Switching from breast to breast.

[Abismommy]

My DD is 14 months old, and still nurses like a newborn..lol. Anyways about a month ago she started something that is kind of annoying. Switching from breast to breast..constantly. We may have 5 or 6 switches in one session! It is beyond frustrating. I have tried telling her no, you have this boobie first, and covering the other up. She throws a huge fit, smacks my boob, then growls at me! Tries to throw herself off my lap..just so tiring! Sometimes she only wants a certain breast, and refuses the other all together. Can anyone tell me why this may be? Or offer any tips? Thanks!

[Llyra]

1. It may just be a behavioral thing. She may have discovered that it's fun to get a rise out of mama, by switching. Or she may just enjoy the fast flow she gets on the new breast, because often switching elicits a new letdown of milk. My kids at that age had side preferences, and engaged in all sorts of irritating behaviors like insisting on nursing positions that were uncomfortable for me, or pinching and fiddling with the other breast, or other stuff like that. What I did was to tolerate it up until the point that it drove me nuts, and then I'd put an end to the session. If they got mad, I put them down for a minute and redirected them to some other activity, and refused to nurse again for a few minutes at least. Not as a discipline thing-- they're really little to understand stuff like that. Just to regain my patience, and in the hopes that they would move on to something else and give me a break.

2. It may also be a supply thing. Switch-nursing (frequently switching during one nursing session) is a classic and very effective supply-increasing technique, precisely BECAUSE switching often elicits subsequent letdowns, and sends the message to your breasts that more milk is needed. If she's suddenly wanting more milk than she wanted before, or you're experiencing some kind of dip in your supply, she may be trying to increase it again. Has your period come back? Do you notice any relationship between this switching and your menstrual cycle? My DS used to complain bitterly about my supply when my period was due to come (mine came back at about 12 months) and then a few days after it was over, he'd be happy again and settle down to nurse normally.

[Abismommy]

I did get my cycle back! Been bleeding on and off for 6 weeks due to a new iud too

[Llyra]

Originally Posted by Abismommy

I did get my cycle back! Been bleeding on and off for 6 weeks due to a new iud too

Do you think it's possible it's a supply issue, then? If it is, I would probably tolerate the switching, as much as I could, in the hopes that it would help.

I don't know anything about IUDs, I've never had one, so I don't know if there are supply issues associated with having one, or adjusting to having a new one. Maybe somebody else knows something...

[Abismommy]

Originally Posted by Llyra

Do you think it's possible it's a supply issue, then? If it is, I would probably tolerate the switching, as much as I could, in the hopes that it would help.

I don't know anything about IUDs, I've never had one, so I don't know if there are supply issues associated with having one, or adjusting to having a new one. Maybe somebody else knows something...

It's very possible that it is, I will go to whole foods later, and see if they have anything that could help up my supply. I eat well, enjoy oatmeal, the occasional beer at night after the kids have gone to sleep, drink so much water. She has been tugging at them more and pawing them while nursing..it all makes sense! She is only 14 months old and I don't want to end our nursing relationship any time soon! We've already been through so much together while nursing.