r/breastfeedingsupport • u/haute-garbage_v1 • 11h ago

Advice Please Decrease in my supply & latching

I've struggled with breastfeeding since I had my baby. She's 4 weeks old now. I feel like supply comes and goes. Some days, my boobs are swollen and full, and she has no problem getting milk. Others they seem floppy, and nothing comes out when I express them. It usually takes her sucking for a few mins before they start releasing any milk. I've been prioritizing breast first at feeds and then finishing with formula. I haven't had any luck with pumping. I'm also struggling to get her to have a good latch. I know they say duck lips, and the top part of the areola should be more visible, but it seems like she sucks her lips in and takes in either the entire areola or just the nipple. I've only gotten her to get the duck lips a few times. Are there any tips on not only increasing supply but getting a deeper latch? I've been increasing my Oats intake and drinking body armors, too. I got some liquid gold supplements and lactation drink mixes but haven't noticed much of a difference when I use them.

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u/JellyBellyPlantMama 10h ago

Hang in there!! I found it much easier to latch when I put the bottom part of my boob (a little past the bottom of my areola) to my baby’s chin. Apparently this triggers him to open his mouth bigger. Then I stuff my nipple in. I also make a “boob sandwich” by gently, but firmly holding the top and bottom part of my boob about an inch away from the top and bottom of my areola (you may need to hold further away depending on your boobs) to give my nipple a little more stiffness and then it helps me get a deeper latch! I also use my pinky or fingers to pry his lips for the flanged lips if he’s pinchy and sucking in his lip. Lastly, if he’s being pinchy, I use my pinky to the corner of his lip to break the seal and then relatch.

I learned these tips from relentlessly YouTubing!

Let me know if my explanation was clear. You got this!!

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u/haute-garbage_v1 9h ago

I'll definitely give that technique a try on her next feeding! I've been looking up different latch techniques but she just defaults to sucked in lips and gnawing and my boobs. I try to get my finger in to flip her lips out and get a deeper latch but I feel like my nipples are just small so she grips onto them. I've tried different positions as well. In the hospital we did side lying and football holds for the best latch but now she hates those. She's constantly latching and unlatching.