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KiwiL 
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Joined: 29 December 2006
Location: Wellington, NZ
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 Topic: Tips for dealing with side preference
Posted: 07 March 2011 at 8:51am |
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Ollie has always preferred to feed from the left side, but until recently I was able to get him to feed from the right enough that it didn't really matter. I would do top ups and sleepy feeds from the right, as well as any feed for which he was really hungry.
However, in the last week he has started to really emphatically refuse the right breast. Lots of tears and arching and pulling away.
Does anyone have any tips for dealing with this? I don't really want to feed exclusively from the left, although I would love to hear any experiences of people who've only fed from one side.
Is there anything else I can do to encourage him to go back to the right? He is 4 months old.
Thanks!
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Bizzy
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Posted: 07 March 2011 at 8:59am |
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you have probably already tried different holds i assume?
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KiwiL
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Posted: 07 March 2011 at 9:49am |
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Yeah, he doesn't fall for the football hold and I have tried lying down too. Which is why I think it's something about the breast, rather than something about him. Which of course makes me blame myself and increases the stress levels!!
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maisey
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Posted: 07 March 2011 at 11:18am |
Have you considered taking him to a chiropractor or osteopath? It could be that it is uncomfortable for him to feed that way.
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UpsyDaisy
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Posted: 07 March 2011 at 11:19am |
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I think this is quite common I think I read somewhere maybe kellymom website that it is quite common for babies to prefer one breast and its usually the left one. There is some anatomical reason for it (better blood flow maybe) and is definately nothing you should blame yourself about.
I know there always seemed to be a much quicker and faster let down out of my left side and I usually always expressed more out of it also even though at first I thought there was something wrong with this and tried to even it up by getting them to drink more from the right side it never made any difference.
As had two BF babies feeding just using one side not an option I would swap sides after each feed and write down who got which side so it would be fair.
Do you think it takes longer for your let down to happen on the right? If so have you already tried expressing the right just to get the let down going for him?
ETA good idea too maisey!
Edited by jules1980
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Nothing
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Posted: 07 March 2011 at 1:39pm |
My girl started refusing the right breast cause she was all out of alignment (7 weeks old) I took her to an osteo and she started again, however she went back to not feeding again due to other issues so I ended up feeding her lying down for 6 months or so. I would lie down on my left side as though I was giving her my left breast, but would give her my right- I actually find it much easier than feeding the left that way! I just make sure DD's upper half of her body is on a pillow, and that I have plenty to support me- you soon work out what you need. Good luck 
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caliandjack
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Posted: 07 March 2011 at 2:25pm |
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I produce more milk in my left than my right, initially she didn't like the left but I kept putting her on it as I needed to get her to suck to relieve the pressure.
Sometimes I have to offer her it a couple of times a feed most times she is willing, if she starts getting grizzly I put her on the right side, its not worth fighting with them IMO.
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KiwiL
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Posted: 07 March 2011 at 8:55pm |
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Thanks guys. He actually had two reasonable feeds from the right today. I gave him lots of cuddles and praise and head stroking afterwards, so hoping it continues.
I guess I can't battle him - I have learnt you never win feeding battles, ever. I'll keep offering the right but if he gets upset I just have to swap him over and hope the left picks up the reigns. I am feeding about 3 hourly still, with the odd top up, but he won't accept any more frequently than that (in fact, I suspect he's moving toward 4 hourly), so hopefully that's enough. I think I will do a bit of expressing too, it's just hard when there's a toddler involved aswell. I always do his middle of the night feed on that side as well, he tends to have a good go then.
He won't tolerate the rugby hold or lying down on that side either, which makes me think it's something about that breast/nipple/flow rather than him being uncomfortable in any way. However, I am about to take him to an osteopath just in case.
Hopefully it's just another glitch. It really feels like one thing after another! They never quite let on how hard breastfeeding can be!
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UpsyDaisy
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Posted: 07 March 2011 at 9:33pm |
 kiwilaurie wrote:
They never quite let on how hard breastfeeding can be! |
That is so true! Good luck!
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JoJames
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Posted: 07 March 2011 at 10:14pm |
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My boy has always preferred my rightside, I would offer the left side first and If he had a good feed then finish on the right, if he wouldn't feed well, then swap to the right and the next time would start on the left again, sometimes I would swap over 3-4 times during a feed, I know thats not ideal, but it seemed to work. Its annoying how they don't fuss in the middle of the night. Just do what works for you and know that you are doing a great job, it does get easier
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Tips for dealing with side preference
