Breastfeeding Issues

You know, I've never fully enjoyed breastfeeding.  Probably because not one single one of my kids has been very good at it in the beginning.  With Tanner, he just wouldn't latch on, so I had to use a shield with him.  I tried and tried with him to get it right, but he just never did get things right.  I ended getting three breast infections within 6 weeks.  After four months working with him, he was just getting the hang of it when I got pregnant with Spencer and my milk supply stopped.  So, at four months old Tanner went on a bottle. 

Then came Spencer.  Of all the boys, he did the best at first.  He too had issues at first latching on, so I used a shield with him for the first few weeks, but after that he was golden.  He ate really well, but he grew a lot really fast and by six months old, he needed more than what I was able to give him, so he too went on a bottle. 

Bennett came along and I thought things were great.  He was doing great at the hospital, but when we got him home, he had trouble latching on and he didn't eat for the first few days.  It was only by the grace of God that he ate a little bit one night that kept things going.  After losing almost a full pound the first few days, it was determined that because he had a jaw that wasn't quite up to snuff and it was recommended that he too use a shield.  After a month or so of that, however, he was good to go and he did the best as far as how long I nursed him.  I stopped nursing him at 9 months because I got pregnant with Wyatt and my milk supply stopped.

So here we have Wyatt a few weeks ago and he's had a strong suck from the get-go.  He did fabulously in the hospital with latching on.  I experienced some soreness, which I expected, but after we got home things started getting harder.  The soreness got really intense with every feeding.  After a few days of being home, we gave him a pacifier to calm him down.  That was a huge mistake!  From that point he has had issues latching on properly.  He's eating just fine, but his latch is not 100%.  I've been working with him to get it right, but I'm still really sore and I'm not sure why.  I feel that he and I are doing everything correctly, but I'm still in a lot of pain and he's still having issues latching on very good.  I've looked up different issues online and everything points to an incorrect latch.  But I don't feel that's the issue.  If it were an incorrect latch he wouldn't be getting enough to eat, right?  I just don't know what to do.  Wyatt has an appointment in a few weeks at the doctor's and while we're there I may speak with the lactation consultant.  She's really great.  I've dealt with her with the other boys, so she knows my issues, and 9 times out of 10 it's not me, it's the boys.  I'm almost positive that she's going to suggest using a shield because he has a shallow latch.  I don't know, I guess we'll just have to see. 

I just wish things were easier when it comes to nursing my kids.  It's always been a difficult thing in the beginning for me to deal with.  But I guess there could be worse things...