First Latch trick

layna · Apr 27, 2003

Most of you know that it is best to initiate breast feeding within the first hour after delivery. I have to share a trick that I learned which has been increasing first latch success in my patients. I always assess the baby's suck first. If the suck is uncoordinated or sluggish, I do a minute or so of suck training before putting the baby to breast. I then assist the mom in expressing colostrum to further entice the baby to latch. This has been working really well. I thought that I would share this. Any more tips out there?

Ms.Hobbes · Apr 27, 2003

They have done a lot of studies that say not to bathe the baby right away because the scent of amniotic fluid on their skin reminds them of their mother and these babies have a tendency to want to suck more agressively. So when I dry them off I make sure to leave their hands alone. I also stimulate their suck, if needed. I find if we can get the babies to nurse in that first hour after birth, which can be a little hard at times, seems to increase their overall success rate. I always love to hear new tips because there are always those babies out there that could take a great deal longer to begin sucessfully nursing.

Ms.Hobbes · Apr 27, 2003

They have done a lot of studies that say not to bathe the baby right away because the scent of amniotic fluid on their skin reminds them of their mother and these babies have a tendency to want to suck more agressively. So when I dry them off I make sure to leave their hands alone. I also stimulate their suck, if needed. I find if we can get the babies to nurse in that first hour after birth, which can be a little hard at times, seems to increase their overall success rate. I always love to hear new tips because there are always those babies out there that could take a great deal longer to begin sucessfully nursing.

mother/babyRN, RN · May 5, 2003

Good ideas although I have noticed that babies often nurse right away and then seem sleepy. I remind the patients that babies don't often really "wake" up for 24 hours so not to worry.. Also, many moms who receive a lot of fluids during pit inductions or extended labors have babies who seem to lose a lot of weight really quickly which is mostly indicative of the fluid on board than the breast feeding...Some drops of glucose water on the nipple do help if mom isn't producing a lot of colostrum right away, and a syringe attached to a 10 french feeding tube that goes along the breast into the infant mouth ( with colostrum, breastmilk and occasionally formula for severely dehydrated infants), to facilitate a latch and sucking....Lots of things one can do....

missvalerie · May 5, 2003

I am 30 years old and a mother of six, including twins...the thing I find most common about BF is that the mother is tired, tense, frightened and excited all at the same time! I'm sorry but whoever started the phrase "motherly instincts" is out of their natural mind. Learning to BF my first child, was very uncomfortable - I had a nurse that was the BF educator that didn't have children, trying to show me what to do. I got frustrated and cried. I was more comfortable just baby and me. BF number 2 and 3 was no problem. My twins were another story... the best thing my doc did for me was order me a electric pump for both breasts the day before my c-section. This helped me prepare to feed BOTH of my babies. When I left the hospital I

didn't need to pump and was able to keep up with my babies. This is a great thing for mothers that want to try BF...it gives them and idea of the sucking, pulling motion that occurs when BF. Making it more familiar when the baby latches on. Good luck!

mother/babyRN, RN · May 8, 2003

Pumping doesn't always work that quickly and probably did for you because you were not a primip. Glad it worked though.