Ouch! Nipple biting 17 week old DS

[matana]

I've posted this under the BFing section, but thought i'd try here too.

DS is 17 weeks and has always breasfed with no problems, gaining weight well etc. I've really enjoyed the closeness BUT yesterday and today he's really chomped on my left nipple and left me wanting to give up. Only the left one, never the right one and i have absolutely no idea why.

When he did it yesterday i ended up in tears and cutting the feed short. He did it today and i said "Ouch!" before removing my nipple for a minute or to. My reaction really upset him (he's usually such a laid back little boy) and he screamed and cried. I tried again, after comforting him and watched closely as he fed. He again started pulling it so i took him off by prising his mouth open. I eventually moved him to my other boob and he was completely happy - spent another 15 to 20 minutes feeding really gently. If it was down to teething, surely he'd do the same to my right one.

Anyone know WTF is going on and why it's only my left boob he's suddenly started biting and what should i do about it? I can't keep feeding him from my right only.

move him to your left boob in the underarm rugby ball position?

this way he is still feeding on the side he prefers but on your other boob

worth a try?

It could be that he is finding it harder to get milk from this breast and getting frustrated? Can you express the milk as easily from both breasts?
To ease the Paine you can try chopping fresh parsley with l little warm water and placing it over the nipple while you relax after feeding. Might look peculiar but douse help.

could be the start of teething, sounds very early but could explain why its only one sided (if the tooth is coming on that side).
Have you tried nipple covers - i swore by them when i was breast feeding. Started using them on day 2 of DSs birth and never looked back despite MWs telling me it would mean DS wouldn't be able to latch on properly in future (which turned out to be completely untrue).

DH also suggested nipple covers so may give it a go. It seems to be his 1/2pm feed when he does it for some reason - he seems fine other times and throughout the night. Might try avoiding feeding with left boob in the afternoon.