Pumping different amounts on each side

Coriecam

Hello,  

I was hoping someone could help me understand why I'm pumping such vastly different amounts on each side.

On the right side, I pump anywhere from 3-6 oz each time. On the left side, all I get is 1-3 oz. EVERY time.

Is this normal? Could my milk ducts have grown in in such different sizes? The righ breast is now WAY bigger than the left too, which creates all sort of clothing/bra issues.  

TIA.  

moriaspencer

It is common to get different amounts on each side. It's not really a problem as long as the total amount you get is enough for lo. For some reason, I hear that if breasts are uneven in production, the right usually produces more. I have no idea why. My right breast is slightly smaller than my left (DH and I are the only ones that notice as its not that big of a difference.) Still, my right does produce a little bit more than my left.

To try and even them out, you should always have lo start on the left side. Maybe put a little padding in your left cup until/if it gets closer to match righty's size.

hillek5

I always got almost 2x as much from my right side as from the left.  I tried to "even out" by having DS start on the left, pumped more on the left, etc.  I just ended up getting blocked ducts and uncomfortable on the right.  Once I went back to switching sides regularly and just double pumping for the same amount of time, I didn't have problems.  An extra breast pad in your bra on the smaller side will help even out a little bit as far as looks go. 

Mystisai

My left produces more by about 20 ml on average. I use a double pump, so it's not like I pump unevenly.

JammieJk

Totally normal.  My left breast is an overachiever, I always pump more out of that side at a super fast rate.  Right breast is a slow flow, I always pump less out of it, and it's the one that is prone to clogged ducts.