M is 2 weeks old today! All of the sudden she's refusing my left breast though. She starts screaming and freaking out when I try. I'm going to go to a breastfeeding support group on Tuesday, but I thought I'd ask here in the meantime. Any advice for me??? I'm desperate!!!
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My LO definitely has a preference...I would just try to offer the left side first, when she's hungriest, but if she really won't take it, don't worry....it's probably just a phase, and if she does continue to refuse, your body will adjust!
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M did this twice too and just worked through it on her own.
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@hilsy85: @regberadaisy: hmmm. Ok well good to know it could just be normal baby stuff. I'll keep trying to feed from the left first and see what happens!
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It might be oversupply on that side? Since she's been nursing so much on the other side the letdown might be too much for her. Maybe try hand expressing a bit on the side she's refusing before offering it to her?
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@dagret: just tried that and she latched! Fingers crossed this morning was just bad engorgement.
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Good to hear she latched! Nursing strikes, whether its both or just one breast, are totally normal.
Some things that worked for us were:
* hand express until you have letdown so baby doesn't have to wait for milk, or in the case of an over active letdown doesn't get overwhelmed with milk.
* Start nursing on the preferred side & then switch once she's calm
* pump the refused side
* Start dream feeds or night feeds on refused side (this worked wonders through our nursing strikes & was sometimes the only time I could get P to nurse)
* Spend lots of time with that breast out, sometimes during snuggles baby will be drawn to it & want to nurse.Usually a strike will work itself out in a week or two! Kellymom has great info on this topic too! You're doing great!
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We went through about a month and a half of my LO outright refusing and then another month of only taking the side in a specific nursing position (a modified football where she was at my side and I was bent and balanced over her... Not comfortable!) it could be anything from your supply on that side, the shape of your nipple, something physical bothering your LO (my LO had some stiff neck muscles that maybe made most positions on that side uncomfortable?) just always keep offering that side and try different positions. Also if they don't take it I would pump to keep up your supply. At one juncture I just let her only nurse on her favorite side and my supply on the not preferred side has never been the same. But keep trying and don't get frustrated. In the mean time your LO is getting plenty to eat because the preferred side will compensate so dont worry!
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7 comments