Breastfeeding Support Needed Please!

[Mandymoo]

DS is my second baby and is 14 weeks old - i've been bfing just fine until the last week or so. He is only feeding for a few minutes at a time (if that) and has started to really fuss at the breast.

When it comes to feeding off my left breast, he refuses - could this be earache or teething as he seems to hate lying on that side iyswim.

I'm beginning to think that i should mix feed to make sure he's getting enough.

Your advice and help would be most welcome.

Thanks X

DS 20 weeks does this when he's had his fill. Do you always start on the right?

No - i alternate breasts. Trouble is, he stops feeding after literally a minute sometimes!

is he gaining weight well and lots of dirty and wet nappies? DS went from feeding for about an hour, to 10 minutes! Scared me at first but they do get more efficient at that age...

i find letting DS take breaks when hes fussing, bouncing him on knee then re-trying helps.

sometimes he just needs to puke a little

MM, DS2 did this for a while - refused the left side and favoured the right. No idea why - possibly because my letdown is very generous on the left and seems marginally slower on the right (though still pretty squirty - sorry if tmi!).

You definitely don't need to mix feed - why would you? Just offer the less-favoured side first, possibly express from it if you feel v uncomfy and he won't take it and feed on the right when you want an easy life - worked for me. DS2 is now back to feeding on the left like he never went off it.

Try feeding holding him in the rugby position so he's lying on the same side as he does when he feeds from your right side. Or try feeding him lying down.

HTH a bit - bfeeding tends to have tricky moments to overcome whatever age your baby is, but the overall ease of bfeeding in general outweighs them IME and IMO.

My dd was like that on the left I could only feed her if she was laying under my arm like a rugby ball on a pillow iyswim, or maybe you could try lying down with him? Not sure if it'll help but worth a try because if you start to introduce formula your supply will drop then he'll feed less so you need more formula vicious circle type thing. Hope things get easier, I do remember with ds now 6.5months (still bf him now) he got a little frustrated at that age, and it was because he was having a growth spurt and feeding all the time only getting a little but this was increasing my supply woke up a few days later with huge boobs!! then he calmed down now he weighs over 20lbs!bless him!

Sorry my typing is so slow (and I'm watching bb too) that I've kinda said the same as a hunkermunker! Sorry!

It might be worth getting him checked out by a chiropractor or cranial osteopath who specialises in infants. If, aside from the feeding issue, he generally hates being on one side but doesn't mind being on the other then it sounds as though there could be some discomfort there.

So far as the feeding goes, if it came down to it you could just feed on one side and you'd build up enough supply for him -- no need to mixed feed. But you ought to be able to get the sides thing sorted out.

I had exactly the same thing at about the same age. 20 minute feeds up until 14 weeks and then suddenly only wanted a few minutes. I figured it might be because he was becoming much more efficient at feeding. Went to get weighed and is still piling on the pounds so have not worried. Feeding well again now so might be a phase.

Not much to add, other than hang on in there! DD was good at fussing and flustering and I just kept offering, even if only for a short time. He could well be more efficient at getting the milk out by now. If you mix feed, you'll make less and the cycle may continue. Plus you'll need to arse around with bottles, powder etc. I would just stick with it as it's bound to settle again.

You have done a fab job for 14 weeks. Your body can produce enough for him. Have you tried expressing if you want to "top up"? just a thought

XXXX

hi MM i can only echo the other postings, most babies have a favourite side, and at 14 weeks will be able to drain breast much more effeiciently. its worth bearing in mind that sometimes baby may just want a drink rather than a full feed so wont always need to stay on for long.
as kayzed suggests try feeding from less favoured side when ds is sleepy, or try different position.

Just wondering how the feeding is going for you now? I have a 7 week old who fed fine from birth for the first two weeks and then became difficult to feed from the left side. Over the past two days she has become hysterical at times when I have tried to feed her from my left side. Hope it's got better for you and any tips would be gratefully received!

Yes,do try cranial osteopathy.
Something may be trapped which causes him pain.

It was v helpful for my dd.

Mandymoo - there is another thread regarding fussy feeding and immunisation. My now 5mth old started doing exactly the same (fussy on right, refusing left) after her 2nd set of jabs. It improved after a few weeks. Just had her 3rd set (delayed due to WHooping Cough scare) and the same thing has happened, although this time it hasn't lasted as long and could be due to weaning.