[SamI'mNot]

First of all, I'm so psyched to finally be able to post here!! Life with my dd has been unbelieveable!

Now, that being said, I'm having a slight problem. DD is a "puller". On the left breast she nurses like a champ, but on the right side, she pulls, and cries, turns her head and seems to gulp air along with the milk. At least 7 out of ten feedings, this is how it goes. I'm not sure why she does it. She's usually not a loud or a fussy baby at all. I thought maybe it was the difference in nipple shapes, but since my milk supply has become more established, they're pretty symmetrical.

I was doing some research and I thought perhaps hyperactive letdown could be the culprit, or it could be the difference between my nipples, or maybe she's just formed a preference for the left side. I don't know for sure, though. No matter what it is, it's so frustrating for me and it's heartbreaking to see her so uncomfortable while she's nursing. I've tried different holds with her, and expressing some milk before nursing to relax the MER, but they haven't been solutions.

Has anyone been through something like this before? Any suggestions? Maybe I've overlooked something? Or maybe I should try something again?

 

[artgoddess]

Have you tried side lying? DS and I do this all the time, and I can start with the favored breast and then without him noticing hardly switch to the other. I just have to lean a little more or less, depending on which side we are on.

 

[rubelin]

When you hold her on that shoulder does she also get upset?? It sounds like it might be a bit of torticollis, where the muscles on one side of the neck are a bit tight. It's easily fixed with cranio-sacral work and exercises.

You also might just have a slower let-down on that side. Sometimes the pulling is to get the milk to just come out already