Breast refusal

[jonesso]

I am a brand new mum and have on/off issues with breastfeeding. Bub refuses my left breast 1 in 3 feeds and generally will only take it if it is after he has already fed from the right, however this is not guarantee as sometimes he still won't take it. The midwives and nurses were baffled in hospital but not overly concerned, however the situation has not improved in the days since we have been home. One day he is OK and feeds fine from both, then the next he'll thrash around on the left breast and scream, or take two sucks then pulls off wailing.

I have tried hand-expressing into his mouth to entice him on, have checked my position, have tried different holds, have made him completely calm and settled beforehand for him just to scream the second he gets near the breast... it gets very stressful which doesn't help things I'm sure! Also, the thrashing around and chomping he does when refusing is creating havoc on my nipple, so it is a vicious cycle.

Has anyone had any experience with this, or heard of it before, and do you have any ideas on how to get around it? If he doesn't take the left breast I express to keep my milk supply up, so it isn't that there isn't any milk there for him.

Thanks for your suggestions and ideas.

[Chickadee]

Sounds like you've tried most everything. I didn't have this problem, but another mum I knew suddenly found her bub refusing one breast. He'd have been 6-8 weeks at the time and previously a good feeder. She was a naturopath, and her partner a chiropracter. She had her hub check bub's neck & spine and he made a tiny tiny adjustment. Bub fed fine from that point on (she remembered after that she'd gone around a corner in the car too fast and that might have been the cause of bub's sore neck).

Anyways, I don't necessarily advocate chiropracters for bubs, but some do and it may be worth looking into if nothing else helps. Do be sure to find one that knows what they're doing with infants - not all do.

Edit - I'm not sure a sore neck could be the cause anyways. If you're tried different holds, and particulary the football hold, with no luck. :( Sorry.

[jamb]

I don't have any solutions for you but two mothers in my mothers group only fed from one boob. One of them had one breast that just did not produce milk and her 5 month old is thriving off only one breast- she says it produces more than he needs! I'm not sure why the other mum only feeds off one breast, but it certainly works for them.

[AM]

I also know of a woman who fed on one breast only for months, then her baby decided she was interested in the other one after all, and the mum re-lactated, and continued to feed on both breasts - aren't they marvellously adaptable!

Angie

[Baby Girl]

My DD2 didn't like feeding on my left or being held in anyone's left arm. I took her to an osteopath and the bones in her lower neck (right at the top of her back) were out of line (presumably from being born!!) and it was the angle she was on when put on that side that was causing her uncomfort. Osteo fixed it and she has been fine on that side ever since. I have now stopped bf but can hold her on both sides. They missed the fact that she seemed to pull her body around to one side all the time at the hospital (even though I mentioned it a few times) so I took her to see the osteo.

[mummy_to_4]

I would have to agree with maybe going to see a pead. chiroprator as the neck or spine may be slight out of line therefore causing discomfort. I was going to suggest the football hold aswell but can see you have tried different holds. Have you tried to contact your local ABA councillor as she may be able to give you some advice about it aswell. The ABA is fantasitc.
I wish you the best of luck

[jonesso]

Thanks for your comments and suggestions, I will contact an osteopath and take it from there.

Thanks heaps.