Help with breastfeeding

[lockdownmama31]

I gave birth on 31st March. My baby weighed 5pounds 3oz. She was jaundiced and therefore we stayed in hospital until 3rd April for light therapy. I wanted to exclusively breast feed but due to the light therapy we breastfed and gave top up formula. Now home I want to ebf. She latches on well to my left breast. She struggles to latch to my right breast. Sometimes never at all. I have tried various positions and doesn't help. The infant support team gave generic advice. She is 5 days old. Can having large breasts affect latching? Did anyone else have any issues and what did you do which solved this?

Hi, congratulations!

The National Breastfeeding Helpline should be able to advise you:

www.nationalbreastfeedinghelpline.org.uk/

Have you tried the rugby ball hold? That helped me when my baby was small and struggled to latch. I have big boobs too. Now that he’s bigger I can hold him in a cradle hold, but the rugby ball definitely helped at first.

Thank you.

I have tried various positions including rugby ball. She just cries and turns red and won't latch.

I had this with my son and daughter recently. She is my third breastfed baby. She preferred the left than the right. Then she preferred the right rather than the left. She will learn to take both sides. Just pump if you need to. Maybe get one of the Haakaa bottles to help when feeding so you're not too uncomfortable. I would also look into cranial osteopathic and maybe baby has tension down one side. My son had this and after a few session was feeding happily from both sides; my daughter just preferred the left side.

@Hirewiredays

I had this with my son and daughter recently. She is my third breastfed baby. She preferred the left than the right. Then she preferred the right rather than the left. She will learn to take both sides. Just pump if you need to. Maybe get one of the Haakaa bottles to help when feeding so you're not too uncomfortable. I would also look into cranial osteopathic and maybe baby has tension down one side. My son had this and after a few session was feeding happily from both sides; my daughter just preferred the left side.

Thank you. I find she struggles to latch and will take my breast once a day, will latching get easier as she gets bigger?

Is it possible you have a slightly flat nipple on that side? I found that pulling the right hand nipple out for her before getting her to attempt to latch helped.

I remember my boy being like this, try reaching out to laleche they are the best!