Breast Feeding - Why Doesn't My Baby Latch On?
Channel: DrLongVo
Date: 19/01/2012

http://SmileCentre.com/category/2x4-early-prevention/

My baby can't latch on during breast feeding.  What can I do?

Charlie: This is a difficult one, I know when my daughter first had our first grandchild and this one, this question that comes to us is: My baby can't latch on during breastfeeding, what can I do?

Dr. Long: That's a very...

Charlie: It's a sensitive one I know for a lot of mothers.

Dr. Long: Now obviously if your child cannot latch on, it's important for your child to get the nutrition and the food properly, so if they're not latching on you want to make sure it isn't affecting your child's growth. By seeing a dentist or even a doctor at that early stage we can determine if the tongue is tied down to the floor of the mouth and if it is, if it's an emergency and it needs to be dealt with at that time if it affects the nutrition of your child then perhaps we have to intervene and do the procedure, if there's other ways of feeding and we can keep an eye on it until a stage where the child will be strong enough for us to go ahead with the procedure and go ahead and free that tongue. It's not only the breastfeeding, it affects the speech and all that, it's the future right. It's important that as long as the nutrition is there, it's okay we have some time but if your child is unable to feed and doesn't get the nutrition for development  because at that stage the brain is developing, the body's developing. Nutrition is so important at that stage. If your child doesn't latch on, it is a priority; we need to find a way to feed your child.

Charlie: What you're raising, to me anyway as a new granddad watching my daughter go through this, is that it could be something with the baby, right?

Dr. Long: Yes.

Charlie: Which is where you're raising it from, that dental standpoint and that it may be something with the woman. My daughter happened to use a fairly inexpensive breast shield it went on top and the baby could then nurse directly from that and with my daughter it worked really, really well for her.

Dr. Long: Yes.

Charlie: So there is another part to that?

Dr. Long: Yes.

Dr. Marc: And Dr. Julie anything else we should know or to add to this issue here?

Dr. Julie: Latching is always an eternal constant issue when you become a mom for the first time. I remember there used to be nursing clinics, they would be teaching us proper technique but again just to have awareness there can sometimes be a condition related to the mouth that's preventing the baby to latch properly.

Dr. Marc: So it's important to get it checked?

Dr. Julie: Just have it checked. Make sure you consult your doctors and your physician because the most important thing is the baby. Is the baby gaining enough nutrition? If the baby does, we have time to look into to it, but just to bring awareness about it because I know my son didn't latch properly the first couple days, they thought he might have a tongue issue related to that. The nurse didn't know that we were dentists but I could see it clearly that the tongue was perfectly normal.

Dr. Marc: You had the advantage there.

Dr. Julie: The professional will know about this as well. If any doubts consult a physician and consult your dentist.


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There is WAY more interview on SmileCentre.com
Dr. Long Vo and Dr. Julie Dao are the heart and soul of Smile Centre Dental in Burlington, Ontario. If you have questions about your child's dental health, call for an appointment today:905.332.0330      


This video has one question and answer by Dr. Long Vo and Dr. Julie Dao when interviewed by Dr. Marc Kossmann and Charlie Seymour Jr of DentalTopDocLegends.com. Find more of the interview at http://SmileCentre.com/category/2x4-early-prevention/

To get YOUR questions answered or for a consultation or dental appointment, Burlington ON Dentist Dr. Long Vo can be reached at 905.332.0330      


My baby can't latch on during breast feeding.  What can I do?
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