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BFing: Uneven milk supply?

JulyMomma2U2JulyMomma2U2 member
in Parenting after a Loss

EBF mom's come in please!

I'm noticing a drastic difference in my supply between LB and RB!  My right has immediate let down, gets very full, very fast.. DS can nurse on there for 15-20 minutes and be full for 3 hours without a doubt.. he's gulping frequently, much more content nursing there (doesn't squirm), etc.. he usually gets hiccups after nursing on that side, too.. and, when I hand express milk from that side, it's milky white.. also..when I'm nursing on the left, my right will "leak" like over an ounce of milk into my breast shells!! It's insane (part of the leaking is because I've been trying to nurse more on the left to increase supply, so right tends to be more full in between feeds in addition to having a greater supply)..

My left.. none of the above apply.  When I hand express milk, it's often very watery looking at first.. DS can nurse on there for an hour, and I can still hand express what looks like watery milk so I know he's getting "something", but he never gets filled up with this breast.. he squirms a lot on this side, I never hear the gulping noise, etc.  

How can I boost supply on just one breast?  This is also the breast that I posted about earlier saying I was having some mild tenderness that didn't seem to go away (responses suggested a clog?  I massaged the crap out of it, and it's better, but maybe still there contributing to supply issue?).  I'm thinking I may try pumping from this breast for 5-10 minutes after each time I nurse on there.. hoping maybe that will boost the supply?  Also read on Kellymom to try pumping for 15-20 minutes in between feeds.. 

Is this normal?  SHould I keep offering this breast to DS, and then just after he's nursed on this side for 35-45 minutes offer him the other side for 10-15 minutes at each feeding?  That's what I ended up doing tonight, because I'd really like some sleep!! ANd, I know if he nurses on the right he gets a full belly.. so we nursed on the left for almost an hour (he'd pull off a few times in frustration, so maybe a solid 40 minutes of nursing and 20 of fussing around).. and then I layed him down, he continued rooting and looking for boob, so I gave him the right.. nursed/gulped for 15 minutes and is sleeping like a rock... something is definitely up with my left!!

Sorry if this is a messy jumble!  I'm sleep deprived ;-)

Loss #1: 18w5d.. D&E 04Mar03 BFP #2: Jun2011.. missed miscarriage. D&C 08Jul2011 8w4d. BFP #3: Nov2011.. Our Rainbow Baby!!! DS Born: 15Jul2012! BFP #4: Nov2012.. 2U1 - DS2 born 12Jul2013.  BFP #5: 01Jan2014..3U3!!

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Re: BFing: Uneven milk supply?

  • tetiananinatetiananina member
    My left side has always produced almost double then my right side. Pumping or not it's always stayed that way. My weird thought process was I'm right handed so it produces less milk? I have no reason but nothing I've been able to do to balance them. I say nurse him on the side that he eats well on and pump on the other side while feeding him if you can so you get more sleep.

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  • luvmyducksluvmyducks member
    My left is my stud and my right is my dud :)  It's normal.  You can keep putting DS to the dud and pump to help build up your supply.  The only time I noticed that I had more even output was when I needed to EP for a week or so after I had surgery.  But it went back to stud/dud when we started EBF again.  
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  • Junebug060609Junebug060609 member
    If there truly is lower production on one side, all I can think of is nursing or pumping extra on that side.

    Fwiw, it is common to have a better producer or one with easier let down. I did. Rightie produced a little more and had an easier let down. It would tend to leak if I started a nursing session on Leftie if it was full [ie first thing in the morning].

    BFP#2 2.5.11 (EDD 10.15.11) DS born 9.28.11

    BFP#4 8.27.13 (EDD 5.6.14) DD born 4.23.14

     

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  • adoxyinherearadoxyinherear member
    Echoing PPs! Leftie has always been a serious overachiever. I remembering panicking about it, too, until some of the gals on the BFing boards said it was NBD, and that some of them even only every nurse on one side. Granted, I can see how that's not ideal, but just keep offering! 
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  • ct103ct103 member
    I belong to the lopsided boobie club too! My left is a power hose, and my right is nothing more than a leaky faucet. DD is never satisfied if she just eats on the right side. No amount of pumping has evened them out. When i do pump at work, the left gets at least double than the right. Eventually I learned to use it to my advantage. When I'm letting DD use me as her pacifier, especially at night, my pathetic boob is perfect!

    Don't worry, you're normal. At least you have one powerboob to rely on!
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