Help please, 6 day old feeding poorly from one side

[Murtola]

Posting on behalf of a friend who is having trouble with her second child. She successfully fed her first son for a year, her second is 6 days old, born 4 weeks early.

For the first few days he would only feed from the left breast, however he will now latch on the right side however it is extremely painful. She has seen a b/f counselor today, who said the latch is fine, but suggested giving feeding a break from that side as the nipple is so sore. She is loath to do this she has only just got him to feed from that side.
I have suggested plenty of lansinoh, fresh air, and nipple shields, and to ride out the pain as much as possible as it should get better, but I wondered if there is any other advice that I can give?

Thanks in advance x

I had this with my daughter, who was 8 weeks prem. We had lots of help as we were in the hospital for weeks. What really helped with her to start with on the side she didn't like was to lie the other way round, if you see what i mean? so, if she was on the left breast her legs would be even further to the left, with a pillow or something supporting her underneath.
I wouldn't give the other side a break, she might get engorgement, and if the pain is down to this or blocked ducts, the only way of sorting it out is more feeding. Your advice sounds right to me. It might be worth expressing a little from that side to help with flow. A cool flannel or cabbage leaves on the breast, cooling pads if she has them, and the advice you gave her is what I would advise.
Breastfeeding a premature baby is hard work but so worth it in the end.

I find lying in bed to feed from the right side the easiest.

hmm if the latch is fine then it really shouldn't be that sore.

is there another bfc she could see for a second opinion?