Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Infant feeding

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

Original poster

Head-turning during bfeeding (but only on left boob) - anyone had this?

18 replies

bumbleweed · 02/02/2006 17:45

This week my 15wk old dd has started a really annoying thing!
When feeding on left boob she turns her head down-over every minute or so. The milk which sprays all over her and me when she comes off is just a mild irritation!
I'm more worried because she's not taking a full feed on the left side - and therefore will my supply start to diminish on this side?
Doesnt do it at all on right boob.
Could it be because she has started rolling over this week and that is the way she rolls?

OP posts:
fastasleep · 02/02/2006 17:47

I don't know much about the actual act of BFing but I know a lot about supply issues lol I wouldn't worry about her not getting enough if she sucks happily on the other boob, most babies prefer one to another and you'll make up for that... hopefully someone has a nice answer to your prob though!

Meanoldmummy · 02/02/2006 18:04

DS1 went though a phase of thrashing about like a little shark on my breast - we called it his "feeding frenzy"... it looked very comical, but was in fact very painful and annoying. I took him off each time he did it and said "no" and then put him back on. He stopped it within a week.

Original poster
bumbleweed · 03/02/2006 10:57

Hi MOM, dd did the 'thrashing' thing too about a month ago and it lasted a couple of weeks. What a pain!
Its really winding me up today.
Been reading loads about bf and how it works on these threads and the kellymom site. Surely if one boob doesnt get emptied properly it stops making as much milk?

OP posts:
WigWamBam · 03/02/2006 11:17

Could you try fooling her and using the rugby ball hold (put her underneath your arm) to feed her on that side, so she's facing the opposite way? If it's because of the side she's lying on that should stop it.

Original poster
bumbleweed · 04/02/2006 13:47

WigWamBam, I've tried the rugby hold but I cant do it!
Total wimp and not strong enough to hold her in the right place with my arm. Tried cushions but doesnt feel right.
Hoping its just a phase and will pass - or else right boob will just be fave boob end of story.

OP posts:
Meanoldmummy · 04/02/2006 19:58

Have you tried taking her off and saying "No!" firmly every time she does it? It's a bit frustrating, but it worked on ds1.

Original poster
bumbleweed · 04/02/2006 20:31

I have tried - but she doesnt really seem to understand. Did you have to do it for a while before she got it?

OP posts:
Meanoldmummy · 04/02/2006 20:32

Yes, I had to do it absolutely consistently every single time, until he got it, and it took just over a week. It drove me mad. I don't know if it works for all babies.

Original poster
bumbleweed · 02/03/2006 19:19

Help - I am still desperate for advice on this if anyone has any other suggestions please?

She is still doing this and I have tried what Meanoldmummy suggested but dd just looks at me then roots for the nipple again. Now she's teething and her wee gums are uncomfortable and she's started tugging on my nipple everytime she turns her head ... and it hurts!

Also tried the rugby hold and cant do it. Blush

I adore this baby, I love every inch of her little gorgeous self, but the physical effort of looking after her is draining every ounce of my being, and tonight I just feel like crying I am so tired and the discomfort on top of that is wearing me down. She's so hungry at the moment I'm offering both sides at virtually every feed and feeds are taking ages because of this head-turning malarky.

I know its that side because thats the side she rolls over front to back.

Sorry if rambling.

OP posts:
elclose · 02/03/2006 19:39

Hi,
Prob wont help much but my son does this all the time on my left boob too!! 17 weeks and hes been doing it since about 10 weeks, i have noticed that let down is slower on that side and my mum suggested that mabe he was not hungry thats why he was bobbing on and off. I tend to make sure i start on that side when he is most hungry as he will stay on longer and then sometimes i have to do left right left usually last feed before bed. I was really annoyed and upset for a few weeks but now i have got used to it and im ok with it !!

Original poster
bumbleweed · 02/03/2006 19:49

hi elclose will defo take your advice about using that side when most hungry - I did a left-right-left tonight actually at last feed.

I had got to the point where it didnt bother me too - but now I'm annoyed and upset again - prob about the whole bundle of things and not just this - if I read back my earlier post

OP posts:
purplemonkeydishwasher · 02/03/2006 20:09

Sounds like you have a pretty strong let down on that side. Is it the same on the other side?
I find my DS comes off like that when I have a let down (have a cloth handy for the resulting milk shower!)

jobobanana · 02/03/2006 21:01

I have found the same with my dd she fling her head right back and it really hurts so tried winding her and that seems to do the trick. Don't know if thats any help

mawbroon · 02/03/2006 21:09

Same as jojobanana, my 18 week old ds starts squirming and turning his head around and pulling my nipple with it when he is needing winded. It took me ages to figure out what he was up to, but now I am not nearly so sore in the nipple department!

Original poster
bumbleweed · 03/03/2006 08:25

hmmm thought i had the wind situation sussed ... but ta for suggestion - will try it

OP posts:
SoupDragon · 05/03/2006 10:11

Someone on the cranial osteopath thread said their baby screamed when feeding on one side only and it was because of tension on one side of his/her head or neck. CO treatments sorted it. Just a thought!

Original poster
bumbleweed · 05/03/2006 13:52

thanks soupdragon

we have had 3 cranial osteo treatments because we thought it might help with the sleep situation, but then stopped because no dramatic change, but decided to go back next friday to see if a few more sessions could help.

will mention the head-turning.

OP posts:
Original poster
bumbleweed · 05/03/2006 13:54

thanks soupdragon

we have had 3 cranial osteo treatments because we thought it might help with the sleep situation, but then stopped because no dramatic change, but decided to go back next friday to see if a few more sessions could help.

will mention the head-turning.

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page