How To Get A Deep Latch With Small Mouth
So you've got a little baby with a teeny, tiny mouth and you're trying to breastfeed.
Fear not, my friend! It's all about getting that deep latch. But how, you ask?
Well, I've got some tips that'll make your baby's mouth open wider than a hungry hippo at a buffet.
Here are a few tricks to get a deep latch if your baby has a small mouth. The trick is to get your baby to open wide.
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Deep Latch vs Shallow Latch
Picture this: Your baby's mouth is like a little suction cup, and your nipple is the prize they're trying to latch onto.
But it's not just about getting ahold of the nipple - oh no, we're aiming for a DEEP, meaningful latch here. We're talking about the baby getting a mouthful of not just the nipple, but the entire dark, mysterious areola surrounding it.
And the nipple? It's back inside their mouth, safe and sound, like a cozy little cave. Think of it like a soft, squishy pillow for your baby's hungry mouth. Now that's what we call a good latch!
A shallow latch, on the other hand, is like when your baby is just nibbling on the tip of your nip, which can lead to some major boobie trauma.
Deep Latch Checklist
NOTE: If your baby is a preemie or needs extra assistance because deep latch techniques don’t work, a small nipple shield may be used with the assistance of an IBCLC. A nipple shield is a thin, silicon cover for the nipple and areola that provides more structure for the baby.
Get Into Latching Position
Tuck that little cutie-pie close to you and straighten up that spine of yours (no slouching allowed!).
Next, get up close and personal with your baby by snuggling them tummy-to-tummy and facing them towards you (yes, you'll be looking into those adorable eyes of theirs!)
Gently hold their head behind their ears and tip it up just a tad (you want to give them the best view of those milk-makers of yours!).
Bring baby to the breast (not the other way around, ladies!)
Initiate The Latch
Do the “sandwich hold” with your breast. Slightly squeeze breast between thumb and fingers with your fingers placed flat on the chest wall and your thumb pointing up. (You can let go of breast once baby latches)
Lightly brush your nipple against their lips until they yawn like a lion ready for a nap. Once they’ve got that big ol’ yawn going, bring them to the boob and position them so that their chin is making contact with your breast first.
Now, grab the back of your baby's head (gently, of course) and tip it back so their top lip can brush against your nipple. It's like playing a game of chicken - you wait until they open their mouth wide enough, then BAM! You swoop in and bring them to your breast.
Once your baby's mouth is wide open, it's time to swoop in for the feed. Tilt their head back a bit and guide them towards your breast. Make sure their chin is leading the way - we don't want any nose-dives here!
And aim that nipple like a pro, placing it between their nose and top lip while giving their lower lip plenty of room to wiggle around and draw out all that precious milk.
Assess the latch-on
Check that baby’s chin is touching breast
Check for some flanged lips and a whopping 140 degree mouth opening - the bigger the better for a mouthful of areola!
Off-center latch, not a bulls-eye centered latch (baby’s lower jaw is far below the nipple and you see more of the areola above your baby's top lip than below their bottom lip)
Baby's cheeks look full and rounded as they feed; You can see and hear regular sucking and swallowing
No ouchies allowed! Only a deep pulling sensation will do.
NOTE: Most importantly, make sure your nipples aren't in pain. If they are, call in the big guns (an IBCLC) to help you out. Find an IBCLC near you.
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