thread: Why a sudden dislike of one side?

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  1. #1
    Registered User

    May 2008
    where the V8's roar
    1,855

    I would definitely get him checked for any physical reasons but like Marcellus I wonder if it is a flow thing so through the day your DS wants a faster speed that your right just isn't giving him at the moment but at night he is happy with the slower speed (hope that makes sense) I know my right side was always my 'dodgy' side. Hope you find a solution soon.

  2. #2
    Registered User

    Jun 2007
    Brisbane
    1,621

    I had a similar thing happen when my DS2 was about 5 weeks old. Had been feeding great, then wham ... just kept coming off on one side and wouldn't settle down easily for a good feed on that particular side. This happened regardless of a fast flow or a more regulated flow, day or night - it was unpredictable but often.

    I firstly went to the dr to get DS2 checked - he was fine. My next step was to take him to a chiro that was well practised in adjusting infants. Long story short, part of his skull bone (near his neck) was slightly out of place. After two adjustments within a week, he was back to his old self re: feeding. Possibly a coincidence, but I firmly believe infants benefit from chiro work, and our paed said he's "never not seen a baby benefit from chiropractics". I take DS2 back to the chiro monthly for a check and he's had various adjustments done to his neck, sacrum and shoulder. It's debateable whether it's all been totally necessary, but all in all I think DS2 is the better for it. All I know is DS2 doesn't suffer wind, sleeps through the night and is generally a settled, happy baby.

    By the way, I figured if all else failed with the dr and chiro I'd see a lactation consultant, but fortunately I didn't have to.

    It sucks when this happens and I found I couldn't hope for the best and wait for the situation to improve - I honestly felt like I needed to do something because my boob on one side continually felt full and heavy. And I was worried about my milk production on that side too.

    What ever you choose to do, if indeed you do anything atm, I hope you/your bub are able to get back to "normal" soon .

    Andie

  3. #3
    Registered User

    Nov 2009
    In Paradise
    2,022

    I know I know

    I had this twice with my son... The midwife I asked said it was because after you let them refuse that particular side once, the milk turns salty and the bub will prefer the sugary smell from the other breast (thats why its very important to change breasts each feed) I let my son refuse it a few times and just have the other one until I had one huge boob and a tiny one lol.... I ended up having to express the huge "salty" boob and let the milk come in again. Which he took straight away next feed. I hand expressed btw

    Try expressing the breast that is being refused.... Best of Luck

  4. #4
    Moderator

    Dec 2006
    Smidgen-ville
    3,736

    Thanks everyone for taking time out to reply.

    I did say when i posted that i had tried different holds, but that none seemed to be a clear winner. Well, I think that i was trying different holds, but he was already screaming and stressing (and I was screaming and stressing too!), so nothing seemed to be ok. But, if i either lie him flat on his back, or football hold, it seems to be ok. It seems weird to lie him on his back hover over him - but hey, whatever works right!

    Hopefully he starts to get 'full' and sleep better and then stress less etc, and then DS1 will be happier, and I will be happier. If it continues to seem like a problem, then I'll call an LC i think. One of the mum's in my mother's group is an osteopath, and she's always offer to do treatments on the kids - i just feel weird about that, in case something went wrong YKWIM.

    Thanks again for your help,
    Jo

  5. #5
    BellyBelly Life Subscriber & MPM

    Feb 2007
    Melbourne
    5,462

    Does your MG friend specialise in babies? If not, I'd be hesitant to use her (but that's just me!) and IKWYM about if something went wrong, it would be a bit awkward.

    We see a paediatric chiro who is based in Ivanhoe and Ringwood. He is brilliant with babies and is one of the kindest people I have met. If you do want to go down that path eventually, just PM me and I'm happy to give you his details.

    Hopefully it all sorts itself out by itself though! It's awful when they get so worked up and won't latch on no matter what. You both end up stressed, not good .

  6. #6
    Life Subscriber

    Jul 2006
    Brisbane
    6,683

    I'm glad that things are going better hun

    Sometimes mums with babies who don't like lying on one side find that osteo or physio can help a lot, especially if the problem has been there since birth. I can understand you being concerned though, and it might just be something to keep in the back of your mind if this doesn't settle down in a couple of days. If you do go down that path, there are some osteos and physios who specialise in babies.

    Given that this is more recent, another possibility is that he has an ear infection on one side. Sometimes this makes them uncomfortable on one side and could possibly also explain the unsettled behaviour.

    In the meantime, if you are not sure whether or not he is getting enough milk, the nappies will be able to help you out. 5 or more heavily wet disposables (or 6 - 8 pale wet cloth nappies) in 24 hours means he's getting enough.

    To answer your other question, many babies feed from one side only and there is no problem with this - the mum might be a bit lopsided but she's probably the only one who will notice! However, because you have been feeding on that side, mastitis is a risk when he's not feeding from it. Expressing regularly will help with that and also checking it regularly for lumps.

    I hope things continue to improve hun