Before giving birth, you visualize yourself holding your little one, and you practice latching techniques. You practice the techniques for both your breasts. It will be easier for you to switch when one nipple is sore. When your baby is born, you realise that both your breasts don’t function equally, and you end up breastfeeding only from one breast most of the time. There is no need to panic. It is completely normal for most women to prefer and use only 1 breast for feeding. Here are some of the reasons for breastfeeding only from one breast that you might not be aware of.
[vs slide=”1″ slide_title=”The Differences Between Your Breasts”]
1. The Differences Between Your Breasts
One of your breasts might be larger than the other and produces more milk. Larger breasts have more fatty tissues in them, and the amount of these tissues in breasts determines their milk-producing capacity. One of your nipples can be harder than the other one or can be inverted, making it uncomfortable for your little one to drink from it.
[vs slide=”2″ slide_title=”Your Preference For One Breast Over The Other”]
2. Your Preference For One Breast Over The Other
It is usually easier for you to feed from one of the breasts. It might be because the initial letdown of milk is more painful on one side. The more you feed the quicker the pain goes away. If the pain does not reduce after feeding your baby a couple of times, consult your doctor. It is also easier to hold your baby with the arm you are comfortable using.
[vs slide=”3″ slide_title=”Your Baby Prefers One Breast Over The Other”]
3. Your Baby Prefers One Breast Over The Other
It is easier for your little one to latch onto one side than the other. It might be because one of the breasts produces more milk and the flow of milk is easier. It can also be that your baby is in pain when it rests on one side. It might have a sore inside the mouth, an ear infection, or a blocked nostril that can make it difficult for it to feed from one side. Check for any of these signs if your little one cries when you try to feed it from a particular side.
[vs slide=”4″ slide_title=”A Surgery On One Of The Breasts”]
4. A Surgery On One Of The Breasts
If one of your breasts has been under the knife, it will significantly affects its ability to produce milk. Milk ducts might be affected or removed during the surgery, making it difficult for your baby to draw milk from the breast. Any form of breast cancer treatment can also affect its ability to produce a sufficient amount of milk.
[vs slide=”5″ slide_title=”You May Have Mastitis”]
5. You May Have Mastitis
Mastitis is an infection of the mammary glands that usually affects women who are breastfeeding. Your milk ducts can get blocked, drastically reducing your production of milk. The milk you produce tends to be salty, and your baby will reject it because of its taste. If you feel a sore spot inside your breast, get it checked by your doctor.
[vs slide=”6″ slide_title=”Your Baby May Have A Stiff Neck”]
6. Your Baby May Have A Stiff Neck
When your baby is born, you should try and feed it from both breasts as much as possible. Since the production of milk depends on its demand, having your baby feed from both breasts ensures that both breasts produce a good quantity of milk. Sometimes, your baby’s neck can get stiff on one side due to trauma during birth. It will be uncomfortable for it to drink from one side. Try different positions and find the most comfortable position for your little one.
Even though feeding from one breast is normal, it can lead to one of your nipples becoming sore. Change breastfeeding positions as much as possible so that neither you nor your baby gets comfortable feeding from one breast. Keep pumping milk from both your breasts so that there is a good supply of milk from both of them. Get in touch with your doctor if you feel discomfort and pain while breastfeeding.
