PLEASE HELP- just as things going well, dd2 only feeding from one breast

[needaplan]

DD2 is 2 weeks old and we have had lots of problems establishing bf- see 4 day old bf baby thread. Things were going so much better though.

Over the last day or so, I noticed that dd is less keen on one boob etc. and then for the last few feeds either refuses that boob or latches or and just does shallow sucks- there is no milk in the nipple shield as she comes off . There is milk in the breast but already feels lighter than the other one as she is obviously not stimulating it. I now feel really scared this is over after all the hard work (sorry if that sounds dramatic). Unless there is an easy answer though I just feel like giving up

I was told it is normal for babies to prefer one breast over the other.

My DD still prefers my right to my left, so I try and remember to put her on the left first to encourage her to feed off that one whilst she is hungry...seems to work for us.

Needaplan, obviously this is distressing as you have worked so hard to establish b/f but BE is right, many babies prefer one breast (with ds, it was definitely my right). And it is possible to feed a baby successfully from only one side. However, in your shoes, I'd keep offering the less-preferred side, in an attempt to keep supply up. No milk in nipple shield alone doesn't necessarily mean that side is empty, btw.

Good luck - babies are funny little things, just when you think you've figured them out they go and change...

DS had a 'favourite' boob when he was v small, think it is quite common as the others have said. One thing I found that helped was to try different positions on the less favoured side (esp rugby ball) as I think part of it was to do with him wanting to hold his head on one side. He grew out of it and is still bf at nearly a year.

Hope this works out for you, sounds like you're doing really well

Thanks for the replies. dd has managed to feed off the problem side this morning so am relieved- I had to help her out with lots of breast compression though!! So Im a little less panicked now.

I found this too, and like Mae found a different hold helped. Poss. because of birth trauma which causes compression in skull in some positions. (Cranial osteopathy can help that.)

You don't sound overdramantic at all needaplan.This is a very important thing you are donig.

Glad it's going better for you.

Keep posting.

XX

Can you express a little more off after her turn to keep supply up .

btw are you using the nipple shields ? I did intially with ds (very sleepy, jaundiced etc, got him off formula top ups) but managed to wean him off (not consciously, one night I couldn't be bothered to get up and fetch them so had a go without). Have you tried latching her on directly instead on that side, alternative postions may make that easier. Do you have a bfc you could call for advice ? You've done really well so far and it would be worth persisting, exhausted though you sound.

LIZS- yes using nipple shields full time due to sleepy baby who did have jaundice and big nipples/ dd's small mouth scenario. I haven't tried directly latching her on for a week or so as I want to concentrate on her weight gain at the moment, which will give me confidence in the bf iykwim. I probably do need to experiment with different positions too. Expressing is not working well this time. With dd1, I was an expressing pro! I think my boobs are just quite different to each other! The one she likes is bigger and has v. fast letdown. The one she doesn't like is the smaller and she has to probably work harder. Would this make sense?

Yes it does make sense. I wonder if the side she prefers means she is held more comfortably, more supported or upright perhaps. Can you try to replicate that position the other way with cushions for support or even try lying down. A bfc observing may be able to give you some tips.