Due to medical issues, my surgeon suggested that I wean my infant daughter. Wanting to dry up just one side.?

Question

I have had reoccurring mastitis and breast abscess that landed me on the operating table. Have to get better for me... but still want to give my DD at least some of the benefits of breastfeeding. Anyone know how to produce milk on just one side? Thanks!

Answer 1

Well, not using the glands is the only way to stop them from producing milk. I would suggest doing just that. Only feed from the healthy breast. It may take a few weeks, but the other breast should dry up. Good luck.

Answer 2

You could try talking to a lactation consultant to see if you could feed only from one side. I would use a pump on the side that you want to feed from to see if you produce enough to feed baby. I would buy a least one can of powder formula( I supplemented with nestle good start) just in case you need it.

Answer 3

just breast feed on one side, at first the side your not using will become engorged but soon it will stop producing, but if you do just feed on one side that one might look bigger than the other.

Answer 4

Well, my grandma did it, so I know it can be done, but she's gone now, so I can't ask her. If there was ever a time to spend a little money on a lactation consultant, this is it. I consulted with a few and they were AMAZING. Your local La Leche League can refer you to someone. Good luck! I am still frequently BFing a 15 month old, and it REALLY makes life so much easier to have that soothing tool available to you. Not to mention the health benefits--both DH and I were bottle babies and were sick constantly as kids. Plus BFing for 2 years or more (in your life, not necessarily with 1 kid) does greatly reduce your chance of getting breast cancer. My mom died from that after quitting breastfeeding in the first month due to having zero support for it so I always want to make sure everyone knows that you can protect yourself by BFing!

Answer 5

If  you just nurse on one breast, the other one will stop making milk. You should be able to make enough milk to meet baby's needs by nursing from one breast alone. (Think about mothers of twins who make enough for two!)

BUT  (and this is important) Do Not Wean Cold Turkey from the 'bad' side.  If you just stop nursing, you will get mastitis again, and you will probably get another abcess.  

If you really don't want to nurse on the bad side, then pump from that breast.  You may decide to keep pumping indefinately, and you could offer that milk in a bottle, or save it to mix with cereal and such later on.  Or you could gradually wean from the pump.