Favourite Side

Ok so Mac is 8 weeks old, and fully BF.

In the last few weeks he's started favouring a side.
Normally when I feed, it's feed one side, change, offer the other side. I have also tried feeding just one side for both halves of a feed but that isn't working either.

If I feed right side first, left side second, we have no issues BUT, if I go left side first, right side second, then we got a war on our hands.
Mac will squirm, scream, scratch, pinch and punch if I ever try to give him the right side second. I've ended up feeding him right to left at night and publically (well you know, when we're out and about) to avoid being beaten up at 3am or publically. Or I just give him the left side for the whole feed.
I am aware that he's not hurting me on purpose, I'm trying to figure out WHY he's kicking up so much of a stink on this side.
It's almost like he's uncomfortable or in pain but why?
It's not Reflux cause he'd do it on both sides wouldn't he? Plus he doesn't have the normal acid breath that comes with Reflux. Although he does have some reflux, it only appears every now and then and not that bad.

This has kind of come out more as a rant than anything but if anyone has any sugestions as to why and what I can do, please share.

Could he be getting more from the left side and not needing the second side....??? I have no clue really, its been a while.

Oh good idea T_Rex. Will try that rugby hold next time and see what happens.

FreeSpirit - Why do you say ears? Like an infection? Not that I'm doubting the suggestion but would like to know the reasoning behind it to see if I can discount it or if I really should get his ears checked. His hearing is fine I know that much.

Sometimes if they have a minor infection or fluid build up laying on that side causes them discomfort.

Hope that this is a short term problem for you. I can not really offer any advice but your story sounds identical to what Willow did.
At 8weeks she decided that left was best and would only take the right if offered first or middle of the night. Unfortunity (sp?) for me by 10weeks she would scream and ache her back to both sides. It didn't matter which side, how I held her. Also by 10weeks she was going 8-10.5hours at night with no wet nappies so we started formula top up. By 12weeks it was really starting to get to me emotionally as I had feed Lilly for 13months and had good intentions of doing the same for Willow but she had different ideas.

I would speck to plunket if he starts to get worst. Hopefully they have better advice in your area than they do here. They told me to make Willow go hungry until she would take me. The one night I try this I ended up giving in and gave her a bottle ... she drank 210mls!!!

Best of luck and I hope things improve.

T_Rex wrote: Could you try feeding in rugby hold on the *bad* side? That way, if he still fusses, you'll know he has an issue with the breast, whereas if he doesn't, you'll know he's got an issue with lying on that side? If it seems to be an issue with lying on that side, does he fuss if you rugby hold him on the *good* breast?

Ditto to that. I had a 'duff' side (my left) and feeding him in 'rugby' hold was the only way he'd feed off that side for ages. Then one day, as quickly as he started getting "fussy' he stopped. LOL They like to keep us guessing I reckon.

I'm definately more comfy feeding from my left side. Don't really know why as I am right handed. I get a bit awkward trying to latch him onto my right side, maybe cause I'm using my left arm to hold him up???

Anyways, will try different holds.

Can anyone recommend a website or something to show me how to feed laying down. I managed to do it once when he was about 2 weeks old but I'm sure it was a fluke cause I can't seem to get it to happen again.

Oh and I am right handed too, yet preferred my left side....weird huh!

The chances are that the side that he fusses on doesn't have as good a let down than the other? I am lopsided for this very reason. He's happy when given the slow side first but always finished on the good side. If I feed the good side he never takes the slow side.

Lying down just lie him close to your breast. & you can support your head on your arm or pillow. You might find he self latches or you might need to use your top arm to help put your boob in his mouth. I used to bring my knees up to sorta spoon around & also just incase bubs decided to squirm down the bed.

Im lopsided too, if we are lying in bed and i try and offer lefty first he will climb over me and go for old faithful. Was the same back in the early days, he would feed great off one side but not poor lefty :P