What's wrong with righty?

[Teeki]

DD has apparently decided she doesn't like my right breast. The last few days she just won't have it. It's getting so full and engorged, so I offer it first every time, but she just fusses and pushes me away until I give her the left. Then she'll happily latch on and feed until she's asleep.

The only time she'll take the right is just after her bath, for her bed time feed. She's on there for 5-10 minutes, which is just bliss as it softens my boob lol (unfortunately I don't have a pump yet so can't take care of it myself). Instead of falling asleep there she'll come off when she's done and fuss about til I give her the left again, and then she'll stay there for ages until she's asleep. I give her the right when I dream feed her, and if she wakes at night - she doesn't seem to notice it's the 'wrong' one lol.

The positioning doesn't feel different between the two, I can't find any difference in anything, but she really prefers lefty! Any ideas?

[briggsy's girl]

My DD preferred the right when she was younger, left now. i have read many people suggest that you get bubs checked for neck problems - it may seem all is the same, but it may be uncomfortable for her and she's obviously too little to tell you.

for us, it was the fact that i have flat/inverted nipples and one was easier for her to attach to as a little tacker. she wouldn't want to work harder to get the milk from the other one. now, she seems to prefer that one (possibly because i prefer it to -i find holding her on that side soooooooooooo much easier lol)

have you tried changing how you hold her to feed? instead of cradle hold, try football hold. or even feed laying down during the day?

[NaeNae]

BG has given some excellent advice!

My DD had a left side preference from very early on and I would only offer the right side first up. I discovered over the course of time that I had a much slower let down on my right side so DD had to really work to get her milk. By 14 months I was single side feeding from the left as she was really only using it for comfort

Perhaps your flow is slower on the right side too? Try using a warm facewasher to soften the breast and nipple a few minutes before she goes on?

Nae x x

[Teeki]

Now that you mention it, she does latch on the right just fine when we're lying down. I just figured that if she had neck issues it would have popped up by now, but maybe she slept or rolled on it funny? If it keeps up I guess it's not a bad idea to get her checked.

I was initially wondering if it was a let down issue, but it's getting so full that it leaks out as soon as I open my bra. She certainly wouldn't have to work hard for it lol.

The left side is a little more comfy for me holding her, so I might try a few different positions first, and if things don't improve I'll get her looked at. Thanks girls

[Kmn]

You can also hand express to get rid of the engorgement - many babies don't actually like attaching to engorged breasts, because they are harder to suck.
Hand expressing directions here: Parenting and Child Health - Health Topics - Breastfeeding - expressing and storing breastmilk
And if you don't want to keep the milk the easiest thing is usually to just squirt it down the sink or the bath or into a big towel.

[Teeki]

Yeah, I've hand expressed a bit when it gets too much. I just wish bubs would take it instead lol. It's still easy enough for her to latch on, the nipple still pokes out and sometimes she'll get on there and have a few sucks before coming off and having a sook until I swap her over. Just another reason to get a pump and some storage bags/bottles I guess!

[MissEm]

dd2 preferred one side too for a while. We took her to a chiropractor and he fixed it for us and she went back to feeding from both breasts properly.

[Snacks]

Great that you've had some success with the football hold!
The only other thing I was thinking was maybe the flow is too fast for her preference on the right, particularly if you are engorged? Maybe when she just wants to relax and go to sleep she's after less milk and more pacifying?
But it does sound like you've found your answer, so that's great news. FWIW, both my girls preferred my LHS and we ended up giving up on RHS altogether from about 8mo with DD1 and 10mo with DD2. I believe it's not uncommon for them to have a strong preference for one side.

[NaeNae]

Glad its worked out for you. You can always try reverting to the cradle feeding in a few months and see how she goes once she has forgotten the "bad side"

[Teeki]

Glad its worked out for you. You can always try reverting to the cradle feeding in a few months and see how she goes once she has forgotten the "bad side"

Well, she has her moments with the "bad side" lol. Like this morning she wouldn't take the left, but settled in for a 20 minute feed and fell asleep on the right! First time she's done that in forever! The football hold doesn't always work either unfortunately, I'm all gumby at it lol. But for a while now feeding in general hasn't been as good as it used to, she's very unsettled and seems to find it hard to get comfortable. I've been meaning to make her a chiro appointment - even if there's nothing wrong in that regard then at least I'll know - but we're moving in a week and life has gotten in the way. For now we're doing ok, if she fusses too much or gets upset I just stop and try again when she's ready.