Slow let down on one side?

[triony]

Hi mamas,

For about 2 months now I've noticed what looked like less supply on my right side. But I can always express a stream of milk. It seems like my LO (6 mo) has trouble nursing on that side, or the let-down is slow.. Sometimes he'll get 4 or 5 good gulps in (i can hear him swallowing) and then nothing. He'll complain and keep trying, but pop on and off. I'm also able to pump much less on that side. I've just been dealing with it, but my left side has been painful on and off. I think due to bad latches at night time, but I'm not sure. Today I noticed blood all over my LO's face! My nipple was bleeding so much that when he unlatched and relatched it bled all over him. THis is the first time I've had a bleeding nipple. I'd really like to nurse on the other side for a while, but he's just not getting much over there. He's never satisfied and just seems unhappy.
Any ideas or similar experiences? I'm going to start drinking some mother's milk tea, and make some lactation cookies.

Thank you!

[firewoman]

My left side has never produced nearly as much as the right side and also has a slower letdown than the right. Luckily my letdown overall is actually forceful so while the left is slower than the right, it still works well enough. All five of my babies have preferred the right side. They still do nurse on the left, though. My current baby takes care of the lesser supply and letdown by demanding that both breasts be out at the same time. That way, she can pop off and nurse the right side to get the left side going again. She figured that out all on her and it works although it is annoying to basically have to be shirtless to nurse my toddler.

The bleeding nipple is something else althogether. Do you have any idea why that happened? Do you possibly have thrush? If you're not sure, you may want to look up the symptoms of thrush and see if you suspect that is causing the bleeding and pain issue.