8week old suddenly refusing one breast

[pinkdelight]

DS2 was fine with both breasts but has suddenly started going crazy, screaming etc when I offer the left breast. I've tried different holds and don't think he has an ear infection as he's ok the rest of the time.

From what I've read online, this isn't uncommon, but I haven't read anyone saying that it got better. People just seem to say it's best to feed from one breast and pump the other, but that sounds terrible to me. I've been a committed bf till now (did it with ds1) but think I'd rather bottlefeed than do one boob for the next four months.

Does anyone have any advice or positive stories please?

Ps: and if I do carry on one breasted, how do I do it without getting drenched by the other breast during feeds, despite breastpads? It's v demoralising.

Could it be too fast a letdown on that side? Maybe try expressing off that side before trying to feed.

Have you tried a breast shell? I use one when expressing off one side or in the morning when I'm full and you can catch quite a bit in one. I think Medela also do a funnel that can attach to a breastshell. You could also just express off that side while feeding off the other.

I've never come across breast shells. Thank you, will check them out.
He won't have a bottle at the mo, so I'd have to throw away anything I expressed. With that in mind, would it be best not to express much as there's no point keeping that breast producing?

And again, if anyone has had this problem and it passed, with the baby going back to using both breasts, please do let me know

I have a friend that this happened too. She sought help from a BF councillor and apparently her position was just slightly off on one side - slight enough that she couldn't see it herself. Once she was aware of it she stopped it happening again.
HAve you got a BF councillor you can go to?

Oooh, don't throw it if you do happen to collect any milk. You can freeze it and always use it in his food when you wean him? Or if you end up with quite a bit you could donate it to a milkbank. Or when he is able to use a cup you could put it in that rather than a bottle?

Just some ideas.

My baby did this (he's 10 wks old now). He randomly develops a preference for one boob, then gets over it. Then does the other. etc. Perhaps it will pass on its own w/o huge interventions...