Is anyone else feeding from just one boob?

[tabbycat7]

DS3 (9 weeks) was happier feeding from one boob than the other, then I got mastitis and on the advice of the doctor fed him from the non-infected boob and pumped the other one, and top him up with formula. I didn't want to give him too much formula so I fed him from the one boob, and after a couple of days of him feeding 2 hourly in the day and 3 hourly at night,
I was able to supply him with all the milk he needed. However, he now usually refuses the other boob. I'm not too worried, he usually goes on it for a bit a couple of times, but the main part of his feed will be from the other one.

Just been to see the HV, who seems concerned about this, even though his weight gain is fine.

Has anyone else successfully fed a child from 1 boob?

Now, I'm no expert, but I do know someone whose sister did this and ended up with one small breast and one large breast permanently. Could you not continue to pump from the other side and feed your lo the EBM from a bottle instead of the formula?

Eek! Yes I'll try that. I've been assuming that things will return to normal once I've stopped BFing. Not so keen on being a freak for more than a couple years!

Good luck! Maybe your lo will decide to feed from both at some point anyway.

I am. DD2 is now 9 months and has been feeding from left boob only for the last 6 months. It is not the least bit problematic but I do have to wear a chicken fillet on the right side otherwise I look very lopsided.

I don't see why they shouldn't even out when i'm finished feeding. [hopeful]

I fed from both but more from one than the other. Fraid they didn't even out...I would do everything you can to sort this out now, HV has a point. Sure you can get both working, persevere.

I have exactly the same problem and have hugely uneven size boobs...my little girl hardly touches the left and has most of her feed from the right. I read somewhere to offer her the dodgy boob at the beginning of every feed so that it gets the best stimulation so I do taht but it doesn't make much difference, she hardly touches it some days. I hope it evens out cos I look very strange but there seems to be nothing I can do. I had my latch checked by a BF cousillor and there is nothing amis.

I can only think that pumping from the 'lazy' side should solve the 'problem'.

At approx 16 weeks I persevered with offering first and pumping after/between from the least fave one cos I didn't want to look lopsided (which a very knowledgeable mate was told by a sensible HV was the only problem). Mr mate fed from one side from about 5months to 9 months (then FF out of choice - nothing to do with supply). Sprout got the hang of using both but then later the same happened again (11 months or so) and he was only feeding twice a day so I couldn't be arsed to deal with it. One side worked fine for us. Looked a bit wonky if I missed a feed.

Stopped feeding at 14 months and they went back to normal - until I was pregnant again. Now they're both hooge again.

Er MY mate - a bloke breastfeeding mate is a bit radical even for a lentil weaver like me!

Random thought - Tiktok or anyone. I thought you couldd feed when you had mastitis anyway???? Was the doc right???

I'm a lop sided one boob feeder. Just looks a bit, er, droopier. I double pump every two hours (ish) in the day is DS isn't feeding, or pump from Simple Tit (as my DH calls it!) while DS is feeding from the working boob. Do have less milk there but at least it keeps it up.

I call mine Defecto-Boob! Tbh when I had maststis it hurt so much I could hardly bear to touch it, never mind having baby chomping on it. I know some people do manage, don't know how! Probably less wimpish when it comes to pain!! I think this one boobness might have happened anyway...

Gingerbaby - your OH a glass-half-full guy then?

We never had a name for the normal one - just called the bigger one my Jordan-nork

MaHobbit you can feed while you have mastitis, I did but you really have to grit your teeth and bear it. Its supposed to be the best way for clearing the problem and did work for me but OMG v sore.

Just for info - I feed from one boob as I have had a mastectomy. I was a bit concerned about having sufficient supply, but it's never been a problem, weight gain is normal and babe is healthy and happy. Might need to get a new prosthesis though once I'm finished to make sure I'm even on both sides!

Could you feed from the boob he won't take in a different position, so he thinks it's the other one, IYSWIM? If he is lying the way he likes he may be fooled?!

I fed through mastitis several times with Ds and yes, it's painful...I massaged the lumpy area whilst he sucked and managed to massage it out without drugs or anything, but I am a bit of a grit your teeth and get through it kinda gal...

JaMmRocks, that sounds like a good idea IMO, certainly worth a try.

Just to reassure you DD hated bfing from my left boob, so in the end I only breastfed her from my right...which became huge... and once I stopped bfing (she was about 10/11months) my boobs completely evened out and are not in the slightest bit irregular

it seems DS is heading the same way though, which is rather annoying !

I've been feeding my almost 2 year old DS from one side only since he was 9 months old. I had a slower flow on my now dry boob and was night feeding always using the other side so gradually he stopped using the one side altogether. I'm pretty lopsided (esp. when full!) but I'm hoping it will return to normal when he's weaned!!