If you nursed a baby that preferred one breast over the other (XPost)

[Meredith]

I posted at the GB too, but I thought I might get some extra input here.

When did they start to show that preference? DS2 is 5 months old, and he's starting to favor the right breast over the left. The right has always made more milk, and he seems to get a let down faster from it as well.

Of course, I'm fully aware that a child can nurse from one breast exclusively without any problems. It wouldn't bother me that much if he went longer than 30-45 minutes between nursing, but it seems like my boob never gets a break! When he does nurse on the other side, it's extremely short-lived before he starts fussing and pulling away - sometimes he'll bite. He's usually much more cooperative with the right breast (the "good" side), but I'm starting to get sore. That, and he only nurses in the football hold on that side, which makes it really difficult to NIP discretely.

So, is there any way to encourage him to take the other breast more, or should I just let him nurse from the righty as much as he wants? I've tried breast compressions to help the milk let down faster on the other side, but it doesn't seem to be helping much. Thoughts? Suggestions? BTDTs? Could this just be a phase? I'd say it's been going on for the past two weeks or so.

[Kassandra]

DS preferred the left. It became noticeable around 4 months - the left breast was larger than the right at that point.

I never did anything differently - I just alternated breasts with each feeding. When he seemed done with the right, I'd switch to the left to finish him off. He rarely wanted/needed the right if he started with the left, but I would still offer.

He never fussed or bit me when I offered the right side, as your son is doing. He just didn't nurse as long and it seemed he was able to empty the right breast much faster than the left.

I'm right handed and I always thought that played a hand in his preference for my left breast. It also wasn't a phase for us - I think it was always a preference until the day he weaned.

[Kassandra]

When you offer the least preferred breast you might want to try breast compressions while he's nursing to help with milk expression.

Offering that breast at night when he's sleepy might also help him be more calm when nursing on that side.

[Kassandra]

this might be helpful for you

http://www.kellymom.com/bf/concerns/mom/lopsided.html

[pawprint]

My ds1 weaned himself from one side at four months old. I had an open sore from thrush on the side he didn't want anymore. Without any coaxing at all he went on to nurse from the other side only for the next fifteen months. He naturally built the supply in that side and that was that. My breasts, on the other hand, are lopsided forever now, even after a normal nursing relationship of nearly five years.

[Meredith]

Thanks for the link, Kassandra. I'll check that out. I've been doing breast compressions on the weaker side, and it helps the flow once the milk is letting down, but it doesn't seem to help the let down come faster, which I think might be part of the reason he doesn't like that breast.

My breasts have always been lopsided, so I'm not too concerned about that. LOL.

[ChristinaP]

I've nursed all 3 of my kids and all 3 prefered my left breast (exclusively).. Now for the first 2 I didn't get to nurse them long. But with baby 3, I've nursed for almost 10 months and on 1 breast. Needless to say I am extremely lop sided.. I mean a 4+ cup size differece! I pray it goes back to normal when we wean.. but I won't stress (too much) if it doesn't.

All that I care about is that the baby is healthy! And I mean HEALTHY!!!

[CatSoup]

Bump this if you see CM, I know that she has a one-sided nurser.

[Meredith]

Thanks, Catsoup and ChristinaP.

[Meredith]

He seems to have evened out some since I posted this thread originally. I think offering the smaller breast when he's sleepy has helped a lot. Thanks for all the suggestions. :)

I'm still having some soreness, but I'm thinking it might actually be thrush related. I'm about to look up some info on thrush symptoms.

[RaisingThemLeft]

Almost from the get go, my kids preferred the right side. It made more milk and I prefer nursing on that side so that may have had something to do with it.