1wk old striking on left side

[gabemom]

My son, one week old, has been nursing like a champ until 2am last night. Ever since he is refusing to nurse on the left side. He is my sixth and I've never had any of the others do this. In fact everyone else loved the left side. He had shown a preference for the right but never refused the left till last night. I have no visible indications of infection. He will latch on for a few seconds make strange faces squirm like he has gas and then spit out the nipple or outright cry and fuss. I am worried about my supply, his weight - being so young. He was doing so good and I am so frustrated as to why he would have a problem after a week of success? How do I pump but not affect his feedings when I try to put him to the breast again? I cannot find articles on side preferences or strikes at this age.

[Daisy]

All my girls have had side preferences. If you are doing the cradle hold on the side he likes, then hold him in the football hold on the side he doesn't like so his head and face are coming in at the same angle. That might help.

[BoobySnacks]

DD did this to my right side because my nipple was more flat on that side. The position that helped me the most was lying down on my side facing baby.

[The_Market]

Have you considered chiropractic or cranio-sacral? I've seen that help, often. Being born is enough to give a person one sore neck!

[Funmommy]

it could be that you have a faster let down on that side too that he doesn't like or maybe it doesn't let down fast enough. Keep trying each one is soooo different.
Funmommy/Nadine

[colinsmommy]

This happened to me too. Perhaps trying on the right side first until he is a little satisfied and then try the left. You may have less coming out on the left and he prefers a lot at once. I always offer the left and then put him on the right when he gets fussy, but once he seems content put him back on the left. Good Luck.

[RedheadbyChoice]

How are things today, momma?

[ima062002]

Dont' worry about his weight. Singletons can nurse from one breast only and thrive just fine (my dd2 refused one of my breasts early on. I had another nursling so it turned out to be OK for me too).

You could try to do another hold on that side. Start him over at the preferred side and slide him over once you let down and see if he'd take the left like that. Or do the football hold or lying down if you have been doing the cradle hold. Walk while you nurse from the left. Try sneaking in the left as the first breast at night or other times he is drowsy. That works for some mommas.

When he lies down, does he prefer to look to one side in particular? In other words, could it be a physical thing that might require an adjustment by a chiro? Your colostrum had pain relievers in it and he might just feel more pain now from some disalignment.

[dodoe80]

Mine prefers the right side but will nurse off of the left. When he was still in the hospital he did flat out refuse the left side. (my nipple is flatter the the right side). What helped me was pumping. That brought out my nipple alot and now I don't have much of a problem. I still have to be careful about his latch on that side though.

Good luck and keep trying.