amitymamaThe Attachment Parenting Community

Mrs. Mommy · 05-13-2008, 04:59 PM

I have to say I am pretty proud of myself because I did not even make it this far with DS. Vivian is almost 2 weeks old and we are doing really well with breastfeeding!

I do have some questions though. Her latch is good on the left side but when I put her up to my right breast she doesn't want to open her mouth for me. My nipple is starting to get pretty sore. Insight?

Also, should I be using both sides at each feeding? If I offer both sides which side do I offer first at the next feeding? Or, should I have her empty one side and then empty the other at the next feeding?

Thanks!

nativeprincess · 05-13-2008, 05:06 PM

This is a tough one because many people would tell me at first to nurse on both sides at each feeding but i found this almost impossible because I had so much milk the baby couldn't possibly drink that much and if I switched mid feeding to the other side, I would be left with the one side still spewing milk and in the end both would be sore from not being fully empty, I think what i ended up doing is switching sides from one feeding to the next.

teathymes · 05-13-2008, 05:10 PM

I missed that you had her! Congrats!!! What a beauty! WTG on the nursing too - woohoo!

You can nurse either way, as far as both at a feeding or one at a feeing. In my personal experience, when they are tiny, one side at a feeding, take off burp and relatch on that side works good because they get all the good hindmilk too which can help them be less gassy.
However, it helps to have some supply going first, and keep an eye on that, making sure both sides get a workout. MY milk coming in would adjust after a bit and get fuller on one side only, and then as they got older and could do both it adjusted back.

As far as the latch, keep taking her off and relatching, using your thumb to pull down her bottom lip until she is latched on the right way. You can do alot with your fingertips, as far as shoving more nipple in there and making sure her lips are splayed out the way they are supposed to be. A wrong latch can go from sore to cracked open and bleeding REALLY fast, so give it a good go with each feeding to get it right. Once they are sore it is hard to tell if it is right or not, it just HURTS!
Also, maybe try a different hold. If she latches better laying on her left side, keep her on that side and wrap her legs around your side and back, if that makes sense. Is that the football hold maybe? It helps to be in the comfort of your own home where you can have your shirt off and manuever a newborn around!!

Again, congrats! Enjoy your babymoon!

teathymes · 05-13-2008, 05:12 PM

wanted to add, if you are really full, and decide to nurse on one side only, don't be afraid to pump a bit to releive the other side until you get evened out. When they get a bit bigger they suck it all down anyway. IT is just getting through this Pamela Anderson stage that is pretty umcomf!

Indi's~Mama · 05-14-2008, 05:24 PM

I had so many midwives & people telling me what they thought the best way was. I've shut them all out now & breastfeeding Indi the way my mother fed us 5!
EG - 10 mins on left breast, burp/wind, change nappy then latch onto right for as long as he wants. Next feed is 10 mins on right, burp/wind, change nappy then latch onto left for as long as he wants and so on.

Mrs. Mommy · 05-14-2008, 06:47 PM

Thanks for the advice.

Today she has been eating like a bird. Only eating on one side for 5-10 minutes and then falling asleep. She will probably want to make up for it at 3 am!

Also, today she was gulping while eating and the milk came out her nose! It did not bother her but is it normal, or should I worry?