refusing one side « Hellobee Boards

I'm hoping this is a phase, but it's getting worse lately. My LO has always had a preference for one side (left) but recently she's so distracted I can't get her to even latch on the right. She doesn't even try, just swings her head back and forth in protest, but while rooting and definitely hungry. Literally the only way I can get her to latch is if I contort myself standing up into a ridiculously uncomfortable position, lean forward and continue to sway back and forth. I'd post a comedic picture if I wasn't topless haha. And even then she doesn't eat as much because neither of us is comfortable. I've started pumping that side, but I don't know what to do. I don't know if the distracted baby thing is a phase I have to ride out (she's 3 months) or if I am doomed to nursing one side and pumping the other...in which case I'm not sure I'll last much longer with the breastfeeding!

I recently went back to work so this could have something to do with the bottle... I just don't know what to do, because I'm so sick of being rejected every other time I try to nurse her!!

Anyone been through this?

Grace
cantaloupe / 6730 posts

Mar 8, 2014

My LO did this. It would last for a while, then she'd go back to it. It hasn't happened since she cut her teeth at 5 months. I wonder if there was teething pressure for that long? I found side-lying for that side worked well. I also tricked her by feeding as soon as she woke from a nap. She seemed to discombobulated to tell that she was on the "wrong" side.
Pirouette
pomegranate / 3331 posts

Mar 8, 2014

@Grace: it did seem to start when she started teething now that I think about it. But the teething hasn't been consistent and she doesn't seem to be in pain today, but won't take the right at all. For some reason side lying is not working at all on the right, which makes nighttime feeding completely one sided. So frustrating! Maybe I'll try to catch her sleepy and see if I can trick her into it.
reverie
kiwi / 661 posts

Mar 8, 2014

I had issues with this too.... mostly he favored the side that was a better producer, but randomly for a few days favored the other. He eventually got over it without much coaxing from me!
Corduroy
pomelo / 5258 posts

Mar 8, 2014

Keep pumping to get through the phase. My LO stopped eating on one side at 10 weeks (mutual decision). I wish I had pumped until maternity leave was over since I pump both sides at work. I've been terribly lopsided for almost a year now. Hopefully it's a short phase!
heartonastring
pomegranate / 3895 posts

Mar 8, 2014

If she doesn't want to eat on that side I'd continue to offer but wouldn't worry too much if she refuses it. It's probably just a phase. One breast can produce enough milk on its own. I probably wouldn't worry too much about pumping that side. If and when she goes back to eating on that side, the supply will come back.
Pirouette
pomegranate / 3331 posts

Mar 8, 2014

@OpinionsLikeKittens: she definitely prefers the better producer. I hope she resolves it herself!

@Corduroy: so continue to pump both sides at work and pump right side on the weekends and at night? Ugh, so much pumping! I'm surprised you're still so lopsided even after pumping both at work! That kinda scares me...

@heartonastring: I'm tempted to do this, I just don't want to be lopsided! I feel like bfing would be way easier if I only had a left boob to begin with
Silva
cantaloupe / 6017 posts

Mar 8, 2014

My LO always preferred my right- it produces more and has a faster let down. I kept offering, usually making her work on the left side first, or doing the left side when she was sleepy.
By 7 or 8 months she only nursed on the left side at night. By 9 months my left side was totally done. She gets enough milk just from my right boob.
I'm a little lopsided, but its not noticeable. I don't get engorged or super full anymore though- but when I did I was more noticeably lopsided.

The biggest downside is just that I always hold her on that side, so I got tennis elbow, which sucks. But if I remember to use the boppy for some of her feedings we're fine.
Beyond2
pear / 1517 posts

Mar 8, 2014

My son did these for a while. One of the things that really helped was to start him on the left side and then slide him over to the right breast in the same position (I used a my breast friend pillow so it supported him well). Sometimes it worked better than others, but he did come around. Another thing that helped was having him adjusted at the chiropractor. When he was born his neck was out if line a bit that made nursing uncomfortablE for him on one side.
Pirouette
pomegranate / 3331 posts

Mar 8, 2014

@Silva: ha my right wrist hurts from the fact that I constantly have to hold her in such awkward positions - I'd end up solving my wrist pain and causing pain elsewhere! I don't know if I'll make it as long as you did, but I may start gradually integrating that plan.

@Beyond2: so do you pop him off while he's eating? I feel like that wouldn't go over well!! I was wondering if it was her neck, but she tends to sleep with her neck facing that way, so it seems strange!
Beyond2
pear / 1517 posts

Mar 8, 2014

@Pirouette: I did. I had to be fast because it would bug him too. Pop off, slide to the right and relatch as quick as I could.

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