3 month old rejecting right breast all of a sudden .

[sarahhoping]

My baby turned 3 months old yesterday and for some reason he's rejecting my right breast totally. He just prefers left breast for milk.
Left side was always his favorite but he didn't foresake the right side.
Now he's strongly protesting if I try to latch him on right side. My milk drips from the right breast and I catched the milk in a bowl today and fed him via dropper which he took but apparently didn't like it.

What could be reason why he's suddenly rejecting right breast.

Is he teething on his right side? Right earache? Any sort of hurt that makes being on that side uncomfortable?

If he doesn't take it, make sure you pump to avoid blocked ducts or mastitis.

My DD did that when I got mastitis. I think it must have tasted different because she started refusing that breast before I had any idea I had it.

Tried feeding in different positions.

@BlueBooby I don't have any Symptoms of mastitis.

Could you maybe try using a rugby ball hold when feeding on the right, assuming you use a standard hold normally? This would mean ds is facing the same way on both breasts if that makes sense

@HippyChickMama I tried that but he's rioting if trying to latch to right side

When my son did this, I found out it was because I had particularly fast let down on one side. I rang the breastfeeding network and the woman helped me problem solve it with a mix of finding positions to feed where he would tolerate it for a while (lying down /rugby hold/ him lying on me) and catching the fast let down and latching him back on when it had calmed down. Hope you find a solution!

My 7 month has only fed from my right since about the same age.
I apparently was the same as a baby.
Some just prefer to held on that side therefore prefer that breast.
I now just have one smaller than the other.

@Em39ma if he only keeps feeding from my left side, I fear his appetite won't be satisfied. And that I myself might develop a health issue with my right breast like mastitis. My right breast does drip away milk but I don't think it's enough to empty it.

I pumped for a bit. I had more than enough in my left to fill my LO.
She is a right chunk. 6 chins and 12 knee folds 😂. You will make enough milk to satisfy him, you will know if he is still hungry he will get fussy.

I was told that the right always makes more milk (something to do with distance from the heart) so if you’ve got a lot of milk anyway then the letdown on the right might be uncomfortably fast/heavy?

Have you tasted your milk? Saltiness is a sign of a plugged duct and possible mastitis coming. They can dislike it then.

Or teething or letdown. Kellymom is a great website to look at.

Try a hot shower hand express to start letdown then invert your feeding position for latch. So if usually cradle hold, switch to football to make it look like the 'good' breast.

Dangle Express when you express or pump your breast to empty it.

My son has done the same thing. My issue was that I wasnt getting much milk from it (noticed while pumping). If baby gets sleepy on left breast I move him over to the right & he doesnt seem to notice, just latches and suckles away. He will never latch when he's fully awake/alert though. I spoke to a BF advisor, she said at this age they tend to want to feed quickly so they can get on with playing, etc and if my letdown is slow on my right breast that could explain why he wont take it when he's awake. Definitely pump if you can otherwise it can get uncomfortable.

My DD always preferred my right and I would alternate but at around the same age a your LO she just wouldn't latch on my left. I used a silicone breast pump to catch my letdown/leakage from the left but just let it naturally slow production. It leaks occasionally now but never fills like my right - she obviously only feeds from the right and is thriving! She's 6 months next Sunday. I'd keep offering but if he doesn't latch and keeps getting frustrated just let him take the other.

I had a stronger let down on one side, which at about 4/5 months my son decided he preferred. I tried just feeding off one boob, but he wasn't getting enough. Eventually he tolerated using the rugby ball hold on the other side. I remember it all being quite stressful though! I think keep persevering and trying different positions, and make sure to pump while he's not taking that side. If it's a relatively recent development then it might just be a funny phase that he'll get over.

My youngest did this. I can't remember exactly how old she was (probably 3/4 months) but overnight it seemed she started refusing my right side. I persevered for a few weeks trying to convince her to take the right side which was pretty frustrating and stressful. I had most success when she was sleepy and I would quickly unlatch her from the left and slide her over to the right. Eventually I gave up and just let her feed solely off the left side. I had no problems with mastitis/engorgement of the right side, probably because I did manage to get her to take the right side sometimes, so it was a gradual reduction. I possibly pumped a bit too, although I can't quite remember. Anyway, she thrived, and she was breastfed until she turned one. Just wanted to let you know that it can work out ok if your little one is as stubborn as mine was, and just refuses to do what you want them to!