A Couple Breastfeeding Questions

Its not uncommon for babies to favor one breast over the other, it will regulate itself so that the side less used makes less, it just takes a couple days. Also, my daughter likes to hold small toys while nursing it keeps her busy so that she not so distracted. Around 5 or 6 months my daughter started to like sitting up while nursing(with her legs straddling my tummy) that way she could look around.

This actually happened to me. My son only liked one side. I figured it out that his left side of his body was so out of line that was why he didn't like the one side. I dont know if you had a normal dilivery or a c-section. My son was all wedged in I had to have a c-section which is why he was so out of wack in his back that he couldn't lay on the one side with out it hurting him. I had to just eventually quit nursing becasue of lots of other things. But that could be something to check out.

Try tucking him under your left arm (football hold) to nurse on the left side...this way, he'll be laying in the same position that he would be if he was nursing on the right side.

Hi J.:

He could be uncomfortable lying on his right side to nurse, maybe teething or a possible earache......you could try pumping your Left breast to ease some discomfort....just keep trying to feed him on that side and switch holds, try the football hold or lie down on bed with him on that side to see if he can tolerate that position, try giving him some infant tylenol drops before you nurse him on that left side too.

With the distractions, maybe he's just not as hungry at the time so he's more easily distracted....when he pulls your nipple and it hurts you, you can tap him lightly on the chin to let him know that hurts. This might scare him a little and just enough to remind him to let go of you before he looks at something.

Good luck with it J.

~K.

I had similiar problems with both of my kids. I would thin maybe his ear hurts on that side or maybe it hurts his back. I took both of my kids the the chiropractor and had them adjusted and things went much smoother after that. As far as keeping him from getting distracted try a dark room or put on a neckless that he can play with or try putting a blanket over your shoulder that covers over his head. I feel your pain, my daughter was so bad at that, that she would make my nipples bleed because she had such a strong hold and then would jerk away suddenly, Ah painful. Anyway good luck I hope you find something soon that works for you and the baby. And one more thing pump that one side till he starts to nurse ther better otherwise you can get Mastitis (sp??) And that is even more painful.A.

I would call the lactation nurses for advice they will help you over the phone. can you pump to relieve the left breast?

HI J.,
I have an almost 7 month old and the same thing happened at 4 months, at that age they are easily distracted. I couldn't even breastfeed with my husband in the room. All the suggestions before are good, the necklace or cover with a blanket.
I have the same problem with breast preference, except the left side. My son prefers the left breast and that is normal. Usually one breast is better at delivering the milk. The milk probably comes out faster on your right side and it could be that he prefers that nipple. Most women don't want to admit but your nipples could be different shapes and sizes, mine are! My left nipple is bigger and more square (not trying to be too open but it is good for women to feel comfortable talking about these things) and I do think that is another reason why my son prefers the left. I never noticed my nipples were different until I started to breastfeed and your nipples get really pronounced. I even asked my husband if he ever noticed, he say no. My body adjusted, thank god for padded bras because no one can tell one breast is bigger than the other because it makes more milk. I was told to always start on the side that my son didn't like as much. If I did that he wouldn't be breastfeeding. I use to start on the left side and once the milk got flowing quick move to the right but that didn't always work because he was so hungry and the milk came out faster on the left, so he would get mad and want the milk fast! Now I always start on the left, let him eat what he wants, and then usually pump on the right once to twice a day so that my breast are pretty even in size.
Just rememeber everthing that is happening is normal and happening to many many breastfeeding moms! I don't let it bother me because I know my son is getting the best food possible, everyday it seems reseachers find more reasons why breastfeeding is soooo important!
Hang in there, just a phase that will pass!
M.

I'm going through this right now. I try to cover her head with a blanket and I tell her big sister to shhh until I'm done. She eats super well at night. So well I wake up 3-4 times to feed her. If she only ate during the day I wouldn't be up so much. I'm not sure why the child prefers one side over the other. Mine has done that and I wondered if it had something to do with an ear ache or teething. I try and try until I give in and have her eat on whatever side she can and I pump the other side. Maybe put her to breast when Joseph is super hungry. Then he may not be too picky as to what side it is.

How do you hold him for the right side? the left? If you use a cradle hold, try doing a football hold for the left side so it kind of simulates how he is while on his preferred breast. Experiment too, try side lying, football hold, cross cradle.

As for the distractions, this is just a bad age for that. I know how that feels to have your nipple dang near ripped off from a head jerk! Have you tried any nursing necklaces, or nursing beads? ITs a big bright colorful necklace taht you wear, and baby plays with it while nursing, to keep from turning to look around. I used one with my boys from about 3 months unti laround 9 months when they wanted to chew on it instead of nurse! LOL! But it really helped keep them entertained whilen ursing and not turning to look around the room.

My daughter did the same thing, and I realised that I was holding her differently on one side. Try changing the way you do it on that side. Also, sometimes, baby's feed off of our feelings, and the anxioty of thinking your baby won't nurse on that side might be playing a factor in what's going on. And, now that the pattern is set, he automatically assosiates that side negatively. I'd keep trying, and try to relax. Change up the pattern by using a pillow, or sitting in a different chair, etc...that way, he'll be less likely to associate that breast negatively. Pump on that side if you can't get him to nurse on it...you don't want your milk supply to decrease or your breast to get too engorged. And...try to relax...very important.

A friend of mine that is still nursing her son who is 2 now said that her son told her that one breast tasted sweeter than the other one. Maybe your son is experience a taste preference. Just a thought.

P.

J.,

Question for you, does he burb/spit up quite a bit??

I agree with the other moms that you should try to lay him on the same side when feeding on the left as he does on the right. My son had the same issues when he was that age, but, he was a pretty big "spitter" and was actully diagnosed with an irritated esophagus, not actually an ulcer, but a reddened area on one side of his esoph. which caused pain when feeding and lying on that particular side. Keeping him on his "good side" while feeding on both breasts and a "baby dose" of liquid pepcid for a couple weeks completely solved the problem. If if continues, I would bring it up with your pediatrician.

Good Luck!
P.

It will probably get better, but keep on offering your left breast. If he doesn't nurse from that side, I would make sure to pump so you continue to have adequate milk supply from that breast.

You may also want to verify with your pediatrician that your son doesn't have torticollis which is a stiffness/tightness in the neck. It affects one side of the neck and as a result there is head tilt since the muscles are weaker. Your son probably doesn't have this, but it can't hurt to check it out. My daughter had torticollis and I breastfeed her and I noticed some things you described.

Good luck!