Extreme Fussiness When Breastfeeding on Left Breast

I find my 3 month old is like this when there is less milk (before bed)and she seems to want to eat a lot - I've found pumping whats there and giving her a bottle has helped give her what she wants and save my nipples from her ripping away like that! and its with my left breast that has less flow normally when I pump, thats why I think its a supply issue. Just a thought - good luck!

My little guy is almost 7 month old and we went through this same thing and it was the same side. The only thing that worked is trying different positions. I would feed him on my left side in the cradle position and then football hold on the right side. Then when he became fussy like that I would have to do the football hold on the left side. So now I do the football hold on both sides and he is fine. Maybe that will help.

My son did this too while on the left breast. My girlfriend is a lactation specialist and she came by to observe. What she found was that I had a fast let down and he was feeling overwhelmed by the amount of milk. So he would pull away then when he swallowed would latch back on. This would occur during the enitre feeding. Her recommendation was to recline myself backward while he ate. This lasted for about a week or so until he got used to the amount of milk released during my let down. He did get used to it and then it wasn't a problem. Thank goodness!

Good luck and congrats!

Jen

Hi D.,
Craniosacral adjustments can be very helpful for infants who develop an aversion to nursing on one side. Let me know if you'd like some East Bay referrals.

i see that many people have suggested that it's because you have a faster let down on the left side, but this confuses me that she wouldn't have a problem with this until she's 2 months old. babies are usually getting on being pro-nursers by then. you may want to look into other reasons. my first thought is a back up to the comment just before mine. the caranialsacial (i don't know how to spell...) work. i'd never heard of it before i had a baby and then 3 different mamas i knew who had babies around the same time as me had problems with nursing, had the cranialsacial work done, and the babies were better. i guess it's very common in Europe to have these corrections done after a baby is born.

you may want to also go ahead and call the La Leche League. they have meet ups and you can go there and get free advice. they love to help. i found the name and numbers for 3 consultants in this town alone.

also, i suggest not pumping and then giving a bottle because this will have an effect on your supply. it will eventually cause your body to not produce enough. your body needs the baby to stimulate the milk in order to keep up the supply, the pump is not good enough.

I had a few problems with this at some point and I found that it helped to sit my son up and burp him when he got really fussy, then go back to feed him on the same side. Sometimes it was a gas bubble and sometimes it wasn't, but it usually helped me!

Dear D.,
Both of my babies did the same thing at some point. I think they just have a preference for what feels most comfortable much the way we prefer to sleep on a certain side. Just stick with it and try changing positions or feeding on the left side first. My son was happiest if I could lay down to nurse him.
Don't worry, there's nothing wrong. Just find a different way for her to be comfortable on that side.

Congratulations and good luck!

Yes my baby did the same thing early on. Only on one side ,I think the left which is my more producing side. It was quite a scene nursing her and I never did in public because of her pulling off ,yelling and squriming (like it was torture) when she nursed on that side. I just hung in there through it. She still is a rough nurser. Don't know why they do this sometimes. Just don't get discouraged and nurse where your comfortable about it so you stay relaxed. Congratulations on your little baby.

I had to lean back or completely lay back to nurse her on my left side. I produced more milk and it came out way too fast for my baby to swallow. she chocked constantly, she couldn't keep up with the flow.

Hi there- may sound strange but your baby may benefit from a visit to the chiropractor...we did this at 1 week and them again...dr. pressed a few spots on the baby's back, and he was fine...took the other boob....though they always have a favorite boob!!! good luck!!!

You could check with a lactation consultant to make sure its not reflux. Try calling Joanna Koch at PAMF.

I don't have a reason but my son did the same thing when he was around 3 months. He grew out of it after a few weeks. Sometimes I guess they just have a preference. I would just start the feeding with the "bad side" and then end with the other side but I would pump after to make sure that both breasts were emptied.

Mommies and Babies (and Daddies) alike have better digestion when lying on your left side. Better circulation too. Whenever you have a fussy or gassy baby it is reccomended to lie them on their left side. Try feeding her in the football position - put her sorta under your arm with her feet behind your arm and feed her sorta backwards lying on her left side. It might help.

Congratulations on your baby. Have fun!!

To add to all the advice- start drinking alot more water to increase your milk.

My baby girl was born on June 1st at 37 weeks. Since the beginning, she has been doing the same thing. She latches on well enough, takes a few sips and then pulls away and starts to cry as if she's frustrated. Her pediatrician thought that maybe the milk is not coming out fast enough for her. Now at 3 months, it's gotten better and I don't get the sense that she's as frustrated. I'm not sure what the cause could be but wanted to let you know that the same has happened to me. I can only tell you that it does end up getting better and when it happens I just give her the time she needs to finish. Good luck.

Hi D.,
Does your baby act this way when you put her to your left breast first in the feeding?

It could be that the left side has a stronger let-down reflex. If the left breast is typically the breast that you finish on, it could be your baby is simply full but is frustrated because she wants to suck more, non-nutritive sucking. If this is the case you could temporarily give her a pacifier until your supply is more in balance with her needs. If you need help with this write in again and La Leche Leage has good advice on ways to do this too. It could be that she is ready to try one sided feedings per feed. It really depends on what your supply is like, are your breasts have a full feeling much of the time? Or, do they feel empty or just soft?

It could also be that she may be frustrated that there is less milk in the left than in the right and wants more. There are ways of producing more milk in the left breast by nursing more frequently on this side to signal the brain to produce more in it.

I am sorry if this sounds complicated and confusing, it really isn't, but understanding the possible reasons initially, can be. Take a deep breath, your smart (I can see that as you have reached out for help instead of instantly throwing in the towel on BFing), you'll work through it. Consult a IBCLC Lactation Consultant, even if you have to pay cash, it'll give you peace of mind. ivillage.com used to have a wonderful LC online that would answer questions.

Gooooo problem solver! It's great your listening to your baby.

ps I agree a trip to a good chiropractor or cranio sacral therapist could help if there is something in babys body that hurts while being on the left breast. Get someone who is known for working with infants. They're out there. A call to La Leche Leage could probably tell you one other BFing moms like in your area.

You need to play detective!
It could be 3 things:
She could have an ear infection on that side and it hurts to have pressure.
Your left side could be making too much milk and she's choking.
OR - That side may be your lazy side and she's trying to get your milk to flow - crying triggers the let-down reflex.
Lay her on her side for a minute to see if she cries to rule out the ear infection.
Try pumping a little on both sides just before you nurse her to see if there is a difference in flow.
Also - get an appointment with a lactation consultant to help you resolve the issue.