Pain on one side, perfect on other - help!

[Nightlights]

My baby feeds really well on my right side - no pain. But my left side!! I'm doing exactly the same thing but it kills. Latch on hurts and sometimes pain diminishes but then comes back to the point where I'm desperate for her to finish feeding. I also get some pain in that breast afterwards. And I'm finding if I get cold that nipple is sore too. Dreading putting her on that side. What am I doing wrong? thank you for any help!

[Sausagefingers9]

Doesn’t sound like the latch is quite right. I always preferred left boob feeding, I couldn’t hold him the same way on the right side
Have you tried different positions? If you can then laying on your side is an easy one.

[ImStillHungry]

How old is little one? I always favoured the right as couldn't seem to get DS in the right position for the left at the start, after a few weeks and lots pf nipple cream, it was fine.

[Ratbagratty]

I had this, when baby is young I found a hot flannel before feeding on that side, feed to point of can't anymore then I would swap sides. It did fade in time so I think mine was to do with letdown. When she was or about 11 months or happened again, this time I found my position had got lazy and her teeth was putting pressure on me. So I lift her head more to release the pressure and again if too much I swap sides!

[Nightlights]

Baby is 11 days old - just like you, the right is working great. I tried the football hold yesterday but it didn't seem to help. Might not be doing it right. I had her on the side but I might try with her on her back instead. I think it is the latch but am doing it exactly the same as on the right where it's perfect 🤦‍♀️

[Nightlights]

Good to hear it got better @Ratbagratty

[PeachPotato]

Have you tried moving her whole body so she’s more to the right of your body before latching? That can make a big difference.

I’d highly recommend finding a local breastfeeding group! They can help

[moreismore]

It’s hard when she’s so little but have you noticed she’s less keen turning her head to one side (in this case probably the left?) neck tension is quite common in babies and can affect feeding. A Chiro/osteo with a paeds focus would be able to help and treatment is very gentle.

[Nightlights]

I did try that @PeachPotato but still couldn't get the hang. If I don't get on top of it the osteopath would probably be a good should @moreismore

[TillyMint81]

I'd try and get along to a bfing support group where a trained peer supporter can have a look. I did peer supporter training years ago and for the most part any issues are sorted with a good latch. Has baby been checked for a tongue tie? Any time there pain, slide your finger into your baby's mouth and break the latch and start again. Helps if you start the feed before they get too fussy!
Try and bring baby to you rather than leaning into them because as soon as you move you change the latch. Xx

[Nightlights]

Thanks @TillyMint81. There's no tongue tie, I definitely think it's the latch. But I don't get why what I do is great on the right but not working on left when it's exactly the same :-(

[ImStillHungry]

Oh yes warm flannel on my left whilst feeding helped lots! I was like you OP tried every different hold but it still hurt, then a few weeks ans it was fine. I think it was once DS had got a bit chunkier so maybe i was holding him better on that side.

[TillyMint81]

@Nightlights a peer supporter will be able to ask the relevant questions and it may only take a tiny adjustment to improve it. For example with my middle one I just needed to move her slightly towards her feet to make the latch better. Is it tender when baby isn't feeding?

[Nightlights]

@TillyMint81 Only if I accidentally bash the nipple but, yes, it is I suppose. Hoping to see one of the breastfeeding counsellors this week. Midwife said latch looked good just before weekend but it's definitely uncomfortable. That said I managed a not too bad feed last night only for it to be hideous again this morning. So I must be doing something wrong with the latch. I hope it's fixable in the way that you describe, just by moving her a wee bit. But I'm doing nothing different to what I do on the good side as far as I'm aware - though maybe the BF counsellor will tell me different!

[Nightlights]

Sorry to update this probably really boring thread again but having just prepared to feed on the bad side I've noticed the let down ( assuming it's that) is quite sore. When I was preparing I felt a stinging before some milk poured out and then, again, a painful latch on. Any breastfeeding wisdom really appreciated

[TillyMint81]

I'm just wondering if you maybe have a blocked duct on that side? Also bear in mind that if there's been pain you could possibly have some nipple trauma that is causing it. That will heal with a decent latch. I had painful letdown with my second and third. Some women don't feel it and some do. Definitely think you are doing the right thing getting checked over. Not every hcp has breastfeeding knowledge so it's good to get to a group. Try and relax when feeding on that side (easy for me to say!) maybe even have a bath and feed baby in there to help relax you both? Keep on. You're doing a great job x

[Nightlights]

Think you're right about previous nipple trauma 😬 thanks for the advice

[GookledyGobb]

The other thing worth trying, outside of a breastfeeding group or lactation consultant, is an infant chiropractor/osteo. Often babies are tight/have tension from their position in the womb and this can cause one sided feeding issues

[PirateWeasel]

My first thought was a blocked duct too. Can you see a little white dot on your nipple anywhere? They're called blebs and are excruciating! They usually get sucked out eventually by the baby, but if not you can pop it gently with a sterile needle. But you might still have a blocked duct without anything to see on the surface. Have you got any pain outside of feeding times, or any lumpy bits?

[Nightlights]

Thanks both, I can't feel any lumps but I can see ridges/cracks on the nipple on that side. I've tried feeding her with her head on the same side as if she were on the right but that doesn't seem to help either. I'm just having to do that thing where you grit your teeth 😬 The pain does ease after she's been on for a minute or so but it's never as comfortable as on the right

[Nightlights]

Argh so I have a deep crack in that nipple - guessing that's the issue. Any tips on how to manage this / heal it. I know I need to fix the latch but anything else..... Thanks so much for advice 🤦‍♀️

[WellVersedInEtiquette]

@Nightlights its me, TillyMint I've just changed my user.
Breast milk is fab at healing. Try to keep it clean but don't wipe too heavily. A breastpad with breast milk on can help. If it's too painful to feed you could hand express from that side whilst it heals a little but it may decreased your supply. I used nipple shields but I know not many like them because of the change of nipple confusion. Did you get to a group yet? I had a friend who had an awful split and is still feeding down the line after it healed.

[Nightlights]

Thanks for your brilliant advice @WellVersedInEtiquette . I switched to football hold which has marginally improved the pain and am just airing them with breast milk on as much as poss. Fingers crossed it improves soon - I hear it magically gets better at about 4 weeks 🤞

[WellVersedInEtiquette]

@Nightlights it does but those first few weeks can feel like months. You're doing a great job xx

[WhoAteAllTheDinosaurs]

I had this. Turned out that my nipple was bigger than the other one, and sort of pointed in a slightly different direction. Also the let down was faster on that side. It did get better, he just had to grow! It helped to be really vigilant about his latch, the flipple technique, and just taking one feed at a time!