Pumping More in One Breast than the Other

Hi,

It is totally normal for one breast to produce more than the other. Another possibility might be that one breast simply has a faster flow, so it takes longer for the slower breast to empty. This is the situation with me. I've been pumping for 18+ months, and I used to think my left breast produced less than my right. I realized, however, that my right simply empties faster, and if I give the left one enough time, it produces the same amount as the right one. In any case, as long as you continue to empty the breast that is producing less, it will still continue producing milk, so you don't have to worry about that.

Hope that helps!

I had the same issue until I stopped pumping when my daughter was 6 months old, and I was an exclusive pumper. I think it's fairly common, but you can try the routine things - like trying to use the low producing one more. A very helpful site is www.drjacknewman.com . He has a well known breastfeeding clinic in Canada, but has helped me for free several times with questions by e-mail.

From my experience breastfeeding my 2 children this is perfectly normal. Both of my children favored one breast and I always pumped significantly more from that breast as well. I just tried to nurse from both at every feeding and pumped both breasts, too. I never had any problems with the less productive breast not producing at all, just less.

Hope this helps! Congratulations on your new baby boy!

Hi E.! It is definately normal to have more milk in one breast than the other. No worries. Have you tried pumping more on the one breast that doesn't excreet enough milk in between feedings? That might do the trick.

E.,

Congratulations and give yourself a big pat on the back. Breastfeeding is difficult, but the best thing you can do for yourself and your baby.

You've already gotten a ton of great advice. I would also suggest pumping and offerring the lower producing breast first. Its all about supply and demand, so the more you or your baby demand, the more your body will produce.

I would also suggest eating well and drinking lots of water. I loved the herbal lactation teas, too. I didn't believe it would work, I thought the mix of flavors sounded good. It was delicious, and much to my surprise the next morning BA-BOOM! I was engorged and ready to nurse. Maybe just drink one cup, not the whole pot. LOL!

Good luck,
R.

Hi E.,
I had the exact same question not too long ago, since I have a similar unbalance in my milk supply when pumping - one breast can yield up to 5 oz in a pump and the other one sometimes only 1-2 oz. I asked my La Leche League rep and she said not to worry - our bodies are not symmetrical and neither are our breasts and subsequently our milk production. So, unless you think there's something wrong with the less productive breast (if you have discomfort or any other unusual symptoms), don't fret!

My left breast produced almost twice what my right breast did (it has been slightly bigger since puberty, so it wasn't a shock) I was REALLY stressed about it at first because ALL the literature said to start feedings on alternate sides. But i went on gut instinct and always started him on the right side. It really helped, i never had to write down where i left off (too tired to remember!) and though production never matched the left side, it did get better. Pump between feedings too and production in general should get better.
Good luck!

Hi E.,
Congrats on the new baby boy! It is totally normal to have a higher producing breast - this same breast will typically produce more during breastfeeding, not just pumping. Six ounces is a very respectable pumping yield, good for you!

its normal. there are lots of things that can be causing it. do you always start on the other side? be sure to alternate the side you start on. also, look at how you are sitting or what you are doing. i noticed the same thing, and realized i was nursing more on one side because that was the side the co-sleeper was on, so i wanted to end there and ended up getting tired/sleepy on that side and nursing much longer. after i stopped nursing in bed, after a few months i realized that i was favoring one side because the end table of the couch was on the other side (with my free hand) with my snacks, laptop, whatever. in any case, pumping more on the side that is producing less should even things out. putting the baby on that side more would do it even better. take care, D.

keep pumping! even if no milk comes out...at least you will be stimulating the production. you may also try to offer the breast that your son does not favor, first...he will be hungrier and will most likely keep nurning. good luck!
A.

E.,
I also breastfeed my baby and he is now 8 months. Even though I alternate sides every time I feed, one breast is always bigger and produces more than the other. I think its a natural occurrence and is just the way it goes.
Good luck!

Completely normal. His preference for one is normal, too - and keep pumping both breasts to keep them both up and alternate him as you normally would - just be aware that you may want to start with the "fuller" breast so he doesn't get frustrated at not getting the amount of milk he wants right away when he is really hungry -especially since this breatsfeeding thing is still so new to the both of you. (You will be pros soon). The breasts may even out, or even switch(that's what happened to me - one breast was always fuller, then the other side caught up and surpassed the other one - ha) or they may stay this way... sigh, we are asymmetrical beings...
Congrats on your beautiful bouncing baby boy!!!

I had the same situation. I had one cracked nipple that was very sore after my son was born, so I fed him more on the other breast which caused it to produce more milk. After the other side healed, I would start every feeding on the breast that wasn't producing, let him nurse until he pushed away, then would offer the other side. You just need to stimulate the production on that side as much as possible. Pump it more often, in between feedings and it should catch up!

That's completely normal. Almost every mom has a "super boob" keep feeding him from both, and stop worrying! you are doing the best thing for your son and yourself!

good luck!

E. this is totally normal and I am not sure that there is much you can do to make it equal. Babies always favor one position over the other so that breast will compensate for the need. There is really nothing you want to do to make the other one produce more as it is nature's way and if you start making that breast more active, you may become engorged when your child does not want to empty that breast. You are doing fine and just keep doing what you have been doing.

Like all the moms have said, this is perfectly normal. All of their suggestions are excellent. But, one thing my pediatrician advised me to do (because my son was colicky) was to be sure he empties one breast before switching to another. Apparently the "fore-milk", what comes out first is thin and sugary while the "hind-milk" (I might have the names backwards) is what is high in nutrients and fat. If he can't finish the second breast, start there on the next feeding. If you nurse this way, you may see a shift in production. You still may produce unevenly for a while, but as his appetite grows you should even out well. Just some food for thought!
(ha ha, I wasn't even meaning to be funny!)

not ususal for a child to like one breast more than the other, hence the milk production is less. do your best.

E.,
Exactly right. Nurse on the less favored side more often, or start there first each time.

Good Luck,
M.

It's TOTALLY normal! It happened to me and I talked to many doctor's and lactation nurses and they said it happens to most people! Don't stop nursing on the other side - the more the baby drinks the more you will produce. Good luck!

I think it is common to have one breast that's a better producer. I have a 16 month old and stopped pumping a couple of months ago, but I used to get the same results you are getting.

They say the way to produce more milk is to have the baby nurse more so perhaps if you had him nurse more at the breast that produces less, it will produce more? I really don't think it's anything to worry about though. You can always go to a La Leche meeting and ask them. I saw a lactation consultant, for which I had to pay, and went to La Leche meetings, which were free. I have to say, the LLL leaders were just as knowlegeable as the consultant. Plus you get the collective knowledge of everyone there.