Should I let left side dry up?

DS has continued to strongly prefer my right side. This started a
little over three weeks ago. For four days, he wouldn't nurse on the
left at all. He was thoroughly checked out by the doctor at that time,
and no physical reason could be found. From there we've gotten to him
accepting the left side sometimes at night, and maybe once in the
afternoon, but generally no more than twice per 24 hours, and he doesn't
nurse very long if I do get him on there. Yesterday I didn't get him
onto the left side all day and by bedtime the left breast was engorged
and hard in places. So now I'm starting to worry about this causing
plugged ducts or even mastitis. Plus it is just a PITA to continually
offer the left, have him get all agitated, and then listen to him cry
while I put away the left side and get out the right side, which he then
nurses eagerly from. When I posted when this first started, a few
people told me it's entirely possible to breastfeed with just one breast
and meet the baby's needs. So, does anyone see any advantage to using
both sides, that at this point would outweigh the hassle of having to
switch sides and risk of developing mastitis?
--
Cheryl S.
Mom to Julie, 2 yr., 8 mo.
And Jaden, 3 months

Cleaning the house while your children are small is like
shoveling the sidewalk while it's still snowing.

At three months I would not be inclined to go down to one side.
I'd at least keep it going, hoping that he will drop the strong
one sided preference.

Larry

Cheryl S. writes:
: DS has continued to strongly prefer my right side. This started a
: little over three weeks ago. For four days, he wouldn't nurse on the
: left at all. He was thoroughly checked out by the doctor at that time,
: and no physical reason could be found. From there we've gotten to him
: accepting the left side sometimes at night, and maybe once in the
: afternoon, but generally no more than twice per 24 hours, and he doesn't
: nurse very long if I do get him on there. Yesterday I didn't get him
: onto the left side all day and by bedtime the left breast was engorged
: and hard in places. So now I'm starting to worry about this causing
: plugged ducts or even mastitis. Plus it is just a PITA to continually
: offer the left, have him get all agitated, and then listen to him cry
: while I put away the left side and get out the right side, which he then
: nurses eagerly from. When I posted when this first started, a few
: people told me it's entirely possible to breastfeed with just one breast
: and meet the baby's needs. So, does anyone see any advantage to using
: both sides, that at this point would outweigh the hassle of having to
: switch sides and risk of developing mastitis?
: --
: Cheryl S.
: Mom to Julie, 2 yr., 8 mo.
: And Jaden, 3 months

: Cleaning the house while your children are small is like
: shoveling the sidewalk while it's still snowing.

Haven't I heard here about lop-sided boobs from only using one side?

--
Andrea mom of 5 - latest addition Kamron David 6 months still nursing strong
with 2 teeth!

Cheryl S. wrote:
DS has continued to strongly prefer my right side. This started a
little over three weeks ago. For four days, he wouldn't nurse on the
left at all. He was thoroughly checked out by the doctor at that time,
and no physical reason could be found. From there we've gotten to him
accepting the left side sometimes at night, and maybe once in the
afternoon, but generally no more than twice per 24 hours, and he doesn't
nurse very long if I do get him on there. Yesterday I didn't get him
onto the left side all day and by bedtime the left breast was engorged
and hard in places. So now I'm starting to worry about this causing
plugged ducts or even mastitis. Plus it is just a PITA to continually
offer the left, have him get all agitated, and then listen to him cry
while I put away the left side and get out the right side, which he then
nurses eagerly from. When I posted when this first started, a few
people told me it's entirely possible to breastfeed with just one breast
and meet the baby's needs. So, does anyone see any advantage to using
both sides, that at this point would outweigh the hassle of having to
switch sides and risk of developing mastitis?


Is there a good chiropractor in your area? I see one regularely since
my baby was born, and he's also been adjusted a few times. If you can
find one that is experienced with babies he/she may be able to help.
Sometimes a baby can be born with it's neck out of alignment (no
kidding!) and every little thing counts pretty big when you are that
small. It might be causing him discomfort on that side. When my baby
was about a week old, he was only sleeping a few hours in each 24 hour
period. I was going crazy because I'd had a c-section. However, when
the chiropractor adjusted his neck and back, he began to sleep for a few
hours at a stretch. It was a tremendous relief for me and no doubt for
him. Just a suggestion, but worth checking out. Good luck!
Alicia

"Andrea" wrote in message
...
Haven't I heard here about lop-sided boobs from only using one side?

He'd only eaten from one side per feeding for awhile before stopping the
left, so I'm always lopsided anyway, lol. Whatever side he'd just eaten
off of was always smaller. Now, if it's been a while since he's eaten,
the right one's bigger, but right after he eats, it's smaller (though
not by a whole lot), so I don't think of this as enough of an advantage
to keeping on using both sides. He hasn't nursed on the left side for
over 48 hours now. I didn't pump yesterday, but did today, and got 3
oz, so it's still going. I guess I'll pump as often as I can stand to
but I don't want to do it so much that I *have* to, KWIM? I really
don't need another daily chore, especially one that takes a total of
about 45 minutes (pump, store milk, wash pump, assemble pump), and I
have no idea what I'll do with the EBM I've already got.
--
Cheryl S.
Mom to Julie, 2 yr., 8 mo.
And Jaden, 3 months

Cleaning the house while your children are small is like
shoveling the sidewalk while it's still snowing.

"Liquid" wrote in message
news:7%QCb.701200$9l5.179700@pd7tw2no...
Is there a good chiropractor in your area? snip

I do know a couple of people who see a chiro and say he's great, but
have never been to one myself. I don't know if that one sees infants.
I had wondered about taking Jaden, because I know he was in a funny
position at the end of my pregnancy and during birth. I'm just nervous
about it because I don't know anything about chiro's and worry about
anything going wrong and hurting the baby. I will ask my doula for a
recommendation. I'm sure she knows someone and I would trust her
opinion. Thanks for the suggestion!
--
Cheryl S.
Mom to Julie, 2 yr., 8 mo.
And Jaden, 3 months

Cleaning the house while your children are small is like
shoveling the sidewalk while it's still snowing.

nospam wrote:

Haven't I heard here about lop-sided boobs from only using one side?



Yes, but they even out when the baby weans. So I've been told. So I
hope.

Jeanne

"Cheryl S." wrote in message ...
DS has continued to strongly prefer my right side. This started a
little over three weeks ago. For four days, he wouldn't nurse on the
left at all. He was thoroughly checked out by the doctor at that time,
and no physical reason could be found. From there we've gotten to him
accepting the left side sometimes at night, and maybe once in the
afternoon, but generally no more than twice per 24 hours, and he doesn't
nurse very long if I do get him on there. Yesterday I didn't get him
onto the left side all day and by bedtime the left breast was engorged
and hard in places. So now I'm starting to worry about this causing
plugged ducts or even mastitis. Plus it is just a PITA to continually
offer the left, have him get all agitated, and then listen to him cry
while I put away the left side and get out the right side, which he then
nurses eagerly from. When I posted when this first started, a few
people told me it's entirely possible to breastfeed with just one breast
and meet the baby's needs. So, does anyone see any advantage to using
both sides, that at this point would outweigh the hassle of having to
switch sides and risk of developing mastitis?

Well, remember that at this point, you *have* supply on both sides, so
even if you decide to give up on one side, you'll have to do it
gradually or risk mastitis. In my case, since one side was slower, ds
used it mainly for comfort-nursing, rather than when he was really
hungry.

Maybe if you don't offer the slow side every time, he'll be more
willing to take it occassionally?

Other thoughts - be sure to express/pump enough to keep from getting
engorged, but not too much so you don't encourage that side.

I can't say for sure about evening out eventually, since I'm weaning
while pregnant, but for once, due to pregnancy hormones, I'm actually
a tiny bit lopsided the opposite way!

HTH,

Irene
mom to Thomas 7/01
#2 EDD 4/04

"Irene" wrote in message
om...
Well, remember that at this point, you *have* supply
on both sides, so even if you decide to give up on
one side, you'll have to do it gradually or risk mastitis.
In my case, since one side was slower, ds used it
mainly for comfort-nursing, rather than when he was
really hungry.

The breast is staying soft now, even going without pumping for a whole
day. I feel let downs though, while he's nursing on the other side, so
there is still milk production I think. Does that mean I need to pump,
or as long as it is soft, it is OK not to?

Maybe if you don't offer the slow side every time,
he'll be more willing to take it occassionally?

I wasn't offering every time, only a couple times a day. If he was wide
awake I knew there was no chance so I didn't even bother. I don't think
I've even offered the "bad" side in a couple days now.

Other thoughts - be sure to express/pump enough to
keep from getting engorged, but not too much so you
don't encourage that side.

IKWYM. I don't want to pump so much that then I *have* to pump. I like
bf, but I hate pumping.

I can't say for sure about evening out eventually, since
I'm weaning while pregnant, but for once, due to
pregnancy hormones, I'm actually a tiny bit lopsided
the opposite way!

The one he's refusing was actually slightly bigger, pre-first-pregnancy
so maybe after he weans they'll be the same!

HTH,

It did, thanks!
--
Cheryl S.
Mom to Julie, 2 yr., 8 mo.
And Jaden, 3 months

Cleaning the house while your children are small is like
shoveling the sidewalk while it's still snowing.

"Cheryl S." wrote in message ...
"Irene" wrote in message
om...
Well, remember that at this point, you *have* supply
on both sides, so even if you decide to give up on
one side, you'll have to do it gradually or risk mastitis.
In my case, since one side was slower, ds used it
mainly for comfort-nursing, rather than when he was
really hungry.

The breast is staying soft now, even going without pumping for a whole
day. I feel let downs though, while he's nursing on the other side, so
there is still milk production I think. Does that mean I need to pump,
or as long as it is soft, it is OK not to?

As long as it's soft and not feeling "too full" you should be ok. If
you suddenly realize you are feeling engorged, then be sure to
pump/express a little bit. That happened to me a few times after he
was hardly ever using that side, and I just had to express a tiny bit
to feel comfortable again.

As it happens, part of the reason I went to mainly one side was that
the "good side" was getting engorged and threatening mastitis, so I
ended up letting him empty that side more regularly, since he was more
effective than the pump, and I pumped on the slow side to keep up some
supply and to build my stash. I needed to get a stash, since I was
(and am) WOH, but you're at home, right?

Maybe if you don't offer the slow side every time,
he'll be more willing to take it occassionally?

I wasn't offering every time, only a couple times a day. If he was wide
awake I knew there was no chance so I didn't even bother. I don't think
I've even offered the "bad" side in a couple days now.

I think something you said in your OP made me think that. But, IKWYM
- BTDT!

HTH,

It did, thanks!

Good to hear!

Irene