Owwww! One boob preference at day 5

[BabyOrSanta]

My milk came in yesterday/Saturday
She was fine but now has a massive preference for one side, so much so that she refuses to do more than one suck on the left.

Please, has anyone got any advice as this is really hurting and I'm soaked on that side!
The midwife should be coming today but I've no idea what time and I need at least some sleep!

I’m no expert at all, but My Lactation consultant suggested using the rugby ball hold on the side they don’t like, as they’re the same way up as the side they prefer (if that makes sense). Good luck!

Also, could you do some hand expressing on the side she doesn’t like to relieve the discomfort?

Seconding the rugby ball thing. I had to do this with DS for a while. Hang on in there xxx

Don't panic!

I fed my youngest from one side only for 18mths. She just never got to grips with the left.

Your DD will get everything she needs from one side if that's how you chose to progress.

Def try rugby ball. Had to do this with DD. Many years later realised that the side she didn't want to lie on was the side with the ventouse bruise so was probably uncomfortable. She also has a slight tongue tie do was maybe able to latch better one side than the other?

Good luck and happy first Christmas together.

Its early days, my DD was similar at the start and got used to it eventually. Persevere as much as you can, rugby ball or other positions on that side (definitely google biological nurturing - I thought it was a bunch of hippy shit to start with but really amazing) and if you need to express from the other side ao you don't wind up with a blocked duct or mastitis. One way or another its important to keep the milk flowing.

My DD did this as my nipple on the left was more inverted than on the right.
It helped to hand express on the left before putting her on so she could get a grip on it, and sometimes I iced the nipple a little to make it stand up properly. I also always put her on that side first until she had had a proper go. It was pretty frustrating but after a few weeks it got a lot easier, so it was worth persevering.

Maybe your let down is too fast that side (this was my problem). Try doing reverse pressure softening (RPS), google it. It really helped me and Dd to carry on feeding. After a few days things had evened up.

Good luck

0300 100 0212 National Breastfeeding Helpline is open today til 9.30pm if you need extra advice OP.

Thank you all!

I've hand expressed a bit, trying to get it down so she can latch but she still won't take it. It looks ironed, if that makes sense? Like, all the creases look like stretch marks...

There are lots of tips to try so I'll work my way down them - never thought of the ice thing and the let down is very very fast on that side so it could be that.

Again, thank you so much - panicked FTM on Xmas morning... was in a bit of a tizz!

My DD prefers one side so I always start with the other, plus she feeds from the less favoured side when she's sleepy so I always try to catch her after a nap or during one of her many night feeds.

I'm trying to "trick" her into trying it but she literally does one or two proper sucks then mouths just the end of my nipple.
Just going to express a little more before the next feed then try again - I think my let down is too strong on that side (thanks to PP for making me think about it!!) as it's properly squirting rather than dripping. Just hoping I don't stimulate lots more milk...

Rugby hold for sure. If it's let down that's the problem you could express just the initial let down into a muslin then try and latch on when it's less forceful.

If you are in pain a warm compress/hot shower and a small amount of hand expressing, just enough to ease the discomfort, might help.

You can also try feeding her lying down on your side. So to get her to feed on your left boob lie on your left side, she lies on her right side at boob height. Def try hand expressing a little bit off first.

Another thing that can help with fast letdown is leaning back as far as possible. It can help them manage the milk in their mouth. Also agree with others re letting it spray into a muslin until it calms down.

If you ar feeling really full on that side do hand express until you're more comfy to reduce the risk of blocked ducts and mastitis. Using a pump might increase your supply and make it worse. Obviously if this refusal to feed on one side continues you will need to think about if/ how you maintain that supply but some expert support would be really helpful to figure that out.

I would suggest calling the helpline like a PP. There could be quite a lot or different things going on so an in depth chat would be really helpful

I expressed slightly and then...

SHE RUGBYBALLED!!!

Yes!

Well, a weird version of rugby ball. Can honestly say that's the highlight of my day! Also, it didn't hurt as much as feeds have been doing. I'm hoping this way will work next time...

Thank you all so much for your advice and handholding to get to this, especially at Christmas

Yay.

Great news OP, I'm pleased for you. Take all the professional support you can get but otherwise perseverance is all you've got! Hang in there.

Yay! Well done! I remember the feeling when I had a break through. Keeping my fingers crossed for you both

Update: now it's all about leftie and rugby ball!
I've also found myself automatically rugby balling on the right side but that's done nothing to improve the discomfort (at least the painful pain has gone).

Next question, I've not fed outside the house yet.
Have any of you got any tips on how to rugby ball when out and about? I was managing to cradle more discreetly after the first 2 days of full boobs out but I don't really want the massive shawl that MIL has suggested...

If you're bothered by it a large muslin over the shoulder usually does the trick but i've found the more confident I am with getting DD to latch the less bothered I am about covering up in public. So long as my nipples aren't on show I'm good.

It's not that I'm bothered by it, after childbirth I'm definitely more "at one" with my body! It's more the small town I live in... the breastfeeding rate here is really small. Maybe I'll try the city shopping centre first...

I can only feed from the right as left is busted following cancer surgery.

It is do-able - my LO is 13 months and we are still feeding. I bought breast vest to keep me covered and betwwen that and loose jumpers/tops managed not to have it all hanging out (not that I am bothered having had my boobs out infront of all and sundry in recent years) I did find LO likes to play with a scarf - whatever I'm wearing

Good luck xxx

I've not had any negative response to feeding in public but I read online a resoonse that I have in my pocket should I need it "I need to feed my daughter to keep her alive". Of course anyone who is wrongly offended by you bf wont take that but it is fairly tough to argue with. Good luck!