Breastfeeding - One Boob Not Producing

2 replies

PineapplePrincess · 13/03/2019 20:50

Sorry, this is a tad War and Peace....

DS2 is two weeks old today, born 37+1 by ELCS. We were feeding well and discharged from hospital after a couple of days.

Day 6 we were readmitted due to severe jaundice, bilirubin at transfusion levels; although we managed to narrowly avoid transfusion we were on phototherapy for four days. Doctors insisted on formula top ups and limited time breastfeeding to ensure fluid levels and maximise time under lights.

During this period I expressed to provide additional top ups. Expressing would produce 20mls from the left breast but consistently produced a tiny dribble from the right breast. This then highlighted that all feeds on the right breast were followed in quick succession by an additional feed on the left breast, usually within 10mins of finishing.

I don’t think the right breast is producing much, if any milk. Left breast feels fuller, right is constantly flopping; there is a noticeable size difference also.

Hospital have been unable to provide any insight into this. Their recommendation is to continue to feed off the right breast in order to stimulate it into working. Two weeks in, I feel like I’m double working and there is no progress being made. Baby gets obviously frustrated on right breast.

Lactation consulant yesterday gave me contradictory information to the hospital, which has left me thoroughly confused. Their suggestions included:

feed exclusively from the left breast (hospital told me categorically not to do this, as I would end up with mastitis in the right breast)
lean on the left breast and express on the right (hospital discouraged expressing, saying baby feeding is more effective)
start a 10-20-10 cycle against each breast, then top up with formula if baby is still hungry (reluctant to try this approach as I think it’s going to lead us to end up formula feeding)

I’m exhausted and confused.

Has anyone had any experience of one breast not performing? Or any advice on how we progress?

Desperate to continue to breastfeeding, but feel really disheartened.

OP posts:

JiltedJohnsJulie · 13/03/2019 23:21

We’ve moved overnight to giving formula, to give me a rest as I’m constantly feeding and was getting zero sleep. I’ve focussed on breastfeeding during the day, but I feel we’re gradually slipping towards bottle feeding. If you want to continue BFing, I would not do this as the overnight feeding is very important to establishing your supply. Is there another way you could rest?

Could you try the 10-20-10 overnight and get DH to do the formula to-up and get her back to sleep?

Have you tried breast compressions whilst feeding from the right?

StandardLampski · 13/03/2019 23:27

I fed from one breast
. I did persevere for months though trying with both but one gave me SO much pain... in the end after about 6 months I stopped on one side. Expressed a tiny bit for a couple of weeks then happily fed until 20 month from other side.
Was a bit lopsided, but really didn't bother
me.
Not exactly the same as you but it can be done !
Good luck! Oh, and I used formula once a day too, more for flexibility/ so that baby was ok with it in case of emergency .

Flip