babies only nursing on one side

ajneal30 · #1 02/07/14, 02:47 PM

Kids were born less than 24 hours ago. At first she wouldn't nurse them at all so I milked her and bottle fed them colostrum. She's a super producer, I got almost a liter out of her that first time. Babies took right to the bottle and drank about 10 ounces each. Did it again last night and went to bed. No worries about her rejecting or hurting the kids, she takes very good care of them and is in danger of licking them raw. They are the cleanest kids ever! This morning when I checked in on them, they were up and moving with full(ish) bellies. The left side of the milk bag had some milk but not much. The right side was full and had obviously not been touched. I put her up on the stantion and let the babies try to nurse. If they went for the left teat, she was fine, but it was empty. As soon as they tried the right teat, she bumped them with her leg. So I milked her out into a bottle for the babies again. Got their little bellies full and gave them back. I figure if she can handle me milking her, she can handle them nursing. If she really starts giving them problems over that right teat, I can tie her leg down and force the issue once the babies are big enough and aggressive enough to go for it. Is there an easier way to do it or am I on the right track?

**mygoat** · #2 02/07/14, 04:06 PM

She was probably kicking because the pressure is painful, especially in a new udder like that. Keep up with what you're doing, she'll let them nurse in a while. Kids often favor one side over the other, so it's mostly their fault.

They usually refuse the full side because it's harder to latch onto.

Alice In TX/MO · #3 02/07/14, 04:07 PM

Milk the full side about half out so it's not overfull and sore.

On the preferred teat, p teat tape down one side, up the other. like a U. Every couple of hours, make sure the kids find the full side! Put her on the milk stand and hold that leg if you have to.

ajneal30 · #4 02/07/14, 06:16 PM

I tried milking it out a little bit and then urging the more aggressive of the two in that direction. He will latch on, suck a couple times and then spit it out and look for the other one. I did notice that her right teat is shaped kind of funny, like a balloon that over full on the upper half and tapering down at the end. I don't think they can get their mouth over the thicker part. It is harder to milk that side too, but the milk flows well so as long as I keep milking it out, she shouldn't have a problem, right?

ajneal30 · #5 02/08/14, 12:37 PM

This morning both sides were soft and pliable. Babies took care of the problem without my help. Daisy is getting much better about milking now that one side isn't always engorged. I got about half a pint after the babies had taken their fill. I am freezing the colostrum in case I need it next year. The babies started to play today while mama was busy eating grain up on the stantion. Was pretty fun to watch.