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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

Why does baby not latch on well to left side but is a pro on the right?

16 replies

cockle84 · 01/04/2011 18:19

Baby is 4 days old. I'm struggling to get her to latch on the left breast. She sucks a little but moves her head around so much she ends up with her face all wet. She is a pro on the right side though - goes straight on and stays there sucking away nicely.
So tempting just to put her on the right but I know that's not the answer. I've tried holding her 'rugby ball' style to make her think she's on the right but that didn't work.
Any suggestions on what I'm doing wrong?

OP posts:
Dunoon · 01/04/2011 18:52

No advice sorry but mine tended to feed much better on one side too. Baby is only 4 days old so plenty of time so sort it out.
An expert will be along shortly no doubt.

PureBloodMuggle · 01/04/2011 18:55

Possibly a visit to an osteopath might help? Could be something to do with her neck?

How is she lying does her head mainly fall to one side?

Original poster
cockle84 · 01/04/2011 19:00

When we put her down in her cot she does prefer to put her head to the left.

OP posts:
jenniferturkington · 01/04/2011 19:07

My DS did this. Then at about 4 weeks old we took him to visit an osteopath (about something totally unrelated), the osteopath had had him on the table for about 30 seconds before he asked if he could only feed well off one side. He performed some sort of magic, and ds fed fine on both sides after that. I found it a bit spooky!

TaurielTest · 01/04/2011 19:08

are you right handed? does it feel more comfortable/natural to you to hold her that way round? My DS has a preference too, ut I decided a large part of it was to do with me being more relaxed with that arm...
Have a google for biological nurturing to explore other positions besides cradle and rugby ball - you sort of lean back and let them latch on (either side) - trying this with a more vertical feeding position really helped us.

mrsravelstein · 01/04/2011 19:08

agreed, you need a cranial osteopath (i can recommend an amazing one if you happen to live anywhere near chelmsford in essex... bit of a long shot i realise), i had same issue with ds2, fixed it in about 10 minutes.

Original poster
cockle84 · 01/04/2011 19:13

Funnily enough I live about half an hour away from Chelmsford, would be interested in the name please.

OP posts:
benelf · 01/04/2011 19:15

I had/have a duff boob on one side and ended up feeding both of my babies one sided in the end! Can you express from the side she dislikes? I never could from my duff one.

Otherwise, like the other's have said it could be DD with the issue.

mrsravelstein · 01/04/2011 19:17

chelmsford cranial osteopath and all round miracle workers...

www.plumb-blossom.com/

mrsravelstein · 01/04/2011 19:19

it's a husband and wife team, rob and alison williamson, both are brilliant, but only the bloke is qualified to do the baby stuff. cannot recommend him highly enough.

Original poster
cockle84 · 01/04/2011 19:24

Great, thank you. I will see how she goes and give them a try.

OP posts:
GracieGirl · 01/04/2011 19:40

Just in case you don't get it sorted, don't worry too much, I'm still feeding one sided at 14 months with no problems at all. Try ringing NCT helpline too.

PorkChopSter · 01/04/2011 19:50

I too have a duff side. It's partly the different breast/nipple shape & my positioning -in any position- on that side. The easiest way to start off was to feed from good side, then keep baby in same place & move me over. So if feeding from right breast with baby in cradle hold lying left side of me = baby's feet and right side of me = baby's head.... then shift baby to the left 30cm in a straight line, feed from left breast.

ellabella2 · 01/04/2011 19:54

My DS found it harder to get a good latch on my left breast too. In my case I think it was because my breast on this side is a bit bigger so position of the nipple and weight of the breast made things a bit harder for him Blush

He did get the hang of it eventually but that side has always been the 'trouble' side.

I don't really have any words of wisdom, except stick with it and I'm sure your DD will find it easier in time as she gets more skilled at breastfeeding.

Good luck.

MrsTerryPratchett · 02/04/2011 05:32

I have a bad boob and a good boob Grin. I found that there were two issues. Bigger boob on the bad side so different angle. Also, I was not holding her as tummy to tummy on that side. Once I did that, much better. She stills dribbles a bit out of that side.

matana · 02/04/2011 10:44

DS is 19 weeks and still feeds better from the right than the left. It can be a bit of a pain, but he's still gaining weight well so it can't be too much of a problem. I think he just prefers the right because he's a guzzler and the let down is faster, so he opens his mouth nice and wide. Feeding him is much quicker on the right as he tends to 'sip' the left and gets frustrated sometimes!

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