Only nursing from one side

[twobears]

Has anyone experienced this. While nursing my dd i was experiencing some pain that became unbearable after nursing and lasted a few hours, but only on the right breast. This began to occur when mydd was @ a year old and i was @ 2 months pregnant. I went to 2 lactation consultants, was treated for thrush but nothing helped, and it only seems to occur on the right side. I stopped nursing on that side and until she was @ 15 months continued to nuse her. Now my ds is 6 months old and for the past couple of weeks the pain is back. I've given up feeding him on the right side I just can't handle the pain. He seems fine on the one side and from all the info i've read my breasts should adjust and provide enough milk for him, he does seem satisfied and we will be starting solids very soon.

[puddle]

I know there have been plenty of women who only nursed from one side, and as long as your baby is thriving, gaining weight, and having enough wet diapers you should be fine. Good for you for sticking with it!
What kind of pain is it? The LCs didn't have any ideas what it could be besides thrush?

[mama24-7]

As the PP'er said, you can sustain your baby from your one breast. I think it was Mothering Mag who had an article a year or two ago about a mother who nursed her twins from one breast!!!

Have you tried talking w/ an LLL Leader? She may have other ideas for you.

Do you remember how your nipple looked when it came out of either of your child's mouths? That may give a clue to what the problem was.

Also, have you mentioned this pain to your midwife or doctor?

Feel free to PM me if you'd rather answer that way.

Sus

[twobears]

The pain starts as a stinging shooting pain, then it becomes an intense pain that seems to be throughout all my breast tissue. I was crying after bf, couldn't sleep and when it finally stopped it seemed time to bf again. My nipples seemed fine after bf. The doctor I hadwhen it occured with my dd was no help my LC had to tell me to tell her it could be thrush and what to prescribe. This time around I just stopped nursing on that side to avoid the pain. So far things are going well with my ds. Thanks for the information!

[katja]

I've been nursing on one side since last March. I had cracked a rib, and it was painful to lie on that side. It has worked out fine, aside from the lopsidedness. I was really upset about it at first though. I hope the pain goes away for you.

[guestmama9904]

get a second opinion mama! some docs do not know much about breastfeeding and the illnesses associated with it. i had recurring thrush for 1.5 years and it felt like how you described your pain. i think it is thrush and you may need to be aggressive in treating it as it can seem to like to stay put. i ended up needing to take diflucan internally for a month. of course i also supplemented with a multi vit, acidophilus and a low sugar diet. i also tried gentian violet but found it embarassing to bring ds to daycare and have to explain why his mouth was bright purple! i really encourage you to see a different doc, perhaps an ob or a nurse midwife who can rx something for you.

that being said, yes, you could sustain a baby on one breast. my son preferred my left side and it therefore became the side that produced the best and also was much bigger than my r side.

[frickchen]

Originally Posted by arismama!

get a second opinion mama! some docs do not know much about breastfeeding and the illnesses associated with it. i had recurring thrush for 1.5 years and it felt like how you described your pain. i think it is thrush and you may need to be aggressive in treating it as it can seem to like to stay put. i ended up needing to take diflucan internally for a month. of course i also supplemented with a multi vit, acidophilus and a low sugar diet. i also tried gentian violet but found it embarassing to bring ds to daycare and have to explain why his mouth was bright purple! i really encourage you to see a different doc, perhaps an ob or a nurse midwife who can rx something for you.

that being said, yes, you could sustain a baby on one breast. my son preferred my left side and it therefore became the side that produced the best and also was much bigger than my r side.

I agree! Sounds like your LCs are missing something. You could have ductal thrush or vasospasm. . . Call your local LLL and get some help!

While one-sided nursing works, it doesn't seem like the best solution to the problem--my boobs are lopsided enough with DD nursing on both of them! Plus, if it is thrush, it can spread.

Good Luck!