Left Breast Refusal

[Roxybond]

My 14 week old DS has just started to refuse only my left breast but will happily feed from my right breast.

Historically, my left breast was always the better one because it filled faster and could satisfy him better than my right one.

Now, he only feeds for 5 minutes from the left and I've tried patting his bottom and encouraging him to feed but to no avail. Given the short feed, it doesn't feel like he's empyting it but it doesn't feel full or sore either. I don't really want to express the remainder because this will just encourage it to refill faster, hence creating a vicious circle for my left breast at feeding time.

If I try to reattach him to my left breast in varying positions, it just makes him upset. I've tried feeding him in a different room but this doesn't help either. Thankfully, he's growing well and sleeping well so it's not too frustrating but is just unusual and I'm perplexed as to why it's suddenly occurring.

Has anyone else experienced this or can suggest some ideas as to the cause? There's nothing I can see that's physically different with my left breast.

Thank you:)

[love4life]

Could he just be emptying it more efficiently than he previously was? Some times sore teeth, immunisations, ear infections can cause one sided breast refusal so I guess if it's any of these things you may find he becomes more interested in it again. Does he need to drink from the right breast after he comes off the left? And how long does he spend on the right one as a comparison. Lots of women do only feed from one breast so it sounds like you are doing a great job and managing very well should he continue this way. The only think I can think to suggest is wearing a long necklace for the left breastfeed and see if that encourages him to stay there longer.

Good luck with it.
Lorraine.
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[JabberJaw]

Try the football hold. Basically tuck bubs legs behind you and support his head with your palm, he will think he is having the favoured breast!

Also get his ears checked.

Babies sometimes do have a favorite side, but you can trick them till it passes ;)

[Roxybond]

Thanks so much for your responses ladies, much appreciated.

After posting this I realised there had already been posts of this nature made so apologies for the duplication.

Good suggestion about the football hold, I'll try that. He's certainly getting enough irrespective (plenty of wet nappies) so I'll not get too stressed.

He does seem to be a bit better on the left since posting but is still refusing it after a while. I was wondering about him just having enough but he'll happily suck on the right one for a bit longer. Will check his ears.