Feeding from one side

6 replies

ChirpyGirl · 10/02/2008 21:16

DD2 (4 months) is rejecting my right hand boob! She has been dropping the time she feeds on it and now will latch on for a few minutes and then cry until I swap sides.
It would actually be a lot easier for me if I only feed her from the left as it leaves my right hand free for reading to and dealing with DD1 (2) so would it work? is there any reason I shouldn't?

She has only been feeding from that side for about 20 minutes in total today, half of that when she was virtually asleep before bed so I don't even think there is much there.

OP posts:

foxythesnowman · 10/02/2008 21:19

Have you tried holding her in a different way? So, if you are holding her so her body is resting on your left-arm to right breast, perhaps hold her under your left arm to feed at the left breast IYSWIM? Is it called the football hold or something?

whomovedmychocolate · 10/02/2008 21:20

Umm you can and people do but you may end up with one shrunken and one expanded boob!

All babies prefer one or the other, I prefer my left one myself, it's more comfy for me to lie on that side and feed and DD is inclined to go along with it and nuzzle that side more often than anything. Perhaps your let down is slower on that side. You could try stimulating let down before offering the breast but if you are happy with your mono-norkage - you go for it

Original poster

ChirpyGirl · 10/02/2008 21:31

I tried rugby hold, she wasn't best pleased and DD1 kept telling me it was wrong
'no give beeboo mummy, move DD2, poor DD2'

I don't get engorged or any change in size (thnak god, they are big enough) so I don't think size woudl be an issue. I was just wonering if there was some reason I shouldn't

Don't mums of twins feed one on each side? SO is that the same?

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Denny185 · 10/02/2008 21:37

I had this with DS, the rubgy hold confused him enough to make him feed from that side - was easier to do with cushion to support him on rather than holding him up IYSWIM. Also helped to express a bit before as my 'let down' was slower on that side and think that lead to his frustration. I believe warm flannels are supposed to help with that aswell although I never tried this as th above combination worked.

Original poster

ChirpyGirl · 10/02/2008 21:54

I used to feed DD1 with teh rugby hold, and she is fine with it on the other side so I think it may well be a let down think. Only problem is I can't get a let down when I express! Never have been able to, I can only express with a baby feeding off the other side and that's a pain in teh arse!
Might have a go with a warm compress, although DD1 will probably nick it

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Sushipaws · 10/02/2008 22:11

I have a friend who has a 10 month dd who only feeds from one side, I think it's the left. Anyway, she has one boob slightly bigger than the other but her dd is fine, feeds well.

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