Help! Baby suddenly refusing one side!

Milkology Q&A

Question:

My 8 month old only likes to nurse on my right side. I've tried different positions but about half the time I can only get him to latch on for a couple of minutes. The other half of the time he completely refuses to nurse on that side at all. He's always preferred that side but the past couple of months it has been harder. I don't think it's a fast flow since there's a lot less on that side now but he pops off once the let down starts.

Baby suddenly Refusing One Side Breastfeeding

Answer:

I can’t tell you how common this is. You are definitely not alone. In general, if your baby is gaining weight well and is happy, you can just let this go. You might end up lopsided, but in general, it’s possible to feed a baby mostly from one side. Some moms breastfeed successfully with just one breast! It sounds like he might be frustrated with the slower flow on that side. If you want to encourage more breastfeeding on the other side, it might help if you pump a little right before latching on to get the milk flowing. Gently squeezing the breast while nursing can also help with flow. If you need further help, you may want to visit a lactation professional to check on latching and positioning and offer tips for that.