possible to bf from 1 breast only?

[Rumpel]

LO is 7 weeks old and have had constant problems with right boob. Difficult to latch on - tried all different positions to no avail. Even tried feeding in the bath! Have been manually expressing past couple of days to allow cracked, blanched nipple to heal but now have mastitis! Can you feed well with just one? Surely women who have had masectomys must do this? Any advice gratefully received ta.

Yes, lots of women do feed from only one side, with no problem. Women manage to feed twins (or triplets) with two breasts, so why not feed a baby with just one.

The mastitis is going to be down to you not expressing enough, I'm afraid, so you can't just go cold turkey. It is probably a good idea to get a bf counsellor to sort out the latch? (Have you seen one?)

Do you have full-blown mastitis (fever, feeling really ill?) or just a blocked duct? You can clear blocked ducts, and even mild mastitis by just feeding a lot, but that won't work if baby won't latch ...

thanks - been getting her to feed after expressing to help 'drain' been doing it with boob hanging down. Breast is red underneath and feels lumpy, hot. Yesterday felt flu-ish, however feeling bit better tof
day. Started homeopathic remedy.

If you can get her to feed with her chin pointed towards the lumpy bit, that will help clear it. And if you can get her to feed loads on that side.

The mastitis isn't down to this boob not being good at making milk, it's down to it making milk that hasn't been got out, iyswim. If the latch problem was sorted, you'd be firing with all cylinders ... so to speak ...

hi i considered his as i was having terrible problems feeding on one side but after 3 days of just expressing i was able to restart the feeding with no pain. do get the latch checked out first though.

i am still feeding on the bad side but have to be careful not to get lazy with the latch or it flares up again.

try and see a bf counsellor for help

I agree with NQC. You need to sort out the mastitis, and if you do decide to feed on only one side, reduce gradually.

I have only done one feed on L side and all others on R from about 4 months this time round, but am discovering the downside is that I now have very different sized breasts! Not stopped yet, so hoping things will look a bit better when I do.

Thanks all. Mastitis seems better today - fed her loads from right boob yesterday, bit through the pain!! Inflammation has gone down. Had the docs today and she said if it flares up again to call for antibiotics. I seem to be prone to 'spot' like lumps on the aereola too. Had 2 so far and am presuming they are due to poor latching as well. Am seeing the HV on Tuesday so will discuss with her. My right boob is bigger so I am not concerened about being 'lop-sided' would probably even me out!

Thanks again.