A good latch is the foundation of comfortable, effective breastfeeding — and it is the most common reason families reach out in the first days. More than half of first-time mothers report some feeding difficulty by day three. You are not doing it wrong; you are both learning.
Signs it’s worth getting help
- Pain that lasts beyond the first few seconds of a feed
- Clicking sounds, or baby repeatedly coming off the breast
- Feeds that regularly last longer than an hour, or baby seems hungry straight after
- A flattened or “lipstick-shaped” nipple when baby comes off
- A very sleepy baby who is hard to keep feeding
What we’ll do together
I watch a full feed, look at how you and your baby fit together, and assess your baby’s mouth, suck and tongue movement. As a pediatrician, I also check for anything medical that can affect feeding — jaundice, tone, prematurity or a tongue restriction. You leave with positions that work for your bodies and a clear, written plan.
When it can’t wait
Contact your pediatrician or the on-call service the same day if your baby has fewer than 5–6 wet nappies a day after day 5, is very sleepy and hard to wake for feeds, looks increasingly yellow, or has dark urine. In an emergency call 112.
Written by Dr. [Name Surname]. General information only — not a substitute for an individual consultation.