Newborn only eating on 1 side

hnull · March 2016

My daughter is 5 days old and my milk came in Tuesday. Since then she will only feed on one side and will be done eating before my milk is all out so them I'll pump about 1oz. Sometimes I have to pump the other breast as well. She's had 3 bm since midnight and had about 12 yesterday so she's getting milk obviously. Has This happened to anyone else? It's just weird to me!

PS I hope this makes since lol- running on about 3 hours a sleep a day, but baby girl has been such an angel these last 5 days. Will it last?!(; lol

ashton2190 · March 2016

My LO doesn't always eat from both sides. She typically does just the one side and then falls asleep. She typically sleeps for 3 hours at a time so I don't try to keep her awake to eat from the other side

VitaLuna · March 2016

If your milk just came in and you're engorged, you probably won't feel empty. Don't pump! It'll just make it worse. Your body is supply and demand. If you keep pumping, you'll keep telling it to make more (and making the problem worse). If you're really uncomfortable and need some relief, you can hand express some off, but don't use the pump.

ETA: I misread thinking she wouldn't latch at all on one side. It's normal for them to eat only on one side at a time, especially when milk comes in and there's more there. Don't pump the other side!

MississippiCatfish · March 2016

VitaLuna said:

If your milk just came in and you're engorged, you probably won't feel empty. Don't pump! It'll just make it worse. Your body is supply and demand. If you keep pumping, you'll keep telling it to make more (and making the problem worse). If you're really uncomfortable and need some relief, you can hand express some off, but don't use the pump.

ETA: I misread thinking she wouldn't latch at all on one side. It's normal for them to eat only on one side at a time, especially when milk comes in and there's more there. Don't pump the other side!

All of this. I've had oversupply issues with my first two kids, and I echo this. Don't pump this early unless you're working to increase your supply!!

hnull · March 2016

Thanks guys! I'm in the middle of switching peds so I haven't called to ask the doc if this is okay or not. Glad I posted here! I have been pumping like crazy b/c my boobs were so engorged/lumpy/hard and hurting plus leaking but she kept sleeping even sdter undressing to feed and I didn't want get mastitis (so scared of this for some reason lol) I will stop pumping. I've been making tons of milk. Like feeding her plus freezing 5oz a day. I will stop. Thanks again!!

VitaLuna · March 2016

You'll be uncomfortable for a couple days, but once your body regulates, it'll be better. A warm shower helps sometimes, too. The leaking probably won't go away for quite a while, which is normal. There is a misconception that it's good to have a big/oversupply, but it can be really bad for babies' tummies because the hind/fore milk balance is off.

hnull · March 2016

@VitaLuna thanks so much for the input, I really appreciate it!

mommaz1 · March 2016

To give you some comfort, my little guy (discharged at 5 lb 6 oz) only ate on one side until he was 3 weeks 5 days. At 4 weeks he weighed 8 lbs 1 oz. I saw a LC at 8 days and pediatrics at 2 weeks, both said he was fine as long as wets and dirties are appropriate and weight is going up not down.

Vkrosa · March 2016

My LO only ate on the left for the first week then only the right after that due to cracked and bleeding nipples. She is three weeks now and yes my boobs are a bit lopsided but she is learning to eat on both. I rotate from one boob to the next on each feeding she has never successfully eaten on both in one feeding. I have a feeling we will be getting the hang of it sooner or later. Her dr as well as mine said keep doing what we are doing it is working and will balance out in the next few weeks.

kinnonam · March 2016

My LO favors the right boob he will latch here and there to the left boob. I noticed that my left boob flows faster then my right boob I think that maybe the reason. I was told from a LC that if you have to pump to only pump until your comfortable so you don't end up producing more but, make sure you always offer the boob even if baby don't take it.

CrazyHorseLady · March 2016

My LO only uses one side per feeding still and she's 3 weeks old. And she surpassed her birth weight at a week old. Her pediatrician said we were doing great. I also just rotate boobs for each feeding.

hnull · March 2016

I should say that she doesn't favorite one (not yet at least) she just falls asleep after only eating on one side. I'll just have to alternate so she gets more and hope my supply slows down a bit. I was a pumping machine for those 48 hours. Thanks for all input!!

hnull · March 2016

@Vkrosa thanks for the comment!! @mommaz1 oh that's so good to hear!!

VitaLuna · March 2016

hnull said:

I should say that she doesn't favorite one (not yet at least) she just falls asleep after only eating on one side. I'll just have to alternate so she gets more and hope my supply slows down a bit. I was a pumping machine for those 48 hours. Thanks for all input!!

I can't tell if you mean you'll alternate mid feed or alternating each feed. Still keep her on the one side for the most part if that's what she seems to want to do, then burp and if she's awake enough (my LO usually isn't), offer the other. The next feed, nurse on the other side. You don't want to switch sides mid-feed if they haven't spent enough time on one or they won't get the fatty hind milk. Once your supply regulates, it'll be easier to tell when you're "empty" and should offer the other. I hope that makes sense!

hnull · March 2016

@VitaLuna yup that's what I mean- she'll eat on my left until she falls off. I try right and she is too tired but then at the next feeding I start on my right. Thanks again. Also at her last feeding she ate on both, she didn't stay long on the second one but its a start.

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