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denny25 
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Joined: 24 June 2008
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 Topic: Express from one breast/Feed on other?
Posted: 02 November 2008 at 4:33pm |
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Ava is flat out refusing to feed on my right breast. She gets absolutely hysterical - latching on and off and scratching at me. The left side she is OK with. I spoke to La Leche League at the Parent and Child Show yesterday and they thought it may be an overactive let down. I have tried all they have suggested - changing positions, leaning back, taking her off when letdown occurs and letting the milk flow until it slows down, etc, etc. NOTHING works.
The only thing i can think of is to let her feed from the left breast at one feed and express from the right. Then give her the expressed milk at the next feed (hoping i can express enough for a full feed - how much would that be approx? She is 8 weeks old).
Is this feasible? Does anyone else have any other suggestions?
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busymum
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Joined: 01 January 1900
Location: New Zealand
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Posted: 02 November 2008 at 7:15pm |
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You could try that for a week or so and see what happens when you try to relatch her after that. Is the milk flow too fast on that side? She doesn't have a cold or sore ears, does she?
Trouble is, at that age she may find bottle feeding easier and refuse to feed from you altogether. Not trying to scare you, but it is known to happen at times.
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denny25
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Posted: 02 November 2008 at 8:08pm |
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Ugh well i dont know if it is going to work, i could only express 20mls from that breast :(
I took her to the doctor the other day and her ears are ok so its not that. Im not sure what it is. The milk flow seems pretty similar to the left breasts.
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peachy
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Posted: 02 November 2008 at 9:21pm |
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Can you try a nipple shield on that side that she won't drink from? I had one side that Lauren hated drinking from and I found it awkward to feed her from that side too, so I used a nipple shield to get her feeding properly on the dodgy side and after a few weeks weaned her off the nipple shield and we were away, she was happy as larry!
Just an idea, although I know lots of people are anti nipple shields, if it wasn't for those nipple shields, I wouldn't have breastfed past 6 weeks!
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peachy
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Posted: 02 November 2008 at 9:22pm |
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Oh and I managed to b/f till 7 months, so it was worth it in the end!
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Maya
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Posted: 02 November 2008 at 10:36pm |
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Lil miss is a fussy wench on my left side too, I think if it was up to her she'd shut that side down and just feed off the right. But it's not up to her, I don't want to be lopsided!
My honest opinion - don't express. It takes a huge amount of energy and effort and can make the whole feeding experience so much more stressful if after every feed you have to sit attached to the pump again.
What works for me is expressing a little off the left side before I feed her, even just 10ml or so by hand, so it's not so full and doesn't let down so fast. Also, I try to arrange feed times so I am feeding off the right side when we are out as she fusses so much on the left. And when we're home I use a pillow to position her perfectly - even tho we can easily feed without one it just helps with optimal positioning.
I'm doing one sided feeding (I don't offer both sides at each feed, just one, and alternate with each feed) but if you're feeding off both at each feed you could experiment with which one you offer first. If you offer the left first she might feed better coz she's hungrier. Conversely, if you offer the right first she might take the left more easily afterwards coz she's not absolutely starving and sucking so hard she stimulates the let down to be too fast/strong.
I don't know if any of this will help, but good on you for sticking with it! They're tricky creatures these babies!
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 Maya Grace (28/02/03)
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The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Express from one breast/Feed on other?
