feeding from 1 breast

Kelley - posted on 12/31/2009

try pumping the breast that has a low supply.

Liz - posted on 12/31/2009

I know you are concerned about having enough milk...don't worry you will as long as you keep nursing on demand but my concern for you is why she doesn't want to nurse from the other breast. Does she always hold or turn her head to one side? If so, she may have a condition called torticollis which is caused by tight muscles in the neck that will not resolve on it's own. Please call your dr if you feel this may be the problem. take care

Teresa - posted on 12/31/2009

Try her on the 'empty' breast first (and last) to try and get the milk going again. If she doesn't have the patience for that then you could always try pumping to get it going. If not, no worries. One breast should be fully capable of handling her needs. :)

Naomi - posted on 12/31/2009

My son does this as well, my left breast is much larger now as a result. I still always offer the right side first, he rarely stays on long enough to actually get a let down, maybe once a day, I also pump it once at night. it still produces milk, but not much. He seems to get what he needs from just the one side, my lactation doctor was not concerned, she says it happens sometimes, I think what started it was that the left side has alwyas been a bit bigger and the extra tissue has some milk stored up that he could drink until the let down happened. with the right side he just has to suck until the milk lets down and that frustrated him. it used to be a problem because the right side would get engorged - like therewas milk there but he got in his head that there wasn't and wouldn't take it. I would lie down in bed with him to help him take it. now, it doesn't ever even get engorged anymore :( annoying and aesthetically not pleasing Lol, but he still is gaining and getting what he needs. I'd agree with lisa, it's probably a growth spurt. DO NOT give formula unless a lactation specialist tells you to because your baby starts seriousy losing weight, the formula in there will only make the issues worse.

Cassie - posted on 12/31/2009

i say pump the breast thats not producing much milk to keep the supply up

Aicha - posted on 12/30/2009

try nursing while laying down on your side that is how I got my daughter to take the right breast

Karen - posted on 12/30/2009

My daughter preferred my left but was not exclusive. What worked for me was to begin always offering the right first. If you need a boost in your supply a lactation consultant advised me in the beginning fenugreek,brewers yeast tabs, mothers milk tea, tons of water and 1-2 daily servings of oatmeal. If you don't seem to feel like there is much milk in the right breast maybe you could try pumping that one after she nurses until things get settled. My daughter is 9 months now and will take one side just as quick as the other no problem. Good luck!

Minnie - posted on 12/30/2009

Three months- prime for a growth spurt. That's more than likely what you're going through.



Remember-we have two breasts that are quite capable of nursing twins, or even triplets. Mothers tandem nurse a younger and older sibling as well. If one breast is injured, the other can take up the slack. The frequent nursing is just probably her trying to increase your supply. Nurse her whenever she wants and your breast will up its production.



You can certainly put her to your other breast though and help it begin producing more again. Nurse her on that side first, offer your breast rather than waiting for her to ask to nurse. When she becomes dissatisfied with the breast that she normally doesn't nurse off of you can switch her to her preferred.