Why does newborn refuse just one boob while vigorously shaking his head?

[DHsleepQn]

One week old baby has a clear preference for the left breast. He latches on easily and feeds until he’s done.

The right breast is a different story. Even though he will put it in his mouth, sometimes even attempt a suckle, he will let go and vigorously shake his head left to right. The nipple will actually be leaking milk, he knows it’s available, but still he refuses.

Interestingly he has managed some decent feeds on this breast but maybe only one in fifteen times.

Why does he do the head shaking?

Could it be that he doesn't like being held on that side? He could have some stiffness in his neck from birth or something - I had a similar issue and did cranial osteopath. Can't say whether it was rubbish or not but it did seem to work as baby did lose the side preference. Other thing that worked was tricking him with side lying/dangle feeding like you would for mastitis! I'd maybe try some different positions and see if that helps? And obviously keep removing milk from the breast to keep supply up

Are you right handed by any chance?

You might be more confident/comfortable holding him to your left boob and that’s why he’s got a preference.

The head shaking is strange 🤔 Sometimes they can prefer one over the other if their neck/alignment is out. I took both mine to a baby osteo and they check for any tension. My DD had issues with breastfeeding and latch etc. it seemed to be tension in the jaw rather than a tounge tie. I was given exercises to strengthen her jaw and latch.

Will they feed from both sides during the night when drowsy?
I used to do the rugby hold with DD if she was being fussy with one side. I ended up with mastitis at one point, so I was keen to have regular feeding from both sides

Have you tried a rugby ball hold to ‘trick’ them into taking the other side? Both mine went through this stage at a few months old

I'd probably see an osteopath but the rugby hold trick is a good call first!

My dc used to shake their heads when tiny and trying to latch. Could it be a fast let down (so baby lets go) and then trying to relatch?

I have tried the rugby hold, with the support of midwives, and he still doesn’t like it! He wriggles away!

Could you explain a little what you mean? Sorry, I am really tired 😴

My baby very definitely had a preference early on. I have spoken to a LOT of people about this and it’s very normal. 6 months on he still prefers one side but will have both, after a lot of work on one side!

Newborns do shake their head around when latching, is it just that? Maybe he’s trying to find the nipple by nuzzling? Mine developed very painful trick for a while where my letdown was too fast, and he turned his head to one side (latched on) to slow the flow. That was not a fun phase. Maybe the letdown is too fast so he’s turning his head?

do you have a HV/NCT/la leche league meeting/clinic you get to for advice?

It's pretty common to have a faster flow on one side so it could be because of that. Or sometimes one side is fuller and it's harder for them to latch when little. It might help to express a tiny bit on that side before offering it (could just be hand express a little).

I had this. I took DD2 to an osteopath which helped a little (she was breech so scrunched into a funny position anyway) but when hand expressing, I expressed a big milk clog from the side she was refusing. She was a lot less fussy after that. So I'd also recommend doing some massaging of the breast in the shower and hand expressing in case there is a clog affecting the flow.

Could be a fast let down, you could express some into a muslin just before the feed, it might help

Look up fast letdown - it's when your milk flow is faster, and it usually kicks in after a few sucks. The trick is to him unlatch and stem some of the flow before trying again. Also try different positions for baby - try with you leaning/lying back (for example, lie propped on the sofa) so gravity isn't making the milk even faster!

DC1 drank fine from both breasts, DC2 had a strong preference for one breast and midwife explained it probably had a faster flow and he was impatient? He got a bit better when he was older but when he was very tired he only wanted one specific breast. He also self weaned off breast feeding and refused the slow breast first.

Don’t apologise, it didn’t make much sense.
perhaps on that side you have a fast let down - where the milk comes out really fast. It can be too much/ fast especially when they are tiny.

so, maybe fast milk flow on that side, baby is unlatching because its too much, then the head shaking is them trying to latch again. that was definitely true in my case anyway!