Breastfeeding from one breast??

[Glitterbug1980]

Has anyone successfully breastfed from only one breast?? My new DD2 will only feed from one breast!! I try and feed her from my right breast, and it's a struggle to get her to attach, and if she does she only stays on for a few minutes then comes off and cries and won't go back on and I am forced to feed her from my left breast.

So do you think I should just feed her on my left breast or keep persisting with both?? I think I have lost my flow (what little I had) because she wont feed off it cause when I try to express from it hardly anything comes out, only a small bit of fore milk.

So I need some advice ladies :confused:

Thanks
from (what will be)
The lop-sided breast woman :p

(I have posted this in another section as well :thumbsup:)

[Seacretsquirrel]

Hey - I am sure it is possible to feed from one breast exlcusively - I think that it will mean being a bit lopsided for a while.
I'm sure you have tried it (but in case you haven't) have you tried the football hold on the non fave breast (apparently it confuses bubs into thinking it is the fave boob)
One other suggestion is seeing a chiropractor for bubs - I have had a couple of friends who were having similar problems and took bubs to see a chiro and the problem was fixed - might be worth looking into.:)

[Lateralus]

I was going to suggest what SS suggested about using the football hold on the non-preferred boob. Sometimes when my little one is fussing at the boob I will put her back on the same one football hold and she will stay on and drink quite happily!

[bada]

Yes it can be done, but I think you should continue to try on the side she dislikes. Like you said it's likely a flow rate issue. Blessed Thistle comes in capsules from the health food shop and can help increase the flow of breast milk (opposed to the supply).

Perhaps try calling the ABA also.

Good luck

[prideNJoy]

I don't have any advice for you as such, but just wanted to let you know that 'yes' it is possible. :)
A good friend of mine has (and still is) BF her 2.5yr old on one side exclusively. Her DS was around 7-8 months when he would no longer take that breast.
Good luck with it all. :goodvibes:

[grass is always greener]

I am not a jan-mar 09 mum but i just wanted to let you know that, :yes: it is possible. I have a friend who is currently feeding from one side.

Could you express from the side she is refusing? That way you keep the supply up and you wont be lop-sided.

Sorry again for intruding.

[Manxie]

Hi

Yes its possible. I am currently feeding dd2 on one side only and I did the same with dd1.

I did however continue with both sides until both dd's were almost six months. I believe my problem was a slow letdown on one side and my girls got frustrated if the wasnt milk there quickly for them:rolleyes: I would start them on my good side until I felt the letdown and then switch them over to my poor side so that the milk was there ready and waiting.

As others have suggested I would call the ABA/lactation consultant to see whether its worth persisting for a bit longer or ok to just use the one side.

From a very lopsided mum!

[Glitterbug1980]

Thanks girls for the replies :thumbsup:.

I will keep offering her the un-favoured breast and see how she goes. Its like she is in pain when she is on there... either that or she just gets frustrated at the lack of milk.

Wish me luck.

Either way I think I will keep giving her the one breast cause at least I know I am not the only lop sided woman out there :p

[bootiful]

i have also heard of a few mums having problems with 1 sided feeding

babies often favour 1 breast over the other, but sometimes it is a medical issue (can't remember the name) but it's where they can't turn their head to one side properly. I think that is what the other ladies have mentioned.

keep up the feeding on both sides to keep up your supply and speak with ABA about what you can do to improve the non favourable breast.

You could also try pumping on the other breast to keep your supply up.

Good luck, it's a fairly common problem and hopefully ABA can help you with a resolution, they are miracle workers :D

[LivingINhope]

Mumofjewel - it can happen for a number of reasons, the simplest is that possible your nipple on that side is flatter and harder to attach to. I would try the football hold as others have suggested. I find that my left side is fuller all the time than the right side...my other suggestion would be to see a lactation consultant as they would be versed in this senario and will be abel to let you know if you should perserver (I know it must be stressful) or just feed from 1 side.

best of luck:D

[Nex]

My DD din't like my left boobie either. I couldn't manage the football hold, she just refused to latch on.

I figured out that to feed her from that side lying down was the trick. I lay on my left side with her on the bed beside me.

After a while she would get into BF mode easily and I could use the normal hold after that. She was only fussy about it in the initial 6 weeks.