Breast refusal
Printed From: OHbaby!
Category: Have A Baby?
Forum Name: First baby? Second or more?
Forum Description: Want help? Need support? Want tips? Men and women share advice and tips in this supportive community
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=18885
Printed Date: 12 September 2025 at 11:40pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.10 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Breast refusal
Posted By: happymumma
Subject: Breast refusal
Date Posted: 06 July 2008 at 6:49am
|
I'm wondering if anyone else has had this problem. My two week old can breastfeed beautifully - on one side only. We have had about eight hours so far with a wonderful lactation consultant and have managed both with her and on our own to have him feed from the other side four or five times but not consecutively. We can latch him well but he will not follow through and suck. Anatomy and physiology are fine, I am producing a decent amount of milk and he has a good suck. I'm just not sure that we are going to be able to change his lack of desire to feed from that side.
Every feed has become a bit of a battle and I'm reduced to tears just thinking about it. I really really want to breastfeed but am starting to think he will have a much happier mummy if I give up. Does anyone have any bright ideas - or has anyone experienced this and had to switch to formula?? I've decided Monday is D day - we have worked so hard for two weeks but I'm at breaking point and because I'm feeding him and then expressing it takes forever. I'm going to need to make a decision soon so any advice would be very gratefully received. ETA: pain is not an issue - I get that little bit of initial let down sensation but other than that I know (according to the lactation consultant) that I am doing things correctly. |
Replies:
Posted By: MissAngel
Date Posted: 06 July 2008 at 7:10am
|
For some reason Thomas did this as well. He'd feed wonderfully on the left, but not on the right. I have a smaller nipple on the right, but he'd still latch and not suck (maybe it felt different and he didnt like it? lol) Its great that you're expressing and getting that breastmilk to him however :D
You need to do what YOU feel is best - I gave up after 2 weeks - but then I didnt have the supply anyway so it had to be done, and I needed to go back on my meds. I'm sure someone will have some lovely advice for you - i'm not an experienced mummy, so I wouldnt know what to suggest other than you doing what you feel is best :) ------------- Alex, Thomas and Lily http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> 
|
Posted By: happymumma
Date Posted: 06 July 2008 at 7:15am
|
MissAngel you are two weeks more experienced than me so at least hearing about your experience makes me feel like I'm not on my own - thanks.
Just wish I didn't feel so sad about it!! |
Posted By: MissAngel
Date Posted: 06 July 2008 at 7:22am
|
Ah it's natural to feel sad *hugs* But try not to stress too much, at least you're giving it a bloody good go! I didnt go to a lactation consultant. ------------- Alex, Thomas and Lily http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">
|
Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 06 July 2008 at 8:32am
| I had issues from the beginning with feeding Daniel. First didn't want to latch then got good at one side and not the other. I battled with him and after after 3 weeks he finally got the hang of it. But he had intermitant issues every couple of weeks and I finally got fed up at 3 months. I had a goal to at least make it to 2 weeks, once that arrived I wanted to make 3 weeks and then 4 weeks. Then finally 3 months. |
Posted By: Bizzy
Date Posted: 06 July 2008 at 10:00am
|
dont worry too much, you can still successfully breastfeed, even if it is from one side only. most babies show a preference to one side over the other. you can try different holds and offering it to him first, but if he doesnt want that side dont stress just offer the other. ------------- http://www.myfitnesspal.com/weight-loss-ticker"> 
|
Posted By: Kim
Date Posted: 06 July 2008 at 10:34am
|
My sister has just had the same problem - could not feed from the left side. He would latch but not suck.
What her midwife had her do was hop in the bath with him to latch on the left side. Sounds weird but it actually worked. She had to do it for a few days but he is now 3 weeks old and latches on both sides with no problems at all. Good luck! ------------- Zac Mark - 30.11.05 Samara Ailsa - 13.08.07 |
Posted By: toniellis
Date Posted: 06 July 2008 at 10:39am
|
Yeah you can definitely just feed from one side. My Bestie feed her girl for 8 months on just one side after trying unsuccessfully for 2 months to get her to take both sides.
You might also find that you hold Bubs ever so slightly different on one side than the other. Maybe try different holds to see if it makes a difference. And at the end of the day if you are still struggling & finding it too stressful, there is nothing wrong with switching to formula. Most important things are happy Mummy & happy content baby  ------------- Mum to Alex (11), Blaire (10) & Erika (8) and Damien (6) Successful HWB VBA2Cs! Soon to be surrogate |
Posted By: DJ
Date Posted: 06 July 2008 at 12:42pm
|
I also know a couple of people who have just fed on one side.
I wonder if your baby's neck could be sore on one side, and if an oestopath or chiropractor could help? I'm sure you have tried lots of different holds already, but have you tried just sliding him across from one boob to the other, so he is under your arm on the bad boob - ie lying in the same position as the good boob, just poked over the the other side? (you would need pillows) ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
|
Posted By: peachy
Date Posted: 06 July 2008 at 1:20pm
|
I had exactly the same problem, even at 7 months old Lauren was still fussy on my right boob!
On the left she fed perfectly, but I felt so awkward feeding from the right handside! Anyway, how I overcame my awkwardness in the first 6 weeks when Lauren was born I used a nipple shield when feeding from my right hand boob. The nipple shield made the latching very easy for her and encouraged my let down faster. I managed to wean her off the nipple shield at around 5 weeks old when feeding had become alot easier, engorgement had settled and I was more confident with b/f. I know lots of people are skeptical about nipple shields, but for me it was never going to be a long term thing, I just needed something to get me over the hurdle of my difficulty in feeding on my right boob! Using the nipple shield for a few weeks enabled me to continue b/f when I was at the stage of "I can't do this anymore, its too hard". Good luck! ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
|
Posted By: myfullhouse
Date Posted: 06 July 2008 at 10:11pm
I was going to suggest the same thing, maybe you could try the football hold on the side he dislikes so that he is still lying the way he prefers (if that makes sense). Maybe once he gets used to the 'disliked' side you can change to holding him tummy to tummy ------------- Lindsey 
|
DJ wrote:Posted By: CaseysMum
Date Posted: 06 July 2008 at 10:35pm
|
I am having problems as well but I know that it is my inverted nipple on my left side that is meaning that she won't latch on - we've been using a nipple shield but she's started rejecting that also. And she is also starting to fuss over my right side as well so I think breastfeeding may be coming to an end for us - but thats ok as my older daughter never latched on either side so we're doing better than that anyway
My biggest piece of advice is go with your instincts - I think the most important thing is that mum is happy - if mum is happy then baby is too and I know how much stress feeding issues can be |
Posted By: jack_&_charli
Date Posted: 07 July 2008 at 2:44pm
this is what i was going to suggest........ ------------- http://www.alternatickers.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
|