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amyable Forum All-Star
Joined: March 07 2005
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Posted: Oct 02 2007 at 6:59am | IP Logged
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Our new baby continues to struggle to learn to latch and nurse effectively. He is immediately agitated when we attempt to nurse, making latching even more difficult than it was days ago. We do eventually get a (shallow-ish) latch, but it can be over an hour of on again, off again trying with him shutting down in between. It's not like he finally "gets it" either, it just seems to be an accident that it worked that time.
Please pray that he learns that I'm not *trying* to torture him, that he calms down, opens his mouth wide for nursing, and puts his tongue down where it belongs instead of curled up near the roof of his mouth? Thank you so much ladies!!
__________________ Amy
mom of 5, ages 6-16, and happy wife of
The Highly Sensitive Homeschooler
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Ruth Forum All-Star
Joined: Nov 04 2006 Location: Virginia
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Posted: Oct 02 2007 at 7:01am | IP Logged
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I'm so sorry, Amy. I will pray for your intentions.
__________________ Ruth
mom to 7 miracles
My family blog
Loreto Rosaries
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KC in TX Forum All-Star
Joined: Aug 05 2005 Location: Texas
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Posted: Oct 02 2007 at 7:12am | IP Logged
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Praying for you, Amy.
__________________ KC,
wife to Ben (10/94),
Mama to LB ('98)
Michaela ('01)
Emma ('03)
Jordan ('05)
And, my 2 angels, Rose ('08) and Mark ('09)
The Cabbage Patch
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kingvozzo Forum All-Star
Joined: March 28 2005 Location: Maine
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Posted: Oct 02 2007 at 7:32am | IP Logged
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Praying things ease up, Amy.
__________________ Noreen
Wife to Ed
Mom to 4 great kids and 10 sweet ones in Our Lady's arms
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hylabrook1 Forum Moderator
Joined: July 09 2006
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Posted: Oct 02 2007 at 7:48am | IP Logged
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Prayers coming, Amy.
Peace,
Nancy
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LisaR Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 07 2005 Location: N/A
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Posted: Oct 02 2007 at 7:55am | IP Logged
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Amy, praying for you. Have you tried lying down to nurse? A few of my babies relaxed much better when side lying tummy to tummy up against me- and I relaxed as well!
Also, my lactation counsultant with baby number 5 (she was toungue tied- probably not your problem!!)said that our ni*ple area gets larger with each child, and that a tiny mouth and a large anatomy might be hard to establish good latch for awhile. That the baby has to "grow into" us.
probably TMI, but wanted to throw that out there.
Peace of Christ,
__________________ Lisa
dh Tim '92
Joseph 17
Paul 14
Thomas 11
Dominic 8
Maria Gianna 5
Isaac Vincent 9/21/10! and...
many little saints in heaven!
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JennGM Forum Moderator
Joined: Feb 07 2005 Location: Virginia
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Posted: Oct 02 2007 at 9:10am | IP Logged
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Amy, I'm praying for you. It's so hard to not get frustrated, which then the baby picks up...a vicious cycle.
Lisa's points about the baby's size vs. mommy is good. If you're very full, also, that can be harder to latch. I had this problem with my son, and I would pump a little to ease my discomfort a bit so we could latch.
Are you propping the baby up with a nursing pillow, so that you're not leaning over? How about Joanna's suggestin of rolling washcloths to put under the br**st?
If you can get a lactation consultant (the ones at the hospital might still be able to help...that was my experience). We had a certain way I held my br**st and help open my son's mouth for his tongue to lie flat and then insert. Complicated to write, but if someone could demonstrate visually it helps to "see" what you are doing.
Sorry...too much advice. I'm sure you are doing all that.
__________________ Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to & ds1 '03 & ds2 '07
Family in Feast and Feria
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Taffy Forum All-Star
Joined: April 05 2005 Location: Canada
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Posted: Oct 02 2007 at 9:35am | IP Logged
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Praying for you, Amy. Baby and I went through this very same problem very recently. She lost weight, developed jaundice (twice) and wasn't doing well at all so I resorted to exclusively pumping and feeding expressed milk via a bottle. All of the advice everyone has given sounds good, and I second what Lisa said - I was thinking the exact same thing while we were struggling.
I live in the middle of nowhere and have to travel a fair bit for access to a La Leche league consultant and the people I've already contacted are puzzled as to why my little one wouldn't latch on. So, in my case, exclusively pumping is the best I can do.
Praying for you, Amy, as someone who has been there very recently and wishes that breastfeeding was more successful...
__________________ Susan
Mom to 5 on earth and 1 in heaven
Susan's Soliloquy
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Caroline Forum All-Star
Joined: March 04 2006 Location: California
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Posted: Oct 02 2007 at 11:06am | IP Logged
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Praying for you Amy!
__________________ Devoted Wife to and Mama to three beautiful boys and another little boy due in September, and two beautiful souls in heaven
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DominaCaeli Forum All-Star
Joined: April 24 2007
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Posted: Oct 02 2007 at 11:08am | IP Logged
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Praying, Amy. I know that struggle too well.
__________________ Blessings,
Celeste
Joyous Lessons
Mommy to six: three boys (8, 4, newborn) and four girls (7, 5, 2, and 1)
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JennGM Forum Moderator
Joined: Feb 07 2005 Location: Virginia
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Posted: Oct 02 2007 at 11:15am | IP Logged
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Me again adding one more thought. You're probably already doing this, but when it's time to nurse, really try to go into a quiet, peaceful, cozy room, set up your "station" for your own relaxation and then proceed with the nursing. You don't need any extra distractions or stress.
__________________ Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to & ds1 '03 & ds2 '07
Family in Feast and Feria
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mary theresa Forum All-Star
Joined: Nov 08 2006 Location: N/A
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Posted: Oct 02 2007 at 12:18pm | IP Logged
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Praying for you Amy, that is really hard!
__________________ Mary Theresa
mother to 3 little girls --March '06, Dec '07 and Jan '10
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esperanza Forum All-Star
Joined: Aug 17 2005 Location: Virginia
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Posted: Oct 02 2007 at 12:24pm | IP Logged
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Praying for you , Amy.
__________________ In His Peace,
Tammy Gonzalez in VA
dh-Johnny
mom to Tara-'85, Noelle-'88, Jeremy-'91, Elizabeth-'93, Emma-'96, Dominic-'99, Gabriel-'01, Elijah-03
and Jacinta-06
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MaryM Board Moderator
Joined: Feb 11 2005 Location: Colorado
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Posted: Oct 02 2007 at 1:08pm | IP Logged
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Praying for you two and I'm going to PM you also.
__________________ Mary M. in Denver
Our Domestic Church
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Michaela Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 25 2005 Location: Washington
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Posted: Oct 02 2007 at 1:34pm | IP Logged
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Praying for you, Amy!
__________________ Michaela
Momma to Nicholas 16, Nathan 13, Olivia 13, Teresa 6, & Anthony 3
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stefoodie Forum Moderator
Joined: Feb 17 2005 Location: Ohio
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Posted: Oct 02 2007 at 1:36pm | IP Logged
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Praying, Amy!
__________________ stef
mom to five
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amyable Forum All-Star
Joined: March 07 2005
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Posted: Oct 02 2007 at 2:31pm | IP Logged
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Ladies, your prayers are nothing short of miraculous!!
Your advice is great too - and honestly I had been doing much of what you suggested already, which is why it was doubly frustrating that it wasn't working!
But ever since the very first nursing after posting this prayer request, he has gone from an hour of screaming at me, to *maybe* needing 5 minutes tops to latch on, and most times have been on the 3rd or 4th attempt. (so like a minute or two). Miraculous, really, as I didn't do anything different other than ask for prayers here. It is still not a great, deep latch, but none of my 5 babies has ever latched deeply until their mouth grew a bit, so I am not worried about that part.
Thank you all from the bottom of my heart for your prayers -- keep 'em coming so that today isn't a one time fluke!
__________________ Amy
mom of 5, ages 6-16, and happy wife of
The Highly Sensitive Homeschooler
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jdostalik Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 15 2005 Location: Texas
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Posted: Oct 02 2007 at 3:43pm | IP Logged
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Praying to Our Lady of La Leche for you and your sweet little guy--what encouraging news!
__________________ God Bless,
Jennifer in TX
wife to Bill, mom to six here on earth and eight in heaven.
Let the Little Ones Come
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Angel Forum All-Star
Joined: April 22 2006
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Posted: Oct 02 2007 at 4:34pm | IP Logged
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just seeing this, Amy -- hope the improvement continues!!!
--Angela
Three Plus Two
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Chari Forum Moderator
Joined: Jan 28 2005 Location: California
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Posted: Oct 02 2007 at 9:44pm | IP Logged
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Got you covered, Amy! And you, too, Susan! God bless you both abundantly for working so hard for your babies.
__________________ Chari...Take Up & Read
Dh Marty 27yrs...3 lovely maidens: Anne 24, Sarah 20 & Maddelyn 17 and 3 chivalrous sons: Matthew 22, Garrett 16 & Malachy 11
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