Hello...we had our baby last Tuesday (yay!) and since we've come home we've had a little difficulty with the breastfeeding. She latches on to my right breast with no problems but it's the left breast that she has difficulty coming on too. Any ideas, suggestions, help would be appreciated. Also, how concerned should I be that she's only liking on breast? Could this create a problem down the road?
2007-12-02 03:40:58 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
You can certainly breastfeed with only one breast, but you'll be lopsided for awhile.
I would have an IBCLC come and see you to check everything out. You could also go to LLL meetings for support.
ETA: No honey, please. Risking infant botulism is not a good idea.
2007-12-02 03:52:23 · answer #1 · answered by stephcarson 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do not use honey! Not until your child is at least 1 year old (current UK recommendations) as it has been linked to infant botulism! I'm not joking either. Its a very serious possibility although rare.
You need to establish feeding on both asap or you'll end up lop-sided or worse; engorged on the unused side with a chance of developing mastitis (for which you may have to take antibiotics as its so painful).
Make sure you are bringing her up to the breast at the correct angle, her nose is not smothered and you hold her firmly with your free hand behind her head. Persist until she gets it right. She's still learning and so are you. Good luck.
2007-12-02 11:51:06 · answer #2 · answered by elizabeth v 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I went through the same thing with my last 2 babies. I actually started thinking of my breasts as the "good" side and the "bad" side. I would suggest trying different positions (football worked well) and offering the "bad" side first. There really is no problem with only nursing from one side but you do run the risk of becoming lopsided or getting mastisis. The good news is it took a couple of weeks but it worked itself out both times and now I can nurse from both sides in any position.
2007-12-02 15:21:52 · answer #3 · answered by dolfin426 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is possible to nurse from one side. However, I think your baby is giving you a clue.
Since she is so young, is there a possibility that she had a birth injury (fractured collar bone?) and it is painful to be on that side?
Could she have an ear infection? Again, pain on that side?
Try different positions from football hold to laying down.
Call a La Leche League leader: www.lalecheleague.org and you can talk to them for free. Some will even come to your house. They will problem solve with you over the phone.
2007-12-02 13:47:08 · answer #4 · answered by mypbandj 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Funny how they can have such strong preferences so early on. My daughter would only take the left side when she was fussy or sleepy, and she'd only take the right if we nursed lying down. You might need to experiment a bit with different positions - maybe try the football hold on the left side.
You could get a bit lopsided if she continues to nurse on one side, but otherwise it shouldn't cause a problem.
Congratulations!
2007-12-02 11:58:54 · answer #5 · answered by daa 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i was a one breastfeeding mommy. Both my kids only liked the one boob. i was a little lop sided but it worked well for me. Good Luck keep trying and dont give up BF is wonderful
2007-12-02 12:50:37 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Rub honey on other nipple
2007-12-02 11:44:54 · answer #7 · answered by Leonidas 3 · 0⤊ 8⤋