I have a 3 month old who is breastfeed exclusively. Over the weekend she was very fussy and wanting to eat more often. Figured it was a growth spurt. I pumped this morning to see if it was milk supply. She hadn't eaten in at least 4 hours from my "bad side". 5 oz came out of "good side" and maybe 1/2 oz out of the other. I know that babies get more then you can with a pump, but she needs to eat 2-2.5 hours after this bad side. The breast never gets the full feeling like the other side. I didn't have this happen with my first born. This side has always had less, but never none. Just wondering if anyone has some thoughts as to why and how to fix the problem???
I had a good/bad side too. I ALWAYS started with the bad side, and ended with it too, just to keep production up.
One thing to note, it is common for babies to want to eat every 2-2.5 hours, so I wouldn't necessarily use her wanting to eat that often as indication of a "bad side." Also, pumping in no way indicates how much your baby gets. I know a women who exclusively breastfeeds her daughter, but has never been able to get more than 1oz on either side using a double electric pump. Plus, the fact that your breast doesn't feel engorged is not an indication that you aren't producing enough milk on that side. Remember, your body responds to the amount of milk your daughter needs, so after a while your supply levels off and you'll lose the feeling both of engorgement and fullness.
I wouldn't do anything other than what you are already doing. If you switch sides during each feeding, keep her on the first breast for as long as possible, then switch. Make sure to do this no matter what side you start on. Your baby will probably always get more from the right side than left (it is normal for her to have a preference) but your body should level itself off with regular nursing patterns. As long as baby is having plenty of wet diapers and still nursing regularly, you both will be great!
Good luck!
If you have access to a le leche person (ask your hospital/doctor where the nearest one is) you can take your baby to a meeting with you and weigh the baby before you feed on your "bad" side and then again after you feed to see how many oz. the baby is actually getting.
I also had/have a bad side. My son still latches on that side, but usually doesn't stay on as long as the other side. I alternate which side I start on, but usually feed on both sides at every feeding.
keep working the 'bad' side, the supply may never be as high as the other; but you probably don't want to lose the supply totally.
I've nursed both my boys and both times had a less full side--and it was the opposite breast. My boys both seemed to have a better latch on one side or the other--I just held them differently, I think? I have heard of women being lopsided and that becomes an issue of how you feel about your appearance, but I haven't become lopsided at all, although I have far more milk in the right side than the left. I just make sure I feed him on the left side regularly, and I often end up offering both breasts. And, to me, two to two and a half hours between feedings doesn't seem unusual, esp. if she's going through a growth spurt. My baby is 9 months and there are still times we nurse more frequently than that. Oh--and when I pump? I get almost nothing on the left side. If you want to fix it, pump and pump and pump on that side, or offer it first all the time. Hopefully that will help, but if your baby is seeming sated from the full side, that's probably not going to be a problem either.
You might ask your doctor to check if you have a clogged milk duct. I would think you would be experiencing some pain, though, which it doesn't sound like you are... I had trouble with my milk letting down, and I found that pressing hot water washcloth compresses first helped a little...
T.,
I had that happen with one of my children. Contact the Lactation Specialist at the hospital your baby was born at. They will have helpful ideas.
Hi T.!
I always had one breast not produce as much as the other! Do you have any pain, swelling or hardness in that breast? I had a probem with clogged ducts all the time in my "bad" breast. That could be one issue. If not, to increase production always nurse on that side for a little bit. If you nurse her before she gets too upset, start on the "bad" side then top her off on the other side. If you usually nurse on one side each feed, make sure to always nurse her on that siden for at least a few minutes. Demand increases supply. Don't get discouraged, your breast will catch up to her needs, it may take a day or so.
There is a really great resource in Linclon by the name of Milkworks. You can call for aphone consultatioin if you'd like. Even go in for a visit covered by your copay. They have a physician and several lactation consultants in the office. Here is the website: www.milkworks.org
Good Luck! C.
Most people have one side that produces more than the other. Sometimes it's because the baby perfers that side or latches on to that side better.
To fix: Everytime you feed her start with the bad side. Keep offering that side until she won't take it anymore. Then offer her the good side. When she is done with good side offer her the bad side again. Keep doing this until she is full.
Often during growth spurts you won't have that full feeling because baby is taking everything you make. The best thing is to keep feeding and know your body will make more.
you could just be persistent and pump and nurse on that side maybe more often than the other.
or, like a lady in my le leche league, you could just nurse on the one side. theres nothing wrong with that!
find the local le leche league near you! www.llli.org
