How can i get my 3 week old to open wide to come to breast?

Question

also, sometimes her lips dont curl out like they should.

Answer 1

It may be working for now, but you may notice that the "incorrect" will cause nipple pain later.  Do your best to get her on correctly.  All the suggestions that have been given are great. . .tickle her chin, rub your nipple on her mouth, try to express milk on her lips, etc.

Answer 2

Aim at her nose and it helps to express a drop or too to entice her, as soon as she opens wide then latch her immediately before she closes again.  Soon you won't have to entice her, she'll just know to open.  My baby doesn't flange her lips like fish lips either but still has a good latch.  If she isn't flanging her lips out and you have nipple pain then re-latch - no pain then don't worry about it, just make sure she is taking most of the aereola in her mouth.

Answer 3

if its not hurting you and shes getting milk and has the right amount of wet/dirty diapers, its all good.  

Answer 4

If it works it works.  Not all babies lips curl out all the time.

Is she pooping and gaining enough?

PS at three weeks should should really be latching herself on, you shouldn't have to wait for the wide mouth anymore (really you never do if you let the baby nurse immediately after birth)

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/start/basics/...

Latching and Positioning Resources

No matter what latch and positioning look like, the true measure is in the answers to these two questions:

   1. Is it effective?

   2. Is it comfortable?

Even if latch and positioning look perfect (and, yes, even if a lactation consultant told you they were fine), pain and/or ineffective milk transfer indicate that there is a problem somewhere, and the first suspect is ineffective latch/positioning.

If baby is transferring milk and gaining weight well, and mom is not hurting, then latch and positioning are - by definition - good, even if it's nothing like the "textbook" latch and positioning that you've seen in books.

Answer 5

Try holding your breast and tickling her lips with your nipple.

Answer 6

well the way I did is was take my breast adn go from the very bottom of his nose to his lip, then he opend SUPER WIDE and you let her latch. when my son didnt latch just right I would put my pinky in there and correct his lips tomake them the "duck lip" like they are suppost to.

also make sure baby is awak, undresss her or rub her back if she wont wake up, baby and you should be skin to skin anyway erly to establish good breastfeeding.

cosult ur local lactation specialist if you still can get her to latch properly, it will hurt TERRIBLY if shes not.

Good luck!

Answer 7

It really helps to open your own mouth wide and demonstrate for her.  In the book "Your Amazing Newborn" (Klaus and Klaus), you can see pictures and read stories of newborns imitating all kinds of facial expressions.

It helps to kind of tickle her lips with the tip of your nipple.  Sometimes that activates their rooting reflex and then they remember what to do.

If baby's upper lip is tucked under, it should be fine.  If her lower lip is tucked in, use your own finger to flip it out while baby is latched on.

I don't have textbook b*****s, and it took me a long time to figure out that of course my baby doesn't look like the pictures on the books!  I don't have b*****s that are shaped anything like those women.  It's OK to have a lactation consultant check your latch, even if you think that everything is going well.

Answer 8

Open her mouth for her -- gently of course.  Take your thumb and put it in her mouth, cupping your other fingers under her chin.  Gently pull her chin down, and then quickly press her mouth to your breast.  Once she's there, manually make sure her lips are out.  If you do this every time, she should get the idea and start doing it on her own.  

Answer 9

Have you spoken with a lactation specialist? Sometimes you can use your thumb or forefinger to help open her mouth and lead her to your nipple. It is ok as long as she's getting milk, but it could very well lead to dry, cracked, and painful nipples. But you need to do what's working for now, and keep encouraging her to latch better. If she's better latched, it'll be easier for her, and it could save you some future pains. I would speak with a lactation specialist for more tips though. I hope that helps. =)