AT my wits end

[Nanay]

DS has always been a breastfed baby since day two (day one I had some issues with the birth and therefore hospital gave him bottle and then he had jaundice and I was told to comp feed but otherwise fully breastfed)
A couple of days ago, my left (*) was sore and it was mastitis pain, therefore I tried to keep feeding him from it and it finally went away, but now every time I feed him from that (*)(*) he arches his back and whinges and full on cries, as soon as i pop him on the other one he is happy until he empties and he's still hungry then I try the other one again and he isnt happy again. I finally resorted to buying a stick pack today, I dont want to use it but if I have to I will.
Any ideas what it could be? He arches his back, kicks his feet and cries loudly, he doesnt even go off the (*)(*) when he does these it is still in his mouth. I have also given him infants friend...i want the formula to be the last resort, hopefully the infants friend works..
Any advice, ideas what it could be would be great...

[the_queen]

So he's feeding alright from one side, but the other side he doesn't want a bar of? :detective: Apparently some babies are fine to be a one-side-only baby. Your supply will adjust in a couple of days, the more he feeds from that side, the more milk you'll make on that side. And the less he feeds from the other side, the less milk you'll make on that side.
You could express from that side, feed him from the side he likes and if he needs a top up, give him EBM. I found when expressing that the best way to get maximum output is to express from one side while feeding from the other.

I wonder if you'd be willing to take him to see a chiropractor/osteopath? I have heard of babies who are really fussy on one side only, for no apparent reason, and one trip to the chiro fixed it all up! There's no bone-cracking these days, btw. Just gentle massage. He might have a bit of a crick in the neck? Maybe? It might be worth a shot, maybe one trip to the chiro could preserve your breastfeeding relationship - it sounds like you are really committed to it :hugs:

[Melo]

My DD is the EXACT same although its my right boob she fusses on. The last few days i've been attaching her using the 'Football hold' position. She attaches well then and doesnt fuss.

[allysophia]

We had a woman at our Australian Breastfeeding Association(ABA) meeting with the EXACT same problem. So you're not alone!

My advice would be to seek out an ABA lactation professional either by attending one of the meetings, or calling the hotline :)

Use words like "I'm about to switch to formula" to scare them into speedy action ;)

Good luck!

[tickle]

I agree about changing to the football hold. It always worked a treat for us. Sounds like you are doing a great job!:D

[Mum&bubs]

My girls are like this :D They are a one side each bubbas! One to the left and one to the right. Another thing it could be is that bub is not comfortable. I know when I pop Taliyah on my boobie sometimes when she is not comfortable she arches her back up and cries and won't suck from my breast. So I try different postions for her and it works everytime :) Either that or she has a pain in the belly and sucking is making it worse.

Good luck & I really hope you find out what the problem is really soon, I know how frustrating things like this can be :hugs:

[mermaidaims]

I also had the same prob... my lil girl favors my right breast and has done from about a month old... she is now 7 months and is exactly the same. I often express milk from my left breast and I give her a bottle (of my milk) at night, to get her to sleep longer through (she still isn't sleeping right through). My right breast produces more milk and when I express from that breast, I can see that the milk flows alot faster and I think my little greedy guts like to get as much as she can with no mucking around, she even pumps it sometimes to get more milk. After expressing milk from my left breast, the volume and rate of milk increases and I don't have as many problems getting her to feed from the left, but I do have to express milk from my left breast everyday, so it produces more milk, as the queen said, your breasts will make more milk when more milk is taken, weather it be by feeding or expressing... but maybe it''s worth a try.
Goodluck, I know how frustrated you must feel.

[Nanay]

Thank you to all...after giving him infants friend last night...things looked up...he started sleeping properly and feeding nicely from both breasts:smiliedance:
DH thinks its wind because DS has been farty (they are stinky!!). He just had a poo after 8 days of nothing on Sunday and then he hasnt pooed since then...am not worried as he is bf'd, but maybe its causing a bit of tummy pain for him (not pooing)? Dont know what it was, strongly think its wind not my supply anymore...thanks for all the advice.

[becstar]

My DS 4 months has been going on and off the right breast since he was born.....we are going through another lot of "right breast" refusal atm. I just express that side and give it as a top up at night after his last feed. I do hate having to express but have no choice really.....and the top up seems to be helping him sleep better so its worth it in the end. Good luck.