Shallow Latch Breastfeeding: Causes, Symptoms, and Cures

Shallow latch breastfeeding is a common issue for new moms who want to latch their babies on properly. It can be frustrating and cause many sleepless nights, but it’s not a life-threatening ailment like some other common issues with newborns. In fact, there are ways you can tackle this problem easily to help your baby get the best possible start in life. If your baby isn’t latching on properly, or if he is struggling with it and not getting any milk whatsoever, then your baby may have a shallow latch. This article will explain everything you need to know about shallow latch breastfeeding and how you can fix it at home without the help of a professional.

What is Shallow Laid Breastfeeding?

A shallow latch refers to when the baby’s mouth doesn’t fully meet the breast, or when your breast is not as high up in the baby’s mouth as it could be. It’s possible to have a shallow latch if your baby is one of the following: 

• A premature baby: Breastmilk isn’t ready for a premature baby to eat, which means the baby has to suck the milk directly from your breast with no room for the nipple to work properly. 
• A low birth weight baby: When your baby is born relatively low birth weight, then it’s harder for her to open her mouth wide enough to attach correctly to your breast. 
• A baby with swallowing issues: If your baby has some breathing or swallowing issues, then she may have a shallow latch because she doesn’t have the strength to suck strongly.

When you have a shallow latch, it means that your baby is sucking on the breast very lightly. This type of latch is great for the baby because it can suck a lot more efficiently than if they are sucking on the breast full force. This is a great way to get the milk flowing and help your little one build up an appetite. If you have a shallow latch, you’ll notice that the milk flows a lot more easily. This means that your baby can feed more often throughout the day, which is great for her development.

Signs Of Shallow Latch Breastfeeding

If your baby doesn’t latch on very well, then you may notice that he isn’t getting much milk from the breast. If he isn’t getting enough milk, then he may have a little bit of diarrhea, get a little cranky, or have some other mild symptoms. There are a few things that can indicate a shallow latch. The first is that your baby isn’t getting any milk at all, even when she latches on properly. Another sign is if your baby seems to be sucking only every few minutes and isn’t getting very much from the feed.

How To Fix A Shallow Latch

There are a few things that you can do to help your baby get a better latch and increase the amount of milk he’s receiving. First, make sure that your nipples are the right size for your baby. The nipple should be wide enough to fit around your baby’s mouth and allow him to latch on.

Steps Toward More Efficient Feeding

When you have a shallow latch, your baby is sucking lightly on the breast. This decreases the pressure in your milk, so it flows more easily. Here are a few things that you can do to increase the pressure and make your milk flow more easily.

• Invest in a good nursing bra: A good nursing bra will help you keep your milk flowing and help your milk stay in your breast longer. Without a good bra, you may not be able to keep your milk in your breast as long as you need to.
• Invest in a good nursing pillow: A good nursing pillow will help keep your breast higher in your baby’s mouth, allowing her to suck more strongly and receive more milk. Without a good pillow, your breast may end up lower in the baby’s mouth and she’ll suck less. 
• Invest in nipple cream: If you notice that your nipples are cracked and dry, then you can put some nipple cream on them to help with the pressure.
• Invest in an efficient pumping system: While you may think that you don’t need a pump, it can help you get more milk for your baby and save you a lot of time.

Conclusion

Newborns often have trouble latching on to the breast. It can be frustrating, but it’s not dangerous or life-threatening. With a few tips and tricks, you can tackle this problem easily and help your baby get the best possible start in life. Keep in mind that most newborns will have a shallow latch at some point in their first few weeks of life, and it’s not a cause for concern. If your baby isn’t latching on properly, or if he is struggling with it and not getting any milk whatsoever, then your baby may have a shallow latch. There are a few things that you can do to help your baby get a better latch and increase the amount of milk he’s receiving.