Mumsnet Discussions - 2 month old suddenly having trouble with right breast - help!

Start new thread within this topic | Watch this thread | Flip this thread |

This is page 1 of 2 (This thread has 15 messages.) First | Previous | Next | Last Go to page

2 month old suddenly having trouble with right breast - help!

(15 Posts)

By Fri 03-Jul-09 12:18:07 Add message | Report | Contact poster

Hi

My 2 month old has always fed better from my left breast - somehow we can't get the position quite right on the right. I expected it to get better with time but in the last few days, she's had real trouble feeding from my right. She latches on and gulps down the watery milk, then as soon as the flow slows down she comes off, arching her back, then latches on again for just one sip, then comes off again. This coming on and off continues for a while until she starts crying. I try to reposition her, she latches on again, then cries again, and eventually we both give up. It's not wind as she's not a windy baby, and she doesn't have any problems feeding from the left.

I am now worried that since my right breast never seems to get emptied properly, I'll develop mastitis / other problems... I am planning to go to a breast feeding clinic next week so someone can help me with the positioning, but in the meantime, has anyone got any ideas what I might do differently? And, WILL we run into more problems if the breast doesn't get emptied properly?

Thanks everyone!

Add message | Report | Contact poster By Sun 05-Jul-09 20:45:54

Hey Schulte!

DD1 always had a preference for one side from birth and then eventually refused the other side altogether. The only thing that sorted her out was cranial osteopathy. It worked really quickly and she didn't need many sessions. I only tried it because 3 BF counsellors suggested it. I can tell you more about it if you want but I have to go and change B's bum now.

Add message | Report | Contact poster By Sun 05-Jul-09 08:41:40

All they do is to gently touch the neck down the sides, and move their fingers around a little bit to see what's there. If there's a knot or bump, it will present as a minor asymmmetry, and you just gently massage that spot once a day with your fingertips very lightly until it relaxes. It's very easy and tbh you could probably do this for her yourself.

Add message | Report | Contact poster By Sat 04-Jul-09 21:49:57

I'm glad it was a better feeding day for you schulte. Long may it continue! grin

Add message | Report | Contact poster By Sat 04-Jul-09 21:06:41

Yes Boff I was wondering about that, she definitely prefers turning her head to the right so that makes sense. Sadly DH doesn't believe in cranial osteopathy and the likes. i.e. I am not allowed to take her shock

BUT feeding went much better today so maybe she just had a few bad days <hopeful>

Add message | Report | Contact poster By Fri 03-Jul-09 21:52:19

You could also try taking her to a chiropractor, because sometimes there is very minor tension in the neck on one side, and this can affect the latch. An osteopath might be another option.

Add message | Report | Contact poster By Fri 03-Jul-09 20:31:44

Hia, I have a simalar problem with my 5 month old, she will only feed properly from the left side and I have gone really lopsided! Have you tried breast compression? I spoke to nct counsellor and she said that sometimes babies dont want to make the effort to feed after the initial flow. Breast compression helps keep the flow going so they can get the milk quicker. I tried it today and it does seem to work.
You hold your breast with your thumb on one side and fingers on the other and hold pressure while your baby suckles. If they dont then you move your hand either clockwise or anti-clockwise and apply pressure again. Good luck!

Add message | Report | Contact poster By Fri 03-Jul-09 17:38:27

Have tried rugby ball but to no avail. She's fine as long as I am in my armchair, with a pillow on my lap. But I can't take armchair and pillow with me wherever I go hmm

Gosh I didn't know you could feed from one side only - how long did she do that for?

Add message | Report | Contact poster By Fri 03-Jul-09 16:02:29

Hi Schulte! Have you tried a different position, like rugby ball? Orbit and DS1 both prefer that position on the right hand side, not sure why, maybe the nipple is tilted slightly? Orbit will occasionally feed on the RH side in the normal position, but he tends to do that bobbing on and off thing and be hard to settle onto it.

You could always pump on that side until you see the bf counsellor to keep up supply. Worst case scenario, my sister only ever fed her third child on the left hand side and gave up on her right completely, it was too tricky. She had small boobs though so didn't look too lopsided! grin

Add message | Report | Contact poster By Fri 03-Jul-09 14:43:10

Hi Schulte!

DS prefers feeding from my right boob and makes a complete fuss sometimes about latching on to my left (no idea why). Sometimes he completely refuses it. I was nearly at the point of giving up with that side when I decided to try a nipple shield.

Don't ask me why, but he latched straight away! grin

After a few sucks I sneakily whipped away the shield and popped my nipple in.

Works every time!! smile

Add message | Report | Contact poster By Fri 03-Jul-09 13:46:25

hmm, reading the OP again maybe it's not because of the letdown.

I find that my DD does this as well. not on one particular side though. If she's coming off and on and fussing a lot I usually take her off. sometimes I'll give her my little finger to suck until she's calmed down a bit then try again.

cfc - yours does sounds like a letdown issue. Try taking your DS off and letting the milk shoot into a muslin or cloth (or cup - it's a great way to easily collect milk!) and then once it's calmed down put your DS back on.

This is page 1 of 2 (This thread has 15 messages.) First | Previous | Next | Last Go to page

Add your message here

Message

Nickname:
Password:

To post a message you need a valid mumsnet nickname and password. If you have forgotten your nickname, click here for a reminder. If you are not yet a member of mumsnet, you can join here.

Emphasis: To bold a word, surround it with asterisks, so *hello* will display hello. For underline use _ , so _hello_ gives hello. For italics use ^, so ^hello^ gives hello. To strike out a word, surround it with two hyphens either side, so --dog-- gives dog

Links and smileys: To insert a smiley face,

, type [smile] or :)
For a big grin,

, type [grin] or :o
For a wink,

, type [wink]
For a shocked face,

, type [shock]
For an angry face,

, type [angry]
For an embarrassed face,

, type [blush]
For a sad face,

, type [sad] or :(
For an envious face,

, type [envy]
For a sceptical face,

, type [hmm]
For a no comment face,

, type [biscuit]

Links The simplest way to insert a link is to enter the link itself, surrounded by [[ and ]]. So if you type [[www.mumsnet.com]], the link will display as http://www.mumsnet.com. If you want your link to display text other than the web address itself, leave a space after the address then add the text before the ]]. So "Look at [[www.mumsnet.com this page]]", would display "Look at this page".

Mumsnet Talk

Mumsnet latest

Useful tools

Babies: useful Mumsnet links

Recipe of the week

MN Local

Follow mumsnet on...

Mumsnet Talk

2 month old suddenly having trouble with right breast - help!