Hub (Jack) and I went for prenatal classes when I was pregnant with my elder girl as we knew nothing about caring for a baby. Breastfeeding was one of the topics shared during one of the sessions.
The speaker told me to examine my nipples to make sure that I did not have flat or inverted nipples. I always suspected that my nipples are flat but never really confirmed it.
I asked the speaker what would happen if I suspect that I have flat nipples and she suggested using a nipple puller to pull it out. However, I was not able to do it as I was already almost in my third trimester.
Image source: Serene Lim
Baby Not Latching: When And How The Issue Started
Sadly, I could not latch my baby girl immediately after birth. The midwife at the delivery suite was not able to provide any help too.
My girl was later pushed to the nursery room. The nurse came to me and suggested giving her Formula Milk as she was screaming inconsolably in the nursery. I agreed as I didn’t know what else I could do.
She was later transferred to Special Unit Care as she started vomiting and did not stop even after not having milk for seven hours. I tried to squeeze out the precious colostrum milk and collected it with syringes for her. And so, I did not manage to latch her in the hospital.
Back home, I kept trying to latch her and all I got was bristles on my nipples and a hungry screaming baby.
Baby Not Latching: Seeking Help From An Expert
I was desperate and remembered my neighbour mentioned a lactation consultant before. I asked her for the contact and got the lactation consultant to come for a house visit.
Sister Kang, the consultant came as soon as she could. My girl was already three-weeks-old then. Sister Kang said I should have contacted her earlier.
She tried to unclogged my engorged breasts and managed to successfully latch my girl. Jack and I were so happy celebrating that I forgot to try latching on my own before she left.
Image source: Serene Lim
Using Nipple Shields To Help Breastfeed
That night, I couldn’t latch my girl again and I had to call her for help. Sister Kang came a second time and she suggested using a nipple shield for a start as she also had some difficulties helping me to latch.
The nipple shield was a life saviour!
I started latching my girl for every feed. The only problem I had was I needed help to carry my baby as I put on the shield and that means I was not able to leave home alone with the baby.
After about a month, I plucked up my courage and ditched the shield and by then the nipples had been pulled out by my girl and I had no difficulty latching her at all!
Image source: Serene Lim
Second Baby Not Latching On As Well
I managed to breastfeed her till she was two-years-old and weaned her off as suggested by the doctor as I experienced blocked ducts. I got pregnant with my boy after I weaned her off.
I thought I was an expert in breastfeeding by now and I didn’t do any preparations. To my horror, my boy couldn’t latch again!
I kept trying to latch him and got help from the nurses but they couldn’t really help too. All they asked me to do was to keep latching and I did. I latched him for three hours and he still ended up crying for milk. I gave up and got the nurses to give him formula milk instead.
Coming Down With Mastitis
I got Jack to buy me some nipple shields thinking that it will solve the problem like how it did with my elder girl. I continued latching him with the nipple shield. It worked for a few days and then I was down with mastitis.
I had a fever and went to the doctor to get some medicines and I got Sister Kang to come again. She came to see me and helped to massage my breasts and then successfully latch on my boy with the need of nipple shields.
She told me not to use the shield as he was able to latch on his own and the shield actually affects the transfer of milk which resulted in block ducts. After her visit, Jack continued to help massage my breasts until the block ducts were cleared completely.
I was also able to latch my boy without the nipple shield.
I am still breastfeeding him and my goal is to breastfeed him till he is three-years-old (10 more months!).
Image source: Serene Lim
Tips For Other Mums Struggling Whose Babies Don’t Latch On
To all first time mummies who really wish to breastfeed like me, my advice to you is to practice latching on your own in the hospital before you go home and get all the help you need.
If for any reason that you are not able to do so, get a lactation consultant to see you as soon as you can. The start of the breastfeeding journey can be very tough but it will be all so worth it when we do it!
Everyone’s breastfeeding journey is different but I believe we all have the ability to do so! However, if it is causing too much stress on you then remember that “best is fed.’ All we want is for our babies to continue growing healthily.
Remember this! Happy mummy equals to happy baby! We have to take good care of ourselves before we can take care of our babies! Enjoy the journey!
This article was written by VIP Parent Serene Lim for theAsianparent.
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