He prefers one side over the other - sometimes won't feed on the off side?

[Cranky Kitten]

DS is 3.5 months old, he's always sort of preferred feeding on one side over the other but just lately it's been getting worse. He arches his back and grizzles, turns away or bites when I try to feed him on the side he doesn't like unless he's just woken up from a sleep or is really really hungry. I try to offer the off side first most times before switching, but sometimes he just flat out refuses to latch on. He feeds fine from the other side, I think the flow isn't as fast as the off side is quite fast and tends to be the one that leaks even if he's just fed from it.

If he continues this way, feeding the majority of the time from his favourite side is it likely to cause problems? I don't normally suffer from blocked ducts or mastitis thankfully, but don't want to encourage this if it's likely to increase the chances of getting it. And any other ideas on how to get him feeding from both sides equally?

[AngelPants]

I would take him to the Chiro hun, see if he has something out that would cause discomfort to lie a specific way.

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[Cranky Kitten]

Hmmm, I'm not sure that's it though I have a chiro appt for myself next week so will ask my chiro's thoughts on it - he's happy enough to lie in that position if I'm not trying to feed him, he'll lie there and talk to me but gets upset if I try feeding him. When he does feed on that side he also gulps, pulls off and lets it spray everywhere before latching back on and generally mucks around. Not every feed, but often enough to be annoying.

[Jellyfish]

It is completely possible to feed from one side even exclusively, you might look a little lopsided at times though lol. Babies do generally prefer one side over the other to some extent, even I have a prefered side (because of the arm used to support really) and sometimes it is even just a temperary thing. I would just keep doing what you are doing, my DD1 went through a fairly long phase of only properly feeding from the left and I can already tell DD2 favours that side as well. Supply is driven by demand so if they are demanding more or less on one side, then supply will follow suit. Blocked ducts and mastitis shouldn't be an issue as long as you don't cut one side off cold turkey after feeding from it regularly.

[MantaRay]

Many babies prefer one side to the other. It isn't a problem unless it worries you. There are many reasons - as others have said it could be painful on side, or commonly it's related to the flow being faster or slower on that side. Sometimes feeding in different positions can help them on their least preferred side - have you tried side-lying at all? Otherwise it's fine to go with his preference. The supply will adjust so that the side he mostly drinks from will make enough for him.