One boob more than the other...sustainable?!

[MrsC2010]

Hi All!

I am a complete novice as our first daughter is only a week old but I am trying to get to grips with the whole breast feeding thing. It is going well so far, she is piling on the pounds and feeding every 2-3 hrs during the day (sometimes every hour if she only manages 10 mins odd) and normally only once or twice during the night (fingers crossed this contintues but I'm not counting my chickens).

But my question is this: I cannot seem to get her latch right on my left boob, she is feeding fine (getting milk) but it is really agonising for the first few minutes and I am getting more and more reluctant to 'use' it. Is using my right more than my left for a few days going to cause any supply problems or anything? I was thinking of expressing from my left for a few days and exclusively using my right for feeding just to give my poor boob a break so that I can then work on her latch and positioning with her when it isn't so tender. If this would cause a problem I would try just doing less feeds on one than the other and see what happens, just work on the latch that way.

Anyone any words of advice? I really want BF to work long-term but I know I need to get it right.

Thanks in advance!

It had problems for weeks getting comfy with my left breast. I found it easier to do a different hold on the left - rugby hold instead of cradle. So, that would be my first suggestion.

There are lots of women who only feed from one boob (including tandem feeders who's youngest have one and older baby has other, but that is slightly different), however, I would not aim for that. Aim to get that left boob sorted.

Sure someone else will be along shortly with more advice :)

I'm not the bf-expert (hopefully they'll be along to help out shortly) but I think you really need to keep on 'using' both sides, and not just express from the less comfortable one...that way lies mastities, latch problems and issues with milk supply, I suspect. Latching on shouldn't be painful (except maybe for the very first few seconds if you're already sore and need time to heal), so if its hurting for longer than that you probably need some help. Can you ask your community MW or HV for support? Or are there any breast-feeding clinics or support groups in your area?

Congratulations on your DD :)

I had the same problem with DD who is now 4 weeks old..but mainly with right breast.Had no probs feeding DS for 6 months but DD has just not wanted to open her mouth very wide from day 1! I have tried rubbing nipple under her nose with no success sometimes i have to wait for her to cry just to get a decent latch.I also fed more from my left breast in the early days just to give right one a break! My advise is to persevere you both need time to get used to feeding and baby needs to learn how to latch on this can take a few weeks,my nipples have def toughened up now and its not so painful anymore..good luck