Nursing Joshua
Without the shield, Joshua would already be weaned.
Joshua is not a small baby – according to our bathroom scales, he is already over fifteen pounds and he is only eight weeks old. He also puts weight on like a champ, averaging an ounce and a half a day, well over the half an ounce average. So you’d think he was a nursing pro, right? Wrong!!!
Joshua is my least favorite nursing baby to date. Nathan was a pill as well, but only for the first few days. Emily was a dream from the first nurse. Joshua was lousy from the beginning and has never really improved.
Joshua’s basic problem is that he has a terrible latch, and he refuses to be taught how to latch on properly. Part of it is that he’s a stinker, and but I think the other part is due to his chin and bottom lip. They just aren’t made for nursing. There are a number of problems associated with a bad latch. For starters, it really, really, really hurts when he nurses. He also doesn’t get enough milk so he is always hungry (not that he isn’t already…). Additionally, a bad latch might not provide me with enough stimulation to maintain my milk production, so I could have a decrease in my milk.
To get around his bad latch, I’ve been using a shield to help. No more pain! And he gets enough milk. The only problem with the shield (other than having to deal with it) is that some research has indicated that the shield can negatively affect milk production. If you use the shield, you should also pump several times a day to keep up production. So several times a day, I get to use my trusty breastpump.
Dealing with his bad latch is a bit of a pain, but it seems to be working. He is also a distracted nurser – it takes him forever. At least I know he’s certainly getting enough to eat. There’s no way a kid with those cheeks could be under-nourished.
How are your experiences with nursing going?
