favoring one breast

[bcmom5]

Hello ladies. My son is 6 weeks old, and he has starting sleeping longer at night... well i had a clogged duct on my right breast because of this. Well little man decides to not nurse on that side... doesn't like it anymore! I can only get him to nurse maybe 5 minutes on that side now. I try different positions... football hold works the best for him. This just started maybe 4 days ago.. and i can already tell a difference with breast size. I am very frustrated as this is my 5th child... and I nursed the others till they were a year.. with no bottles.. no pacifiers.. and loved it. This guy is so much different! Very collicky... has to sleep with me at night... takes a pacifier... etc. So am i doomed to nursing on one side... and having one mega boob? Any help appreciated!

Bridget

[whitnessforhim]

First off welcome to the boards! How fantastic that you have nursed 5 children..that is wonderful!

With clogged ducts it can sometimes take a while to clear up which I think effects the flow of the milk. At least that is what happened to me once when I had a clog. It took a week to finally clear and for my supply in that breast to go back to normal. He could just be frustrated right now with the slow flow in that breast. I'd say give it some time to clear but in the mean time just keep offering that breast and switch when he refuses that side. You could also pump in that side to clear the clog better and keep your supply up.

Babies always know how to throw you for a loop lol

[Nipple_nectar]

Welcome to the boards! Congrats on your baby and your decision to BF!

I would definitely pump that side at any session where he refuses to nurse from that side. There have been moms here that have been able to maintain baby's demands by breastfeeding from one side but I personally, would not want to be that limited.

Offer the side he LEAST likes first, when he is hungrier and more eager. It may be a slight difference in the flow and he is objecting. This behavior is associated with newborns, they can be very fickle. Once your baby is older and has really mastered BFing, he will be able to control the flow better by increasing or decreasing the suckle pattern in his latch and it will become a non~issue.