Boobie preference--chronicle of the lopsided :) « Back to Group Discussions

[augustmom]

Hey there mmamas,

Yes, I have a baby who prefers to nurse on just the left boob, and a little snacker on the right side.

It hasn't always been this way--he started off loving both, but decided to be a leftie. I actually went without nursing the right side for a while, but seeing that I was still getting some let-down on the right, I caved and subsequently nurse on the right side, too. Not as much of a producer, but he swallows a little. I'm going to end up lopsided once all is said and done, and I look slightly uni-boobed but I guess this is ok--for now.

[Krystal323]

here too, yup.  my left nipple is not the same as my right, and i think it has fewer openings for milk to come thru.  in the beginning they always start out the same, then i get a case of plugged-ducts-but-all-over on that side, and when it passes, less milk is available on that side.  when i've pumped, i get only about half as much from the left as the right side, with equal or more time put it.  le sigh.  

they do even out once i'm not nursing anymore, tho.  

[LunaLady]

When I was pumping I usually got twice as much from the right boob as compared to the left.  Which is strange because both were getting equal treatment! My nipples have two very different shapes, though... weird!

[Jaimee]

As ds1 started to wean while I was pg, he no longer nursed on the right, but only on the left. I think it was mostly b/c he wanted to hold my nipple and suck his left thumb at the same time after having a quick nurse. It definitely made me lopsided for a bit, but evened out when he weaned fully.  So far Avery nurses fine on both sides.

[Mal85]

Yep, she definitely prefers the right side over the left. My left nipple is pretty flat, so I think it's harder for her to latch onto that side. I do notice I get less from that side when I pump, but I'm not sure if that's why she doesn't like it or if that's a result of her nursing less on that side. I remember DD1 preferring the right side too.

[Paigekitten]

I tend to nurse more on the left side because it's easier for me to do things one handed with my right hand.  So if I'm feeling lopsided she nurses all night on the right side and that evens it out.

[Lula's Mom]

Rightie is my bigger producer, too.  There are many more holes on that side.  All 3 of my older kids definitely preferred that one.  My first named them "Eats" (the right, where you go if you are very hungry) and "Milks" (the left, where you go if you just need a little sip) when she was a toddler.

  I'm tandeming with my 2-year-old, and so far the baby will nurse either side.  But I think I worry about him not getting enough when he nurses on the left, since I have seen how comparatively little it makes.  The right side is starting to be bigger but I'm trying not to let them get too lopsided this time!  I had a couple of years with ds1 where the right was huge, and the left was a sad empty little bag.  I had to wear a very big silicone bra insert to make them match in my clothes!

[Abraisme]

I'm pretty sure that my breasts make about the same amount, but my breasts are different sizes/shapes and my nipples look totally different.  So far Coralie will nurse equally on both sides and I try to nurse evenly from both. 

[CDsMom1031]

When I pump, I always, always get more from my left side.

But I alternate sides with feedings. When he was first born, he preferred the left side. Hands down. Now he'll take either, so I alternate to try to prevent the uneven sizes. =D

[seraf]

One side is larger and faster flow. I get mastitis on that side so I am careful about not skipping it but the kids have shown no preference past the cough-gag-sputter phase. 

[jbk21]

I don't think he prefers one side over the other, but I would recommend that if babe prefers a side and also seems to prefer turning their head that way when laying down that a trip to the chiro might help.  It could just be tension or pain when they turn their head a certain way.  I know a few people who have had that issue.  I have different letdowns on either side as well- more ducts on the left- but he doesn't seem to care.  I try to keep it even but I do tend to block feed at night only to try to regulate it a bit more because I get SO engorged at night still, and I don't want him to be getting too much foremilk.  

[KayPea]

DD (2.5) will only nurse out of the left breast - the nipple on the right is different, and less holes, plus scar tissue (botched nipple ring.) Baby O seems to be doing the same - but it might be me. I try to do them both equally, but the right seems to empty so quickly (2 letdowns, max) and the left just keeps giving and giving. The right also hurts me because of the nipple shape and scar tissue, and I;m more used to nursing on the left because of DD. But really, can I nurse two kids from one boob?

[IwannaBanRN]

Levi has no preference. A boobie is a boobie when he's hungry. lol But Casey loved my right one, which is naturally smaller than my left. Since she preferred my right, it held more milk and it actually EVENED OUT my breasts!

[MrsKatie]

KJ loves both sides equally but my right side produces a lot more.  And that side leaks friggin' EVERYWHERE at night still.  I keep waking up thinking KJ's diaper fell off and she peed everywhere.  Nope.  Just me!

[seraf]

Originally Posted by jbk21 
... if babe prefers a side and also seems to prefer turning their head that way when laying down that a trip to the chiro might help. 

My DD had tortacolis and switching sides, day and night along with some exercises was what got her neck loosened up.

Originally Posted by MrsKatie 

KJ loves both sides equally but my right side produces a lot more.  And that side leaks friggin' EVERYWHERE at night still.  I keep waking up thinking KJ's diaper fell off and she peed everywhere.  Nope.  Just me!

No fun.  I sleep with one finger on the side he's not nursing on.  My bra band holds it on and that pressure on my nipple keeps me halfway dry.  

[Jaimee]

Originally Posted by MrsKatie 

KJ loves both sides equally but my right side produces a lot more.  And that side leaks friggin' EVERYWHERE at night still.  I keep waking up thinking KJ's diaper fell off and she peed everywhere.  Nope.  Just me!

I put a prefold or folded receiving blanket over the side baby isn't nursing on and apply pressure.  Like Sara said, it pretty much will keep you dry.  I also sleep with a receiving blanket across my breasts, underneath my night shirt.  Works well to catch those unexpected leaks from an unexpected longer stretch of sleep.

[IwannaBanRN]

I have probably washed my fitted bed sheet 12 times since Levi's been here, because I keep leaking on the bed and don't want it to smell like rotten milk.

[KaliShanti]

Mine doesn't have a prefernce, but my left is bigger, produces more and has stronger letdown.

[LiLStar]

right is bigger and produces more. But I think the left is easier to latch on to. Different nipple shapes. Once they're older it makes no difference though. It used to be that my right side produced a little more but the left side could hold its own. Like when pumping, I'd get 4.5oz on the left in the same time I'd get 5.5 on the right. Close enough. Then I got mastitis on the left side, so fever and dehydration kinda tanked my supply. (Or tanked my "over"supply.. Theres always been plenty for Evan! I like the extra for donating) I start working it back up and get blasted by a stomach virus.. uggghhh! The right side is recovering fine from this but the left side is getting nicknamed "slacker boob". Even though I try to put him on that side a lot to boost supply. Like if I cant remember which side's "turn" it is, thats the default. If I think he just wants to comfort nurse, he gets the left. Hardly making a difference! The other night I got 1.5oz from the left in the time I got 5oz from the right! Geez.