When I breastfeed my 2 month old on one side she is fine, but when i go to switch sides, she freaks out. It does not matter what side i start on. But if i pump from that side she will drink. I have tried different positions, rooms, everything!! Has anyone heard or had this problem and what has helped! I don't want her to get too used to the bottle yet. This issue is getting really frustrating and she has never done this before, it jsut started the last two days!
2007-10-25 12:07:54 · 13 answers · asked by COWGALmom 1 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
Ignore the person that said she may have some weird kink in her neck. That's not likely
She may just be getting enough from one side. Or you are moving her from the first breast faster than she would like?
With my first child I tried nursing on both sides. If i did she would vomit (not just spit up) all that she had eaten from the second side. I switched to just feeding one side per feeding then switching breasts for the next. With my second one I've done this from the start. I have a forceful letdown so they get milk quick. My second baby is fine with just one side and now at 4 months is doing great.
Save the milk in the freezer for a time when you need to leave your baby or for a time you'd like to not nurse in public. Just because you pump doesn't mean you need to feed it to them that second. Go a couple days feeding one breast per feeding and see how she does. Continue pumping if you like and just save the milk. She may be starving by the next feeding but she'll more likely drain you and get all that hind milk.
All that said, it could just be a weird phase she's having so keep trying both sides but know it's not gonna hurt her to just have one breast per feeding. But be sure to alternate which breast you start with for the next feeding.
2007-10-25 12:19:14 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
By 2 months old, most babies have become much more efficient at breastfeeding. She may be getting plenty of milk from only one side. Are you letting her nurse on the first side until she lets go on her own? There's no need to change sides until she lets you know she's done with the first side. Then you can offer the second, but don't insist. If she's still interested, she'll nurse. If not, she's had plenty. It could be that she's had enough milk on the first breast, but is happy to hang out and nurse for comfort and closeness for longer. When you switch sides, she gets another big let-down of milk, which she may not want or need. Many babies will drink from a bottle even if they've had plenty at the breast, so the fact that she's taking a bottle doesn't mean she's still hungry. When she only nurses on one side, you'll want to start the next nursing on the other side. If you find that your un-nursed breast feels full and uncomfortable, you can hand-express or pump just enough milk to relieve the discomfort. Too much pumping will encourage your body to produce too much milk.
2007-10-25 19:57:43 · answer #2 · answered by cherikonline 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually, "they" say that if you are going to use a bottle sometime, whether it be a once-in-a-while-thing or a couple-times-a-day-thing, that you should introduce it between 4 and 6 weeks. Any earlier and they may prefer it and wean. If they get it once or twice a day and you keep breastfeeding regularly there really shouldn't/won't be a problem. My guess is that she has a problem with the milk flow. If she fusses when you switch she may not like the change in milk flow. It may be too fast or too slow. Or it could be that she wasn't quite finished on that first side. Do you take her off at a certain amount of time or do you let her take herself off? A question to think about. If she willingly drinks from the bottle my guess is that she doesn't want to put the time in sucking so hard to get a "let down" going on that second breast. So, I would try stimulating your "let down" first and then putting her on the second breast. Another possibility, maybe she doesn't want to eat anymore. Does she spit up after the bottle and first breast? Another question to think about, I guess.
Hope this helped some.
2007-10-25 20:36:37 · answer #3 · answered by throughthebackyards 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You probably are scaring her (inadvertently) with a big let down from that side that is ready for her to nurse so it has more pressure built up. When she is older, she'll be happy about it, but right now its more then she can take. Be glad you have milk aplenty for her! I'd continue to pump off a little before nursing on that side for now, and try again without in a month. You could even just self express and that would probably help her.
2007-10-25 19:13:22 · answer #4 · answered by Ethel 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My daughter used to favor one side more than the other, I think because one side came out faster and she liked that. So, I would usually start on the side she didn't like so she would try hard to drink and then finish with the side that came out faster. I know you said you tried different positions but the football hold is what worked with the side she didn't like. Good luck!
2007-10-25 19:18:50 · answer #5 · answered by Precious 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You might also want to have her checked for an ear infection. My little guy would scream like crazy when he got an ear infection if I tried to put nurse him with that side down. You should check out www.opmom.com. The Breastfeeding circle there is wonderful, and the people are very supportive and friendly. Good luck!
2007-10-25 22:17:59 · answer #6 · answered by Slainte 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You poor girl. i have been there done that. Don't get the baby use to a bottle. Don't offer her the good side until she drinks from the other one. Let her cry it out but she will take the breast if she is truly hungry. She could just want to suck on something and she likes one nipple better then the other one. She will get the hang of it. Stay tough and make her take it.
2007-10-25 19:14:25 · answer #7 · answered by greenikat 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
are u just switching sides after a cerain amount of time? Or are u waiting until she finishes that side? you may have a slow letdown ... i bet that is it... just takes a while for ur milk to let down so after she has been eating on one side for a while shes is used to getting milk flow faster and when u switch sides... she doesnt get the milk right away.. has to work for it.. and it frustrates them...
2007-10-25 22:30:02 · answer #8 · answered by Leslie 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Take her to the doctors and have her checked for torticollis. Basically (very basically) it's a crink in their neck usually from the way the laid in the womb. It makes it uncomfortable to to nurse from both side, so they favor one. It is treatable with physical therapy.
This was why my daughter favored my right one over my left. Good job pumping though so you get even milk.
2007-10-25 19:12:25 · answer #9 · answered by Amanda I 5 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I would check with the lactation nurse at the hospital where you had your baby. They are excellent with that advise.
Whatever you do don't give her the bottle anymore than you absolutely have to. I made that mistake with my first child.
Try your hardest to breastfeed every time.
Good Luck!!
2007-10-25 19:14:05 · answer #10 · answered by 2gd2b4rl 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋