Anyone else breastfeeding from one boob?

[talitha]

I am successfully (finally!) breastfeeding my son exclusively with only one boob. I had a nipple piercing on my left side when I was a teen, and appartantly that did some damage to the ducts or something with scar tissue. I've never gotten more than 1/2 oz out of the left at one time. I am now getting 2-3 ozs out of the right, so we are doing fine.

Just wondering if anyone else out there successfully breastfed for any length of time with just one boob? Ideally I'd like to nurse him till at least 2, but don't know if my one boob can keep up. I'm taking domperidone to help with production.

[MaryJaneLouise]

I'm nursing two off one side (had a one sided mastectomy), though not exclusively. It's tough -- had lots of nipple soreness at first (Reynaud's syndrome) and supply problems, but I think we will make it to 2 also. I'm on Domperidone also.

Keep up the good work

[talitha]

Wow, I can't believe you are bfeeding two! Good for you! Twins, or are you tandeming?

Thanks for sharing your story!

[blsilva]

THat is so cool- about the twins!
I also bfed my first baby on one side. It wasn't for any medical reason- he just would not take the other side- it was flat, among other things.
He started nursing the other side after about 6 months. My 2nd baby seems to have no trouble with both.
I remember, though, that it is tough- I had a ped trying to tell me that if I didn't do both sides, I would never produce enough milk, and that I would have to supplement, etc. So many misconceptions. And the engorgement on the unused side was pretty bad for a while.

[vwh99]

I'm currently trying to do the one-sided thing since I've had major issues w/ the other (breast abscess drained twice in OR!). Initially it seemed as though I wasn't making enough from one side, but I think I am, though I'm still supplementing since I'm getting alot of soreness. Hopefully, I will be able to wean those soon.

[ottermonkey]

wow...that's my story too. I wish my 28 yo self could go back in time and tell my 16yo self that i will want to have a baby someday and perhaps piercing that left nipple isn't such a good idea.

i hope you are more successful than i.....we made it until ds was 3 months on my limited supply but then had to start supplementing....which we still do at 11 months but he gets as much milk as i my one-sided body can produce.....

its so frustrating to think that a choice i made in the past has impacted my nursing relationship....but on the positive side...ds still loves loves loves nursing and spends lots of time on the left (minimally producing) side despite not really getting any nourishment.....its like i have a food side and a comfort side and he takes ample opportunity with both.

best of luck to you

[chaoticzenmom]

I'm on my third extended breastfed baby using only one boob. The right boob just doesn't do it for some reason. Anyway, I've always had healthy, fat babies with only one breast doing all the work. No problems....well, other than the fact that my boobs don't match anymore!LOL

good luck
Lisa

[adtake]

When #2 was newborn and tandem with #1 I nursed on a side each. Like #2 was on right and #1 was on left. Dont know if that counts....

Good luck!

[Shahbazin]

I recently read in a Mothering mag back issue about a mom who lost one nipple due to burn scarring (childhood accident), so nursed each of her 1st 2 kids on just 1 boob - then had twins & nursed both of them on just one!

[cutic]

I nursed my dd from one boob only, practically from day one. She didn't want to latch on and stay latched on the left breast while she was a champ nurser when given a right one. I decided to stop the struggle and use only the preferred side. My dd had no problems with growing up, she was always in the 75-85 percentile, very very chubby infant. I guess my right breast was able to produce exactly the amount of milk she needed, in fact, I think I had an overabundant supply for a while.
Dd is now 32 months and still nursing, my milk now turned into colostrum.

I plan to tandem nurse and am wondering if I wil be able to nurse my dd#2 from the left boob or will she reject it, too.

[deannaggg]

All i can say is "You go Girls!"
I have BF 5 babies, and well... one sided has its challenges, so I commend you for sticking it out!

Dee

[NameThatMama]

I did it for a month due to a milk fistula. It was tough to pump enough off one side to feed the baby while I was away from her 40 hours a week, but with the help of my freezer stash, I managed.

You all are amazing for feeding your babes with one breast. I'm awed.

[mothragirl]

i'm a lopsided mama too. alice has never liked my left breast so i nurse 95% from the right. i've never had a problem with supply.
OP i can't imagine that your nipple piercing damaged enough milk ducts to stop you from nursing. have you had anyone confirm this?

[mommaC]

I thought it was just me!@!!!

I thought it was only me!! I've been bfing him for 2 years on one breast and plan on at least 2 more!! I feel so much better, knowing i'm NOT the only one, and the babies are all well fed on this thread, so we must all be OK!!! ALSO, BASIL, and fenugreek help produce more milk and MOTHERLOVE makes their more milk tinctures, instead of a chemical to make more milk.

[twinvillageiowa]

My twins both feed off of the same side. One side just doesn't produce very much so they both eat from the same boob 95% of the time.

[mothragirl]

Originally Posted by twinvillageiowa

My twins both feed off of the same side. One side just doesn't produce very much so they both eat from the same boob 95% of the time.

[trmpetplaya]

I have a friend whose daughter is almost 11 months and she had to have surgery on her right boob for a cyst (she had some terrible cycle of mastitis and thrush going on soon after her dd was born) and has been only nursing on the left side. You mamas who do that amaze me Especially the mama with twins! wow

love and peace.

[Chronic Chrissy]

Ok I have to ask how BF one only one side has changed the symetry of your breasts. I am currently having what I call lop-sided production and am trying to increase milk supply on my right side because I don't want my breasts to be lop-sided when I am done BF, at least not more than I can prevent. So honestly, how lop-sided if at all can you get. I'm a DDD30, or DD32 if that helps.TIA

[UrbanSimplicity]

Well, I had both of mine pierced but thankfully the right one works fine. I guess I'll never be sure if it's from the piercing, or if it would have happened anyway. DD nursed from both for about 4 months then decided she only wanted the right one.

[2boyzmama]

One sided works

My first ds always preferred left side, so for about 15 months I primarily nursed left and pumped right. Interestingly, my right side always produced more than my left, so maybe ds rejected it because of too forceful of a let down?? I also got mastitis three times on right side only...obviously my right side just doesn't "work" well. Around 15 months old I decided to let the right side dry up and stick with only left, and it worked just fine. I nursed him left side only until he was 20 months when we mutually weaned (28 weeks into my second pregnancy)

I know of other moms who have one sided nursed successfully. Your body will figure it out and produce more on the preferred side. It will take time, though. Stimulate the preferred side as often as possible, nurse often, pump after nursing, co sleep, sling wear...

Good luck!!

P.S. Second ds doesn't seem to have a preference on sides, so we're gonig strong on both sides still. Although I prefer to nurse left side since I'm right handed (leaves my right hand free)