Ouch! Nipple biting 17 week old DS

[matana]

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.

Nipple sheilds absolutely saved me with DS and I ended up breast feeding for a year. I used them when my nipples got sore, and then started breastfeeding on an off without them, I only needed them for a few months while I thoughened up so to speak. I would recommed the silicone ones (really floppy). Some people are against them, but not me I would have given up without them.
Breastfeeding is very psycological, maybe your producing less milk when he's on the sore boob because of your anxious of pain, so then he starts chomping. Just a theory. Good luck x

these are the ones i had

www.boots.com/en/Boots-Nipple-Shields_334235/?CAWELAID=334508285&cm_mmc=Shopping%20Engines--Google%20Base----_-Boots%20Nipple%20Shields

Great thanks, i've heard they're good! It's really only the last two days he's done it, and it has seemed to be his 1/2pm feed for some reason

I'll see how i get on today. Perhaps my reaction yesterday was enough to teach him not to do it again - bless him, he was inconsolable! I might also try avoiding feeding him from the left for that particular feed.