Breastfeeding on Only One Breast?

Yes, it is very possible. I breastfed my twins, so each breast produced enough milk for one baby. It's all supply and demand. Just beware that you might be a little lopsided. :)

Nursing on both sides will prevent the clogged ducts. If he prefers one to the other, follow up your breastfeeding session with an electric pump to empty the unsuckled breast fully. This will help prevent developing one breast that is larger than the other.

Clogging happens when the breast isn't able to empty fully.

Heat packs on the breast as well as cool, damp cabbage leaves placed on the breast will relieve pain too. Flatten your hand and press down toward the nipple regularly to help unclog ducts too. See the La Leche League site for pictures and better explanation on how to manually unclog ducts. see: www.llli.org

If you develop fever go to the doctor to be checked for mastitis.

Yes, it's possible.

You might be interested in this mother's story about nursing from one breast, including nursing twins:
http://mothering.com/breastfeeding/one-breast-enough?page...

You might want to work with an LC and brainstorm what's making your right side so much more prone to clogged ducts. It could be anything from how you carry your child, to how your bra fits on that side, or even how you hold the leash when you walk your dog. You name it, it's happened!

Use a breast pump to empty it. I'd get mine clogged too when I didn't empty them fast enough. Stopping breastfeeding on that side might even "confuse" your body because it's programmed to make milk when it senses the baby nursing (even on one breast only). Not saying that will happen of course. Talk with your doctor first for possible solutions. And as far as pumps go, electric pumps are best. I used a manual pump but then I didn't do that a lot and I had time on my hands. Medela is good though pricey.

By the way, you don't have to wean your baby at 12 months though it's your choice. We're doing child-led weaning and it's made us very close. My toddler is gradually nursing less and less. He's been sick only twice since he was born and we think that nursing has done a lot to help in that regard!

Good luck!

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Because my son favored one side over the other it kinda shut down and the lactation nurse says that's very common. She said it happens all the time. That was news to me.

I never had any issues and our son breastfed for two years and five days. His doctor cut him off at his two year check-up and said we were DONE and we were right then and there. No weaning. I was convinced I was going to be BF forever and would have a nightmare of a time. I'm STILL in shock he didn't protest and want to keep nursing longer.

I wish you luck. Like I said I never had any issues. Not sure how I dodged THAT bullet. It was worth the effort. Our son has never gotten sick or even an ear infection and he's almost five years old.

Did it with my second child for over a year and am currently doing it with my third (he's 4 1/2 months) totally doable, don't over think it, just do it. You will probably be lopsided while you are nursing but once you stop the girls will even back out :)

JL and Jaimee got it right. You need to contact La Leche League. I had matitis and it was awful. Now we know how poor cows feel (maybe more women will get the correlation and stop using cows milk)
Good for you continuing to nurse and realizing the importance of it. keep up the great work! I thought I'd nurse for a year, it kept going after that. I thought perhaps at two. I ended up nursing till my daughter's 4th birthday (so I'd remember the date). Well, she would have kept going... at that point it was just for bed really and comfort. Beautiful stuff. Actually the WHO suggests nursing through 6 or so. Pretty interesting that many in the world opt out and use artificial breast milk instead. Oh well.
Just remember you are doing a great job

Well, I don't have advice about that but make sure you hold your baby the opposite way during the day so he develops vision on both sides. When one breastfeeds, one eye is covered and that forces the child to develop monocular vision first before binocular. Imitatating that will be a developmental burst for him and possibly avoid school vision related issues later on. Even bottle babies should be put to the other side so they can experience a different view of the world.

Clogged ducts is often a sign that something is wrong (ie. latch, suck). I recommend that you seek help from a certified lactation consultant to have your baby's latch/suck evaluated. The clogged ducts can be painful as I've had them myself and the best way to get them out is to put hot compresses on your breast just before breastfeeding your baby and massage your breast at the tender part while nursing. It could take one session or many sessions, but with my experience with them, my baby almost always sucked the plug out. I would NOT abandon your plugged breast. You really need to get this situation evaluated by a trained professional. It could be as easy as just repositioning your baby. Also, what I found is that it makes a world of a difference if you vary the ways you hold your baby. One session you could cradle hold and the next session you could football hold and ALWAYS put the baby on the plugged side first as baby's eager suck can easily pull the milk out. AND, I would also try to pump (if you have a pump) after you nurse the baby.

It is possible. I did for a month when my LO was about 3 months old and I was having terrible pain on my right side. I only fed him on the left and would pump the right. It worked out fine.
As natural as breastfeeding is, it is not easy for every Mom. I envy the moms that never had problems!
Good Luck!

Yep, it's possible. My right breast never produced much milk, so my daughter would get frustrated nursing on it, and after a while with her refusing, it just stopped.

I was really worried because I was pretty severely lop-sided for months and months as I continued to nurse her only on the left. I even cried when I looked in the mirror, even though the doctor said it was not uncommon.

Newsflash: My daughter has been weaned for a year now, and my breasts are mostly back to normal. I am not deformed or anything from nursing on only one side. If you're in pain and you feel one side isn't working for you, your other breast will compensate as long as there is demand.

Good luck.

Friend of mine nursed her son past 1 yr old on one side only. She was lopsided, but one side barely worked (her words) and the other side was able to compensate. You wouldn't be alone if you tried it.