Baby only latching on one side

Re: Baby only latching on one side

• aliciaspinnet member

  June 2015

  I'm no expert, so this may not be helpful but I was having difficulty getting my Lo to latch on the right. It turns out it was because I was so engorged that the breast was too hard and my milk ejection reflex was way too vigourous. If you're having problems with engorgement then it may help to either hand express or pump a bit off prior to feeding - enough so that the areola is softened.

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• rsalata2015 member

  June 2015

  This happened with my sister. She let the unused one dry up and boy did that look funny. I don't have any advice cause I never had that problem. Just keep pumping the one he doesn't use as often as you feed. Make sure you at least offer it and try. You should do just fine. Wish I could be of more help. Good luck. You are already doing what's best for your baby.

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• mishmardhiono member

  June 2015 edited June 2015

  Dd was doing the same, firstly it was because I was engirged so she wouldn't take it. The next problem was DD is lazy. Friend told me to pump on left side for letdown before her latching so she doesn't have to work hard for the milk so that side became a bit of a holiday and that worked.
  
  Remember, if you start getting frustrated out down LO or get DH to hold him, take yourself away (I have found the shower is awesome for bfing problems as the hot water softens my boobs and I relax ready for LO) relax, calm down and start again. Putting LO in a cot to cry it out whilst you relax is so much better than struggling along. crying won't hurt LO. Go back and start again, put on a song that takes you to another place. If you fin him to be inconsolable when you return do skin to skin, calms them straight away and then start bfing

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• btm013 member

  June 2015

  This may sound completely far fetched but my sister had the same problem and it turned out her daughter broke her collar bone when she was born. It's very common (I myself broke it at birth) and it healed on its own but until then she remained fussy on that side. I
  Hope the situation resolved! Good luck!

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• MaliKaela member

  June 2015

  LO would only take my left side. We called it "the good boob." Then he started fussing on that one too. We are now exclusively pumping because he was screaming at every feed. After I started pumping I realized that the good boob produces about 50% more milk consistently. I think he is just super inpatient about getting fed. Don't have great advice for you and not saying what happened with us is happening or will happen with you, but they do tend to be really picky about feeding! I would def keep pumping from "the bad boob," you'll be glad to have all that saved milk one of these days!

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• dreamin_green member

  June 2015

  I had the same issue until the lc gave me a nipple shield to use on the "bad boob" side. The lc said that I'm still swollen from giving birth and also engorged making it super difficult for baby to latch. LC told me to massage the boob outwards (from the nipple out) and press on either side of the nipple for a minute to remove excess fluid for an easier latch. If the massage doesnt work I use the nipple shield that the lc gave me.
  
  Good luck!

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• CanadaMom17 member

  June 2015

  May lurker.  My lo is the same, but the nipple is quite flat on the 'bad' side.  I have been pumping and supplementing her with that milk for now, but, happily, pumping and now the occasional latch and feed is helping the nipple come out and it's much improved.  It will get better!

  
  

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• uta10 member

  June 2015

  Don't give up, you are doing great!!! I had the same problem and miraculously at 2 weeks she learned how to latch on both sides and I haven't even had to look at a pump ever since (I am a May mom just reading these boards).
  
  I hired a lactation consultant who came to the house twice and was very reasonable cost wise. I would recommend that if you can, she was very responsive and helped me quickly. Her best words of advice were to have patience because the baby needed me to give her time to learn....she has never nursed before, how can I expect her to be perfect right away!?!
  
  Anyway don't give up just yet and give the little one time to learn...pump on the other side any time the LO won't latch and don't give up trying to get the baby to latch, it can totally work.
  
  That being said do what is best for you, if it's driving you crazy and making you not enjoy this time, there is nothing wrong with moving on from breastfeeding. For me I just needed someone to give me some encouragement not to quit and it turned itself around once I stopped stressing. Good luck!!!

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• dancegurl1118 member

  June 2015

  3 weeks in and I still have to unlatch and relatch about 5 times on our "bad" side before the latch is correct. I have short nipples and she latches poorly as a way to evert them further. I almost scream at that initial crappy latch. Don't give up-- I'm hoping it'll just click for her!

  TTC: 1/2014 BFP: 9/24 EDD: 6/8/2015 Sorry for the poor man's siggy...ticker won't load regardless of how many tips I read.

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• bosleyb member

  June 2015

  My DD did the same thing but eventually would eat from both sides. Try pumping for a short time before putting her on. My problem was when she was first born I was so engorged it made feeding on that side difficult. The engorgement will go away soon and that may help too.

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