me use breast shields while feeding. It trained him to open his mouth wider and I was able to ween off of the shields after maybe 3-5 weeks. She also had me do some things to relax his jaw, but I can't remember. Call the lactation consultant at the hospital if you have access. Good Luck!

I very strongly recommend consulting with a lactation consultant. There is an excellent one at Abbott Northwestern hospital. I worked with her for some early problems I was having and my daughter is now 11 months old and still breast feeding. Don't give up hope, it's amazing what some professional help can do. I was in tears before my first appointment and left with the tools and techniques I needed to make it work.

I had this happen a bit with my first daughter. The way I corrected was to let her get a bit more hungry...hence open mouth more...or she was crying and I'd "shove" the breast in when mouth was open. We successfully BF for 22 months. Be patient as it takes awhile sometimes :) The one thing I had to also do a few times was to express a bit of milk and give to her via a cup when she was super mad to calm her down and then continue to try until a wide open mouth....good luck!

Like it has already been mentioned, but it is so important !!! GET HELP! LaLecheLeague is a group I have belonged to for 4 years. I know our leaders are willing to get call in the middle of the night! Our daughter was tongue tied and to have that snipped made all the difference in the world for me. Ask specificaly for your Dr. to look for it, or your LLL leader, or a lactation consultant will also be able to tell you, if not tongue tied at least they are right there to help you get a good latch!

One of my kids tried that. I did 2 things about it. The first was just refuse to nurse until he opened his mouth wide enough and the second was to physically take my finger and open his mouth wide enough when he wanted to latch on. After only a few frustrating (to the baby, but less painful to me ) latch ons he got the clue.

Mom with 6 years of nursing babies :)

B.,
I'm sure you've already received tons of wonderful advice on this issue. One thing I remember from those first few days was having to literally shove my boob into my son's mouth. I thought it was really weird, but both my sister (a nursing pro with 4 kids) and the nurse insisted upon this. It helped my son learn a proper latch, and we were good to go. When they open up their little mouths like birds, you just have to shove that nipple all the way in!!
Good luck,
Amy K

So, your daughter is not able to put your entire nipple in her mouth?

Experiment with different positions. Try laying on your side with your daughter on her side, facing you. Try the "football" position.

There is a condition where baby's have some extra tissue under their tongue, and it prevents them from breastfeeding successfully. Correcting it is very minor--just snipping the tissue.

Whatever you try, I would suggest calling La Leche League, ASAP. Assuming you had a hospital delivery, call them. Most hospitals have some sort of breastfeeding support. My son had jaundice when he was born, so it was critical that he was breastfeeding properly from the start. At Children's Hospital in St. Paul, they actually watched me breastfeed to make sure we were both doing our parts right. ;-)

Good luck to you!

B. - you can definitely correct this! I hated the first few days of breastfeeding pretty much for this reason. I had taken a breastfeeding class at the hospital and the instructor made a big deal about getting proper latch on and making sure they had enough nipple/aereola in their mouth. So the first probably 2 weeks of nursing was really difficult - between breaking the latch and trying to get him to do it properly and just being tired and fed up and wanting it to work.

But - that being said - it did work and I was really glad later that I put the time into teaching him correctly. I even went back to the hospital's lactation consultant to have her watch us nurse and help me. It worked - we learned - and I've never had breast or nipple pain since (well, now that he's started pinching...)

Anyway, you can do it. It's hard and it's really frustrating (or it was for me). Lots of tears on my end. But worth it in the end and really glad I put the time into trying to get it right. You're doing great!

OH - and if you don't have a lactation consultant or a good breastfeeding book (La Leche League, Complete Book of Breastfeeding, Sears' Breastfeeding, or similar), here are the tips she gave me:
--use the pinky finger of the hand holding your breast to gently press on the baby's chin while you guide the breast into their mouth. it'll help them open their mouth more.
--open your mouth and use verbal cues like "wiiiide mouth, baby" or "oooopen wiiiiide" to demonstrate what you want them to do
--take the time to have them latch on properly to save pain and discomfort later
--make sure their chin and tip of their nose are touching your breast, really pull their head in as you guide the breast into their mouth
--make sure their lips are "everted" and not tucked in
--use some lanolin to get through the first stages to help tender skin

the Sears' Baby Book has a great illustration of correct vs incorrect positioning and a couple tips for trying different things. Another thing my lactation consultant said (although I know there are probably plenty of nursing mothers who would feel differently) - she said that breastfeeding should never hurt. You should never have pained nipples or bleeding or cracking. If it hurts, at all, something is wrong or the latch is wrong. I can't say if she's right or not, but it's something I kept in mind while learning nursing and, honestly, after the initial period, I really have had no pain at all.

GOOD LUCK! Sorry so lengthy.

If you also would like a free resource, I have a friend who is a Breastfeeding Peer Counselor...her name is Lynette Sawicky. Her email is ____@____.com.

I would also try the football position , that will help!! Also I would buy a breast shield that you can put overy our nipple that protects your nipples when the baby nurses!! I would also buy the Medela cold packs and you store them in the fridge when not in use, and after every feeding put them on there till the cold wears off. YOu could also try using Lanolin on your breasts you can put it on and the baby can still nurse and it wont hurt the baby. I had horrible tears in my nipples so I know xactly what you are going threw!! Let me know if I can be any more help!! I breast fed 3 babies and am still BF my third I hope that helps A.

She is so young, I think this can change. Have you tried rubbing your nipple against the edge of her cheek? This usually makes them have a reflex to open wider. Then put a lot of your nipple into her mouth. IF she only takes a little, or slides her mouth down, remove your nipple (make sure you use your finger to break the suction first- this prevents damage to the tissues) then try brushing her cheek again.

I had to do this with my daughter (who is now 8 months) and it only took a few days. Good luck!!!!

I also had a problem in the beginning with my baby not latching on properly. When my milk first came in they were engorged so much that he couldn't latch on well. So for the first week or two I would start by pumping just for about 2 minutes and this allowed him to latch on easier. After 2 or 3 weeks of practice we had no more problems with it and he latched on great and I nursed him exclusively for the first year. I hope this helps. Good luck!

I had similar problems. One thing that helped me was to meet with a lactation nurse at the local hospital where I delivered. This was free and very helpful. The same hospital also had a free breastfeeding support group once a week (similar to LLL, but much closer for me than any LLL meeting). I went to the support group every week I could when I was on maternity leave. There was a lactation nurse there, and it was a great chance to meet and bond with other breastfeeding moms, many who had similar problems! Good luck!

3 days old! i can't believe you have the energy to get on the computer...good for you! this should be correctable. my chiropractor helped me out with my baby. when the baby can't latch correctly, it's because they need an adjustment or some cranial sacral work done. it's not because you are doing anything wrong. it works miracles. i have 2 numbers if you need, i'd be happy to pass them on to you. you can do this and so can she! good luck:)

I see there are a ton of responses, and I didn't read them all so I'm sorry if I'm repeating. My daughter had the same problem and the lactation consultant showed me how I could gently push her bottom jaw down lower as I inserted my nipple further into her mouth. It worked like a charm! Good luck to you. I know it can be frustrating (my daughter had latch issues for the first 10 days), but it's well worth it if you can stick it out. And don't be afraid to consult a lactation consultant - they're the best!

Have you tried a nipple shield?? I know I used it for a while with my daughter and it helped... I don't think it was the same issue you are having, but it will at least help with the pain. I don't think the nipple shield is recommended for extended use, but I have heard of people using it for a while. At least to give your breast tissue a break! Hope you find the solution!!! I remember having those terrible thoughts of not being able to breast feed- I feel for you! The nipple shield really helped me, I just weaned her off of it after a week or two -like I said, just to give your breast tissue a break! Good luck and enjoy your new baby!!

#1. What ever decision you make about nursing or bottle feeding - it is ok and you are doing the best you can. Nursing truly doesn't work for everyone and that is OK.

Please call a La Leche League consultant to come to your home and help you. They are free!!! and totally supportive. I "gave up" nursing about 6 times with my daughter and I ended up nursing for 15 months!! I only nursed my oldest for 11 days due to having no clue, (and I'm a nurse) and no support.

You may need to use a breast shell to pull the nipple out, express manually or pump (you may be too engorged to get the nipple in her mouth), and you should be gripping your breast with the C-grip to put your nipple in her mouth. Your husband can help by gently pusing her bottom lip down just as you put the nipple in.
You need to expect that this is going to be one of the hardest things you will ever do (for about 6 weeks) but if you can stick with it, you will be so proud of what you have done for you and your baby.

The best book: The Breastfeeding Book by Dr. Sears - it was my bible. A lot of it is online. YOUR HUSBAND ABSOLUTELY MUST READ IT TOO! He can be your lactation consultant. :-))

If you are in the Sauk county area, I can recommend a few women who are either Lactation consultants or midwives who would come to you to help you.
TRY NOT TO STRESS ABOUT THIS. You will all get through it.

I had similar problems and the lactation consultant at the hospital gave me a nipple shield. It helped for a while but I was never told how to "wean" from it and ended up pumping exclusively with #1. You might want to pick one up and either research it online or call your hospital's lactation consultant. I saw them at babysrus but never looked anywhere else. In case you're wondering what it is it's a thin silicone "hat" looking thing that you invert and put on your nipple so it sucks the nipple into the top of the "hat". Just make sure your nipple is completely in. I'm sorry this is so candid. I hope you find a way to make it work. Whatever happens-you're a great mom for putting in the effort. Good luck!

I used a nipple shield for 4 months - it was great!! Don't let people scare you out of trying it. We had 2 issues. First, my daughter was not opening far enough-causing great pain for me and even blood blisters. Second, my nipple was not streaching far enough. Maybe that's called flat nipples, although they did stick out a little bit. I used the sheild for almost every feeding for about 4 months. I would try every now and then with out it, but to no avail. Then one day, it worked. Her mouth was big enough and I was, ummmm, more pliable. She nursed for 13 months. I also had a TON of milk, so after many of her feedings, I would pump what was left and freeze it. Bu the time I went back to work, 12 weeks post pordom, I had over 50 bags of milk in the freezer.

Buy the time my 2nd came along, he had no problems nursing. I think I used the shield for a dozen or so feedings, only when I would get sore. Even if they're nursing properly, you can still get a little sore now and then. As soon as I started to feel pretty uncomfortable, I would use the shield for a feeding or two and then go without again. There was no "nipple confusion."

Hi B.,

It can be very painful when your baby isn't latching properly. Don't let her eat unless she has that big mouthful of breast. Be very patient and wait until her mouth is open like a big yawn. Then gently and very quickly shove her on to your breast. There is a good chance that she will start crying before you see the mouth open big. This can be good. Crying means the mouth is open, that is a good time to put the baby on. Once she relizes the breast is in her mouth she will stop crying and start sucking (might take a few seconds). If she pulls off repeat the whole process.

Teaching your baby to do it the right way can be very stressful and frustrating. Try to be relaxed and patient.

It may be helpful to meet with a Laction Consultant who can watch you nurse your baby and help with the latch on. Contact the hospital you delivered at for a referal.

In the mean time, expose your nipples to air. You can also put fresh cabbage leaves in your bra, rub a little breastmilk on your nipples or try the lanoline ointment to help them heal.

Good luck, and remember you are being the best mom you can be.

Congrats on your new baby!

Call a local La Leche League or lactation consultant or other nearby source - today!

Look at your baby and open your mouth as you position to nurse, they copy what they see. Don't let her start nursing until she opens her mouth wide. Take your breast between your two fingers and put it in her mouth like a big mouthful, aiming toward the roof of her mouth. If the latch isn't correct, break the latch and try again. It will take some doing, just be patient and keep trying.

Don't despair, it will get better and is worth all the current troubles. She can correct this and especially since she is so young, she will be able to adapt.

Once we got through the first week, of the very same trouble, it was smooth sailing and I went on to tandem nurse my second baby and loved it!

Here is a great site that has great life long reasons to nurse and stick with it: www.lightlink.com/hilinda/Diane/breastorbottle.html

Hang in there, it gets better!

Good luck and congratulations!
J.

I had the same problem with my son. The MINUTE she opens her mouth you need to squeeze your breast and shove as much nto her mouth as possible. If she pushes it out until there is barely any in there, un-latch her and do it again. Don't give up! She will get it because she is hungry and she wants you to let her eat. Using this tecnique, my son very quickly started opening much wider and allowed more of the breast to be inserted into his mouth. I also think that once they feel how much stronger of a pull they can get by doing it this way it becomes not only easier for you, but also easier for them. Keep at it! Breast feedign is a wonderful thing!

You need to get a nipple shield. Both my boys were premies and I am convinced I could not have breast fed without the shield. It's supposed to be a temporary fix (although with my first child we used it for 6 months). There should be a lactation specialist at the hospital where you delivered who can give you a nipple shield. Otherwise, I think Target sells them. Good luck!

I agree w/Jennifer. I used a nipple shield with my first and it helped immensely! We only used it for about a week or so and then weaned her from it. It also helped her since she was soooo demanding and wanted milk instantly. After I got it sealed on, my DH would inject some formula into it w/ a syringe so that the very second my baby latched on and sucked she got some milk immediately. We laughed about it b/c it seemed so complicated at first, but once she got the hang of it it all worked out. GOod luck!

Try using a breast shield. They sell them at Walmart/Target by the breast feeding supplies. This is how I had to feed my daughter. They are not as big and they work.

Hi B.

With my son when he was crying was when he had his mouth open the biggest and that seemed to help and then he soon caught on to open his mouth bigger . What I found helped also is to hold him in the football hold to nurse . Good luck .

I suggest getting to a lactation consultant immediately. In the meantime, pump as many times a day as you can manage immediately after feeding to keep your supply up. Also, as soon as your baby latches on, break the latch and make her relatch. The second latch will be deeper.

Good luck! I had one breastfeeding experience that was very difficult, but the second went very well. You can do it if you get help NOW! :)

I had problems with one of my children also, he had a small mouth and me with large breasts. Try a nipple shield for a few weeks and then wean off the shield use. You can buy them at target and babies-r-us. The shield helps the baby latch on and get enough breast tissue without hurting you. It worked well for us.

Good luck!

Try asking your local hospital or clinic for the "nipple" that fits over your nipple, it is more like a bottle nipple.

I know this is so hard and frustrating. I have two daughters who breastfeed exclusivly for over a year and it took me quite a while to get them "good at it." My youngest daughter (18 mo. now) took 3 weeks to finally get the hang of it well. I sometimes even opened her little mouth with my fingers and tried to get her to latch properly then. If she wasn't on right, I would slip my finger in her mouth, break the latch and try again. EVENTUALLY she would get on well enough. It took much time, effort and tears but it was so worth it in the end. Stick with it if you can!!! You can also see if the hospital has a lactation consultant who could come out to your house and help.

I had some of the same problems it sounds like. The doctors gave me a nipple shield to use to help. You can buy these at target next to the breast pump stuff. I had to use one for three weeks and then after that my little one was able to do it on his own. I just signed on this mamasource and I know you had posted your question a long time ago so I hope you found something that worked by now and get to enjoy the experience. Other wise I would recommend trying the shield.

I think a few other said this, but push down on Baby's chin to get it to open wider. If you don't have a finger free to do this (I couldn't at first!) then get your husband or a close friend or family member to get in there and do it for you. Worked like a charm for me!

These first few days are tough - I remember feeling the same hopeless feelings. It actually was painful for me for quite a while (moneths), but I eventually got used to it and the other rewards far outweighed the pain. For some, it just might not be comfortable.

Best wishes to you! You're doing great!

A. C

If you haven't seen a lactation consultant, SEE ONE! They are available through the hospitals. Second, you can't keep feeding this way-it's not effective, and very painful! Make sure you pull the babe away and re-attach each time this happens. You really have to over-exaggerate the dropping of the bottom jaw before very quickly pulling the baby to the breast. After a few days of this they'll learn! Good luck!

I've heard this happens a lot b/c things (like the jaw) get out of whack during the birth process. I have hard that cranio-sacral therapy (like a baby chiropractor) works well and is not invasive. I took my baby to the chiropractor for other reasons (thought he had an ear infection) and it was a good experience. We went to Carla Bruenig. She is in St. Paul near Hamline Midway www.rootswellcare.com I think is her web site. She is good. Gentle manner. Best wishes and congratulations on your new baby!

First, be sure that the latch is correct. Both upper and lower lip of the baby must be flanged (turned outward) when latched. Have you looked at the frenulum under the tongue? A short frenulum will cause just the problem you are concerned about. Ask your pediatrician to clip it and the problem could be solved. The next step will be to work correcting the latch. Also, try the La Lache League web sight for more information.

I too would recommend the nipple shield. I used the Medela brand - got it at Target for about $5. The lactation consultant at the hospital gave me one too. It was the only way I could nurse my son without being in pain. It hurt for the first few seconds still but then was fine. Good luck and keep trying if you can. If you can't, don't beat yourself up over it. :)

I would contact Angel Phillips at ###-###-####. She is a cranial sacral therapist and doula and had wonderful success in getting my son to latch on correctly last winter. She is wonderful!!!

M.

I also had this problem with my first child and used a nipple sheild. You can find them at target / walmart, any store like that. It will also save on your breast tissue and reduce the pain. I had to use it again on my second child when they became cracked and bleading.
Good luck!

It can be corrected...I had this same issue with my son 5 years ago and after 3 months of pumping (and nursing him once a day) for his feedings, I was able to exclusively nurse him. It took some hard work and seeing a couple different lactation consultants, but in the end, he was breastfed until 15 months. I'd start with the lactation consultants at the hospital you delivered at (because they're free) and see if they're able to help. Mine didn't help and I ended up paying one to come to my home and help us...which was worth the price in the end.

I know how painful a bad latch can cause...I had blood blisters that were much more painful than any of my three deliveries! :)

I wish you the best and smooth nursing in the future. And in the meantime, check out the book "How My Breasts Saved the World"...a woman's humorous account of her nursing experience.

B.,
I had this problem too. I took my baby to the chiropractor and that helped a bit. Honestly, it took a good 8 weeks for us to be good at nursing and longer than that to heal. I would get in touch with your local La Leche League group if you can. The leaders are available to talk to you 24/7 and are really nice. We also saw a lactation consultant, but the support from La Leche League helped me most. Even if you have to pump a little now to get some relief, you can always try to reintroduce the breast later. For now though, get some help right away so maybe you can nip the latch problems in the bud.
Good luck!!
S.

I would use a breast shield only as a last resort, like there is nothing else taht works and you are so desperate that you can't do anything else last resort. Reason for this is that if you don't wean from the nipple shield properly and at the right time, your milk supply will suffer and baby will never learn to latch properly.

To get her to latch properly, hold your breast in a 'C' position, thumb on top of your breast and fingers on bottom, like how you would hold a cheeseburger. Use your nipple to rub her bottom lip, and when she turns with her mouth open, bring her to you, DO NOT lean down to her, lift her up to your breast. Use the bottom of your breast to push her jaw down, then lift her further to get the nipple in. You want to get your nipple pointed to the roof of her mouth, and get as much breast tissue in the bottom for her tongue as possible. This will take a bit of practice, but doing this will 'train' her to open wider, and it will also give you a good way to get more breast tissue in her mouth without resorting to relying on her to do it.

So do the 'C' hold, and when she opens wide use the bottom of your breast (by your fingers under there) to push her jaw down while you continue bringing her in to the breast all the way and getting the nipple in, and getting it pointed towards the roof of her mouth.

ANd yes, please find an IBCLC (Independent board certified lactation consultant) or contact La Leche League (online, in yourl ocal phone book) and get some help for somone to show you personally how to do this.

Its totally fixable, you just have to have someone tell or show you how to do it. She's only 3 days old, she is still learning too... babies are not born knowing how to nurse, they learn what you teach them so this is the time get your latch down.

that happened with me with my first son... (im now almost on son # 4 - due any day now!) in the hospital they had what they called a "nipple guard"??? it was basicly a thin piece of plastic that was shaped like a nipple, and had a hole in the tip that they placed over my breast and had baby latch onto that... it had something to do with me having "inverted" nipples? but it worked... also what works for me is to squeeze my breast behind the nipple so that it is more flat, and "shove" it in the babys mouth... it sounds harsh but not that bad... i tried to be all nicey nice before and couldnt get my boys to latch on correctly... so i got a little rougher and realized that it worked! i was always afraid i was going to gag them, but never did.... so maybe try the "nipple guard" thing, or try being a bit more forceful when you are latching baby on... otherwise get ahold of your local WIC office they should be able to help you too!

good luck to you!

Did your clinic give you a list of resources? You can call a lactation specialist or a nurse who will come to your house (usually they send out a nurse to follow up with you after having a baby). One of these people can actually help you get your baby to latch on properly. There is a trick to it. I know, I had a lot of pain with both kids sucking too hard. But these people can help. Also, know that even though it hurts for a couple weeks, it goes away. Your nipples toughen up and heal and then it's fine. You just have to get through that hard part. It gets better - I promise!!

Hi B.,
Congratulations on your new baby girl!! One idea I have to pass along that worked for me was this: talk to your local lactation nurse and ask for a "breast shield". It is a small, flexible soft plastic piece that fits over your nipple and allows the baby something to easily latch onto. I used it for several weeks- actually a few months and gradually weaned him off of using the breast shield and just nursing regularly from the breast. The shield has an elevated soft plastic nipple part that allows your milk to come through it but gives the baby something more "firm" to grasp on to and helps protect your sensitive breast tissue at the same time. :-)It was very easy to use and literally SAVED us when it came to being able to breastfeed. I hope this helps some. My best friend also used this for a much shorter time with her baby girl and it was a lifesaver for them as well. Hope this helps some. :-) Take care

Have you tried small round breast shields (kind of a clear silicone material)? I used them when I breastfed my daughter (although it's been quite a few years ago) and also bought some for a friend who was getting sore and/or cracked nipples. There is also cream you can put on your nipples if they're getting cracked. It would be a shame if you're not able to breastfeed if you want to - it can be a very wonderful experience for you both.

I didn't read all your responses so this might be a repeat. I just put my thumb on her chin and gently pulled downward if her mouth wasn't open far enough. If she latched on without enough skin in her mouth we would just do it again until the latch was right. Sometimes she got it on the first try and others it took a few tries, it eventually got easier.

I would strongly recommend contacting a Lactation Consultant. This happened to me, and the LC was very helpful - it was corrected. I used the LCs at Abbott. If you call Abbott, request the "Infant Feeding Program."

Congratulations on the new baby:)

I had the same problem. If you're not already, pinch your nipple and areola so that it is shaped similar to her mouth. Once my baby was on, I also gently pulled his lips open wider and more in the flanged shape.

I also used a nipple shield, and it very well may have saved my ability to nurse my son; but it also stressed me out! I used it for a couple of weeks, and then began each nursing by trying just my breast before the shield. Within a few weeks he was latching on better.

Good luck! The pain really does get better, but it may take longer than you think. I had some other BFing problems, but I would say that the pain mostly lasted six weeks (sharp pain at the begining of a feeding and not much past that), and after a couple of months we were both pros! My son is 13 mos, and we're down to 2 nursings a day; and I'm so glad that I stuck with it during the early (sometimes dark!) times of breastfeeding.

There is no modern evidence that "tongue-tied" even is significant. It is also a very old fashioned term for "short lingual frenum". Check with a lactaion consultant ASAP. Or le leche league in your area. Hang in there. It always gets better! Nipple sheilds work great. Lactation consultant will get you some.

My baby had big time latch issues partially due to the "tongue tie" he was born with (his father and grandfather also have them so I knew to look for it!!) It took me five days to convince the doctors at the German hospital where he was born to clip it off (SIMPLE procedure)so I had to use a nipple shield for a few weeks which was what I had to do to avoid excruciating pain. Then someone told me the baby will get used to that so I stopped using them and started helping him open his mouth wider by pulling down gently but firmly on his chin. It was a full 11 weeks before I could nurse him with no pain but I ended up being able to nurse him for 12 1/2 months and after 7 weeks he wouldn't even take a bottle of pumped milk! I have to admit I still have scars (ouch) but it was completely worth it. I invested in one of those nursing covers that has the collar so you can see the baby because it took both my hands to help him latch on and it was impossible to be discreet while latching him on in public and I'm a modest person. They sell them on Amazon.com and my friend sells them in her on-line etsy store...hers are even prettier. Enough rambling, I think a lactation consultant could also be very helpful...if my mom hadn't been an OB nurse whom I could call and cry with I might have quit nursing. Also, is there a La Leche league in your area? They have a wealth of knowlege.

B.,
Try a nipple shield. My son was born at 34 weeks and he had the same problem poor musclulature due to prematurity. It worked great for him. Good luck! Don't give up.

Of course try all the natural methods - pulling their chin down, showing your mouth open wide, teasing with the nipple and not letting them have it til they open real wide, relatching, etc. But all else failing, I too reccommend the nipple sheilds by Medela. I found mine at Target (I had one on each floor of the hosue in my nursing basket/location, and one in the diaper bag)- but they actually gave me my first one in the hospital - thank goodness. I had a c-section, and I have large breasts with pretty flat nipples, and she had such a tiny little mouth!

The nipple sheilds worked great for us, and we used them for BF for 4 months, then weaned off once my supply had regulated, my breasts had been gradually "broken in" and once she had gotten a little bigger/stronger/able to handle it. It did make nursing in public a near impossibility, a little too much of a "process" with the sheild and stuff, and I couldn't ever do it "discreetly".

That said, we bf almost exclusively (only doing pumped bottles once a day or less, so Daddy could get some snuggle time and so she would be used to it in case of my emergency abscence) we also used bottles and pacifiers by Mam/Sassy, and we never had a nipple confusion issue. After giving up the sheilds at 4 months, we continued to nurse without them until 9 months, still only one bottle a day for Daddy and her time, when I got pregnant again. She switched to bottles of formula with almost no issues!

Of course talk to a Lactation consultant if you have one readily available (there wasn't one to see in person in our area - it is better to see them in person - hard to get that kind of help over the phone) - however, don't let them discourage you more....sometimes, they can be SO zealous that they end up making you feel like you could never do it perfectly and you them give up. I have heard lots of horror stories about the nursing nazi types making you feel inferior if you need to use a nipple sheild or scaring parents out of using a pacifier or bottle EVER - that is wrong....you have to do what works for you to feed your baby....that means any combination of BF, formula, bottles, assistive devices, whatever works for you. Take any help you can get, but believe in yourself and stand up for your own opinion!

Good Luck!

jessie

P.S. I am due with our second in February, and I am going to try without the sheilds, BUT if there is a problem, I will not hesitate to use them - I think they saved me a lot of physical pain ( I never had a crack or a blister or mastitis- they were still a little sore, but nothing like I have heard about) and saved the baby alot of upset over not getting to eat well, too!

have you consulted the la leche league near you? sometimes you might not have a group in your specific area, i have to drive an hour to mine, but its GREAT! i HIGHLY recommend them. also you can ask your clinic for referrals to a lactation specialist or something. there IS HELP! and there are solutions! www.askdrsears.com might also have some suggestions. dr sears also has a book, the breastfeeding book, that is fantastic for information and trouble breastfeeding!!!

WAY TO GO MOM FOR BEING SO DETERMINED TO BREASTFEED YOUR CHILD, NO MATTER HOW YOU HAVE TO DO IT!!!! breast is best, and i want you to know that you are doing the awesomest job by doing what you've gotta do! :D
you've probably tried this, but maybe use your finger to push open her jaw while you are putting the breast in her mouth.

good luck and keep trying!

Have you tried a nipple shield? You can get them at Target or Babies r us. It helped us. Also- check with you doctor to find some breastfeeding support resources (or go online...). La Leche may be helpful a well. Good luck!