What you weren’t told about baby’s feeding and having forceps or a vacuum during delivery

Forceps or vacuum extraction can create pressure on the baby’s:

• Skull (which is still soft and moldable)
• Neck and shoulders
• Jaw and facial nerves

This tension can show up as:

• Trouble turning their head equally both ways
• Difficulty latching or staying latched
• Preference for one breast
• Clicking sounds while feeding (from a shallow latch or trouble sealing)
• Fussiness when being positioned or touched around the head/neck

👉 Think of it like a sore neck after a tough night’s sleep — only your baby can’t say, “Hey, my jaw’s tight!”

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👅 2. Oral Motor Challenges

Sometimes, these babies have trouble:

• Coordinating suck-swallow-breathe rhythms
• Generating strong suction
• Elevating their tongue well enough to transfer milK

Even without a tongue tie, the muscles can be restricted or compensating, and that can look like:

• Shallow latch
• Falling asleep at the breast quickly (fatigue from working inefficiently)
• Slow weight gain
• Long or very frequent feeds

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🌀 3. Overstimulation or Nervous System Stress

Vacuum/forceps delivery can feel intense for baby. Afterwards, they might be:

• More sensitive to touch
• Startling easily or seeming jittery
• Hard to settle or arching during feeds

This could be a sign of a stressed or disorganized nervous system, which can make feeding more difficult — even if baby has the skills.

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🫶 What Can Help?

If you’re seeing any of the signs above, here are a few supportive strategies:

👶 Lactation Support

Someone skilled in assessing function (not just weight gain!) can help adjust latch, positions, or recommend exercises to support baby’s oral skills.

🤲 Bodywork

Gentle therapies like:

• Pediatric chiropractic care
• Craniosacral therapy (CST)
• Physical therapy

can release tension and improve mobility in the jaw, neck, and whole body.

(Always choose providers with specific experience in newborns!)

⏳ Time and Patience

Sometimes the best support is also just slowing down, offering skin-to-skin, and following baby’s cues without rushing or forcing.

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💡 Real Talk:

You didn’t do anything wrong if your birth included forceps or a vacuum. These tools are often necessary, and thank goodness they exist. But it’s also okay to acknowledge that they can leave lingering effects — and you deserve support for that.