Week 4 Postpartum: Nursing With One Breast

I have been able to nurse all of my babies with only one breast.  Learning about the breastfeeding process before attempting it myself helped me through some of the rough patches.  If I had not realized that babies create the milk supply for themselves in the first four weeks of nursing, then I might have given up.  With my first child I was watched very closely.  My baby was 5 lbs 4 oz, so there was concern for his growth right away.  It took about three days for my milk supply to show up even with constant breastfeeding and pumping milk in between feedings.  I felt like a human feeding machine and my life would not be much more than that for a long time. 

During, the many hours I spent pumping milk and feeding, I thought there was something wrong with me and this would never work.  What if I would have to give up breastfeeding?  I really did not want my child to have formula.  Little did I know that a lot of people with little babies, c-section babies, babies struggling with weight gain, and many others find themselves doing exactly what I had to do to feed my child.  Most of them went on to be successful breastfeed babies.  Just because I only have one breast does not mean I would not produce all the milk my baby would need.

What really makes breastfeeding different with one breast?  When the milk comes in if there is any breast tissue left on the mastectomy side, one might start producing milk.  I know because every time I feel the milk let down sensation when I am feeding my baby, I feel it on the side with no breast near my armpit.  With the last three babies I have noticed some milk streaming out of my pores on that side.  I am thankful for not getting an infection, but this has been slightly unpleasant at times.  Since the baby cannot get to the milk I have felt sore and swollen for the first couple of weeks after delivery.  Heat packs and cold cabbage leaves have worked well to get rid of the pain.  In the winter I prefer warm cures.  To make a heat pack one can sew a small square of cloth filled with rice and put it in the microwave.  I have also used a hot water bottle.  All of these things work well.

Another part of only having one breast is feeling really unbalanced by the milk side.  I did not realized I could get a prosthetic, covered by my health insurance, while I am breastfeeding even though I have had reconstructive surgery.  This has really helped me with my last three children.  Instead of gaining one or two cup sizes, my one breast is up three or four ( I have lost track at this point).  All I know is it is hard to not lean to one side causing back pain and making it difficult to keep good posture. 

I would have also loved to know several babies ago that the insurance would also cover the cost of two bras, which in some places, one can even get nursing bras.  This last time around was the first time I found this out.  Not only was I fitted for a great fitting prosthetic, I also was able to get nursing bras.  The lady in the shop will even sew in a pocket int the bra to hold the prosthetic in place.  If you live in the Seattle/ Tacoma area (or even in Olympia) check out Judy's Intimate Apparel.  I have never received such helpful and relevant service.  (They also do just nursing and regular bra fittings too and have a bunch of obscure sizes.) 

Apart from my many struggles with the nursing mastectomy figure, my babies have done really well eating.  I have had children fall off the growth chart, but I think I would have always had children that were smaller than American averages.  The only baby I have struggled to get latching properly is Bria (my 5th child).  It does not matter how many children a person has, breastfeeding can be different with all of them.  After a day of trying to teach her to latch by pulling out our bottom lip a bit or forcing her off the breast and letting her try again, she finally became a pro.  She is still picky about how I hold her during nursing sessions, and I still need some light for night feedings, but we are doing well.  In one month she has gone from 7 lbs 11 oz., to 7 lbs 2oz, gaining all her weight back, and is now 9 lbs. 2 oz.  Great work Bria. 

Even if breastfeeding is pain at first it is worth it.  After about a month, one hardly realizes that it was hard.  I can also say that I have almost forgotten having sore nipples, or the fact the afterbirth pains from having five babies close together were terrible for four days after delivery.  I love being able to supply my baby with all the food she needs and plan on feeding her for as long as she wants to nurse.  I have had a baby nurse as little as eight months (due to a new pregnancy I lost to much weight and was advised to stop nursing) and one that wanted to nurse for two years.  My other two kids nursed for about fourteen months.  Every child is different.  All I know is that Bria and I are enjoying breastfeeding so far and I expect she will for many months to come.