Can one breast produce enough milk? How to wean from formula supplement?

[longlady]

My DD is 5 weeks today. I haven't been able to use my right breast for the last 10 days because I had emergency surgery on a breast abcess (agony btw!) - won't be able to for another week. I know that supply increases according to demand but my poor boob had very short notice to double its production, and I had a hungry baby and I was really stressed, so I gave her some formula. She guzzled a bottle immediately. Over last 10 days I've kept supplementing as I thought I needed to, but I really don't like using formula - I know it's not poison and it works for lots of folk, but I want to get back to 100% BF asap. And because I've not been well, mum & partner have zealously helped with feeding and I fear the formula may have usurped me as dd's primary source which makes me feel quite sad When my other (poor wounded scarred) boob gets back to business I think production will be down - I've been expressing but probably not as much as I should. So how to wean ourselves from formula? I don't want dd to feel hungry...thanks.

Hope you get someone who can advise you properly, but in the meantime thought you'd like to know of someone else who only fed from one side - me! Wishing you all luck with this.

x

sure you can, - for ages I fed on one and pumped the other......just needs stimulation i.e. baby suckling!

I know someone else who fed on one side too (not me - a friend who had awful thrush fo ages), but it's good news for you that it can be done.
Hopefully someone clever will be along to answer your second question soon. Best of luck.

1 breast must be able to cope, otherwise how would mothers of twins and mroe manage?

The other breast will recover but it will need a bit of aptience and effort to build up the flow.

I know its hard to see her hungry but the more your dd suckles at the nreast the quicker your upply will build up. You could cut out formula immediately tbh as she's still littlle, but if you feel happier reduce it bit by bit- but make sure she suckles before giving her any bottle

Still feeding on one breast at 10 months ( dd exclusively bf to 26 weeks) as previous lumpectomy surgery damaged milk ducts of other.

For both my children tried starting on two but damaged one didn't give any noticeable milk so went to one within a week or so - supply adjusts really quickly.Had to feed very frequently intially to get the supply up.It can be done - with a little determination (I'm very stubborn)

I fed from one side and expressed from the other on and off for the first few weeks. Until about 12 weeks I was only using one side per feed.

According to MN it's possible, according to mw at my hospital- when i suggested it (also due to breast abscesses) they thought I was mad! It was either bf or ff no chance of feeding from one side or mix feeding........I'm so annoyed with myself for just taking their word for it and not just trying it anyway, surely mix feeding/one sided feeding for a few days is better than exclusive ff...but anyway that's my story...I could go on! My point is don't let anyone else tell you differently, good luck and keep persevering (sorry no idea of spelling)!

Am no expert but even if your supply is down in the affected breast I believe the more you put her too it the more supply will build up again.HTH

thanks everyone for your comments and inspiration - our bodies are amazing eh? i should not have doubted. and will also stop feeling sorry for myself this minute!!

yes, I fed with one breast for a long time (still do, but my baby is much older) and so did two of my friends
it is perfectly possible.
just feed as much as you can.
rest and eat a good diet. get you rmum and partner to cook for you instead and do all the housework . try and get as much skin to skin contact as you can and stay in bed and feed in the bath.
best of luck
HC xx

feeding in the bath sounds lovely!