Baby fussing on one side in the evening

[Muser]

My 4 week old seems to be having issues with my right breast in the evenings. She grunts and fusses when she's on and then starts pulling at it, which is very uncomfortable and sometimes down right painful.

She's much better on the left side and will feed fine. So what's the deal with the right? Any tips on how to get her to feed better?

How long has it been going on? Sometimes babes can just find one side left comfy than the other. Do you generally feel your milk let down on both sides, and do you know if it's quite quick? Maybe the right takes a bit longer and she's impatient! Does she do it regardless of how hungry she is, or tired, or if you've offered the right breast first or second? Sorry for questions. It could be just a phase, or it could be that you need to help the flow on the right along a little with massage, or putting her on the left for a couple of minutes then switching, or try a slightly different hold on that side?

It's been at least a week. I can't feel my let down so I'm not sure if that side is different. She usually only does it in the evenings, or sometimes during the day if she's been feeding on that side for a while. It doesn't matter which side she starts on. Which makes me think it's maybe to do with it being more difficult to get the milk from that side.

It makes evening feeds tricky as she gets very frustrated. She does feed a lot, it can be every 1-2 hrs during the day and she'll stay on for anything from 30 mins to 1hr, or just cluster feed. I think a fair amount of that is comfort sucking though. Weight gain is good and plenty of wet/dirty nappies.

Just bumping this.

My DS has been funny about my right boob for months now (he's nearly 6 months). He tends to fuss more on that side during the day, funnily enough, but feeds better in the middle of the night!

Initially I used to feed him on that side in the rugby ball hold so he was still facing towards the left, IYSWIM. Now I don't really bother with that and offer the right first at every feed (because that's when he sucks strongest) - he'll fuss after a couple of minutes, then I give the left for a bit, then go back to the right and see if he'll take it. He's more likely to feed well from that side if he's already fed from the left, so can only assume the let-down is slower on that side.

By the way, I don't feel let-down either!

I tried leaning forward when she started doing this earlier and that seemed to help a bit. She's having a hungry day today so fussing more.

Hi Muser

Sorry, had a fussy baby last night so had to abandon you.

If the leaning forward thing works then maybe you do have a 'slower' boob. You could also try a bit of warmth and pre-feed massage (easier said than done if you don't get much notice of a feed I know) and the rugby ball hold is definitely worth a try, if for no other reason than to rule out the fact that she just likes to lie in one direction more than the other.

An update. She has kept being fussy so I decided to switch position and use the rugby hold. Success! She fusses on the left side at times too so I'm not sure it's having a preferred way to lie. But if it works I'm not questioning it. Rugby hold isn't exactly comfy though, I have to prop my arm up with a cushion or I'd never manage to hold her!