12 day old baby, how can I get him to feed from BOTH breasts?!

[smilingcl]

Hi,

I have a healthy gaining weight baby who I'm exclusively breastfeeding, the trouble is, since my milk came in, he's only feeding from the right breast.

I have quite flat nipples, but for some reason he's able to get a reasonable latch on the right one but not the left. I feed him in the cradle and rugby hold on the right breast and he doesn't seem sensitive to feeding facing a particular way.

On the left breast he seems to try quite hard in both positions and will suck the nipple into his mouth but never achieves the latch and ends up getting frustrated.

He does have a slight tongue tie and I've been to see the breastfeeding councillor but she doesn't think it needs to be snipped as he sucks so effectively on the right. (I don't want to snip it unnecessarily). I've tried using the breast pump to suck it into a nipple and then quickly get him on it but it quickly goes flat again when he gets on it.

I've been expressing from that breast but not getting as much milk out as he gets from the other boob, this is resulting in a larger right boob than left. My right nipple is also fairly mangled now as he's feeding on it all the time and doesn't get much time for recovery, plus it's taken until now and 2 session with the bfc for me to understand a good latch. To top it off I've now got mastitis in my left breast through not taking off enough milk. I'm worried that he's never going to get going on the left breast if we don't do it soon.

I forgot to mention that the midwife managed to get him on it for me before my milk came in by just pinching my nipple and shoving it in his mouth but that was just the 2 days I was in hospital after EMCS.

Any tips and ideas to get him feeding on the left gratefully received, otherwise in 6 months time I'm going to have seriously wonky boobs. I guess at least then I can see what effect breastfeeding really does have on them...

smiling initial thoughts are to get a second opinion on the TT. Doesn't sound like it's not affecting things, TBH.

Also, one-sided feeding can be caused by compression or birth trauma (you mention EMCS?). A paediatric cranial osteopath would be able to release this and may make it easier for him to feed on his difficult side.

He may be sucking well on the right but you should not have trauma there. This may be caused by the TT.

Thank organic, he has got quite a squashed head, he was stuck in the birth canal for a while and they tried forceps prior to the EMCS.

How do you find a trusted cranial osteopath?

I can tell you an brilliant one in Leeds if you're anywhere near?

www.goodhealthcentre.co.uk/ - I see Mr Sevi.

If by any amazingly remote chance you are not near Leeds you might find that they can recommend someone that they'd trust.

I can also recommend another good one in Leeds!

I'm in London unfortunately, how come you have so many in Leeds!?

I might have a go with one of those nipple shields on my left boob, thing is they have space for quite large nipples so that's a lot of air he's going to have to swallow first but might be worth it to see if it's the side or the nipple/TT that's causing the issue?

Agree with the cranial osteopath and sorting the tongue tie. He shouldn't be mangling your nipple.

smiling there's a fabulous IBCLC and TT specialist in London called Ann Dobson (www.ann-dobson.co.uk)

She will know which cranial osteopath to go to as she works very closely with them. She'll be able to check the TT release and help you to get the latching sorted out, too.

She's private - but cheaper than formula :) I've used her myself (she travelled up here for me!) and she is absolutely amazing. I know loads of mums she's helped.