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EBF with One Breast?

mcginnie86mcginnie86
in Breastfeeding
Okay, I don't actually only have one breast, but I had surgery on righty as a teenager and it seems to have dramatically affected my ability to produce on that side. I drizzle a little bit, but never seem to get a let down. I have been trying for 2 months to get any semblance of a supply in my right breast, putting LO on it at every feeding, to no avail. He will suck on it for a while when he wants to pacify, but I never hear any swallowing. Lefty has picked up the slack and is now a full 2 cup sizes bigger than the right. Yikes! I've been trying to google info on BFing with just one breast, but I only seem to find info on LOs with a side preference and how to fix it. I know it's all about supply and demand so, in theory, my left breast should be able to keep up with demand, right? But I still worry about negative effects of letting my right side dry up completely. Will it affect my left side, or do they work independently of each other? Can he really get enough to sustain him long term from just one side? Does anyone have experience with this? Thanks!
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Re: EBF with One Breast?

  • mdlytlemdlytle
    I had surgery twice on my left breast and was worried about my supply on that side but if anything, that side seems to produce more.  I was just wondering if you have tried pumping your right breast at all? 
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  • mmoravecmmoravec
    I don't have trouble with one breast not producing, but I have twins so each of them only ever gets just one breast at a feeding.  They do fine with this and I have not had to supplement at all.  Also, as far as I know your breasts kind of work independently in relation to producing milk, so if only one works as long as you keep using it there shouldn't be a supply problem. Good luck!
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  • CarolinaGirl051708CarolinaGirl051708
    I EBF (no formula or solids) for 6 months with one functioning breast. I am still nursing from that same side at 15 months. My DD refused to latch on the "dud" side from the beginning. I tried everything - nipple shields, etc. No such luck. I pumped the "dud" side for 5 months 3x/day (to create a freezer stash). My good side was huge, and the bad side was small. I wore two nursing pads in my bra on that side so I didn't look totally lopsided. Now, at 15 months, the good side is slightly bigger, but not ridiculously huge. I only nurse once/day now.  You can be successful with one breast. I gave up trying to get her to eat from the dud side at about 6 weeks, and it was the right choice. You can do it!!!! Hang in there! DH and I laugh at my lopsided breasts, and in the grand scheme of things, it's not really a big deal!
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  • aprilsarahjuneaprilsarahjune member

    imagemmoravec:
    I don't have trouble with one breast not producing, but I have twins so each of them only ever gets just one breast at a feeding.  They do fine with this and I have not had to supplement at all.  Also, as far as I know your breasts kind of work independently in relation to producing milk, so if only one works as long as you keep using it there shouldn't be a supply problem. Good luck!

    This!  If your good side cooperates, it is certainly possible.  GL!

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  • mcginnie86mcginnie86
    I have tried everything. I've pumped my right side and just get a couple drops - barely enough to cover the bottom of the bottle - and no increase. I've taken fenugreek, and my left side blows up but the right side stays the same. I really think it's just a dud and will probably give up on it and accept my life of stuffing that side of my bra, haha. Thanks for the encouragement!
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  • mcginnie86mcginnie86

    imagemmoravec:
    I don't have trouble with one breast not producing, but I have twins so each of them only ever gets just one breast at a feeding.  They do fine with this and I have not had to supplement at all.  Also, as far as I know your breasts kind of work independently in relation to producing milk, so if only one works as long as you keep using it there shouldn't be a supply problem. Good luck!

    Just wanted to say that you are wonder woman EBFing and cloth diapering twins! I need a nap just thinking about it!

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