can I feed from just one breast?

[phoebebouffet]

My lo is 13 days old and bf was going really well until this morning when I noticed the underneath half of my breast was going red, when i bf my 1st child now 4 i ended up in hospital with cellulitis and 2 breast abcesses, I didn't actually need to go to theatre for them but the surgeon did stick a needle in which then created a gaping hole in my breast - nice. Anyway, have been to out of hours doctors today and he gave me 500mg flucloxacilin and said I need to go and see GP tomorrow, I think he was close to sending me to hosp today, but really don't want to, have no temp not in terrible pain, boob is just a bit red, sore and tight.

Anyway, last time they told me to feed and feed and feed from that one but my question is doesn't that just create more milk? Again, Dr today said to feed and express as much as poss so my question is do i hand express or pump? Again i was told earlier in the week by mw not to pump because it creates too much milk. Again last time everything seemed to get better when i stopped bfeeding. The other boob is absolutely fine and bf is going really well apart from this so I'd like to feed just from this one, what does everyone think?

I just fed from one with DS1 - he just seemed to be more comfortable on that side. It was fine
I would pay more attention to the MW on breastfeeding issues than a doctor TBH!

I fed from one with both ofd mine

Yes you can feed from one breast only. Do be sure to express off the other breast because you need to engorgement etc to go down. Yes it will create more milk but it should be manageable.

Remember to massage both of your breasts regularly. And do talk to a Lactation Consultant. I'm sure that there are a few on MN, but seeing someone face to face would be good. Here's a lovely one

You can certainly just use 1 breast successfully, maybe just express a little off the affected breast to reduce volume a little and slow milk production that side.

If you end up feeding from one boob you can continue as normal. I fed DD with one side from 3 weeks to 18 months :)

That's what I thought mumble, thanks everyone, anyone got any tips for the red area and possible abcess? Maybe I need to start a new thread!

Pheobe- I'm just after a nasty case of mastitis- heat pads worked well as did hot baths and hot water bottles held close followed by lots of massage. I had the most awfull flu like symptoms, and had been on fluclox but after ten days had to get a different antibiotic as it just wouldn't shift.
You post has helped me, although I can now feed from the 'sore side' both me and DD prefer the other side. I've been close to giving up, in fact I've given her the odd bottle of formula. Maybe after reading I will try using one side for a bit and see how I feel... I hope your feeling better soon and please try get as much rest as possible, everything but the baby can wait xxx

A BF councilor suggested laying the baby flat on a pillow with me on all fours over her to feed so as to use gravity to really drain the underside of the boob when I had a red patch. That and lots of hot flannels did clear it without AB.