One breast 'fills up' more than the other

Mandi - posted on 11/30/2009

if you have a breast pump start pumping every 15 minutes then every half an hour then every hour till it start catching up~ only on the left side to trick that breast into producing more ... you only need to do this for a day and pay attention to it because if you ignore feedings from that side you will end up drying out that breast... and then your right breast will be very much bigger than the other. Also be careful of feeding only for 15 minutes from both your breasts are on demand and produce foremilk and hind milk the foremilk quenches the baby's thirst and the hindmilk gives him what he/she needs for hunger... the foremilk has much more sugar in it and he/she will get gas if not properly balanced feed from the left breast first till its empty and then from the right breast and then pump your left breast more often in between feedings to help catch it up on that side... save the milk in a freezer bag for days later in a deepfreeze frozen milk will last for up to 12 months... Hope this helps

Melody - posted on 11/30/2009

that`s quite normal don`t concentrate on the one that fills up the most though,feed him from both and they are definately getting enough.i`ve had two kids who had breastmilk with the left boob filling up more than the right.

Debra - posted on 11/30/2009

I have been told to do a full feed on each boob - alternating feeds. What you might want do is express on the left while feeding on the right - it will make the left breast produce more milk. We all go through these issues. You baby will tell you if they are still hungry

Nicole - posted on 11/29/2009

HA! I'm so glad I found this post... I was thinking this had to be a unique problem. My left side fills so much more than the right... I feel lop-sided! Good to know I am not alone...

Bih - posted on 11/29/2009

I agree with Brenda. Nurse on one side first until he's done and then offer the other side. you just need to make sure that the breast is drained completely otherwise mastitis and blocked duct may sets in, and from first hand experience of mastitis, it is not fun.

I left side used to fill in quicker, but now it's been switched and it's my right side that's filling up much quicker.... They just can't make up their mind!!! LOL
I normally feed my 4 months DS on one side and let him go at it until he dropped off but I put him back on the same side again until i know he's dropping off because there's the lack of good flow of milk (as breast will never completely empty) and not because he's trying to breath between milk flow. Then I offer the other side and let him do the same. Generally he'll drop off and whinges if I try to put him back onas he's full before that breast is empty. I know that he's getting enough milk as well due to amount of wet nappies he's getting and he's putting on good weight according to his age. :)

Amanda - posted on 11/28/2009

Itis completely normal for this to happen! If you want to try getting them a little closer together you can pump half ounce off the lesser one first this will tell ur body to produce more in that breast! But we all have that problem! Try only nursing one side per feeding too your baby will get more of the fatty milk then the sugary that they get when nurse from both sides. And will be content longer!

Brenda - posted on 11/28/2009

Perfectly normal for one to produce more. Just let baby nurse as much or as little as he wants, and he'll get enough milk. Don't do the fiffteen minutes on one then the other. All you will end up with is clogged ducts and mastisis from it. Nurse until he is done on one side, offer the other but don't worry if he doesn't take it. My son, now seven months, usually only nurses off one side, then sometimes, but very rarely, will take the other.

Lisa - posted on 11/27/2009

Baby will make sure he gets enough, try not to worry. I know it's hard not to worry but you are doing a great job.

To even yourself out, be sure to start on the left side every time until your breasts start to even out. They drink a lot more at the beginning, so starting on that side should help even more than nursing longer.

Once they even out, then try to alternate sides you start on. It's hard to remember, but you don't have to worry too much, just try to alternate.

Good for you for keeping up with the breast feeding. :-) Again, try not to worry. You are doing SO much for your baby to make sure he thrives. You are way ahead of the game.

Amber - posted on 11/27/2009

This is completly normal! So many women produce more milk one one side. I know my right breast was also more full than the other. You baby is probably getting plenty of milk!

Desarae - posted on 11/27/2009

Yeah i have the same problem. My left is fills more than my right. As long as you rotate 15 mins on one then 15 mins on the other i find that later on in the day my right gets a little heavy not as much as my left but it doesn't feel empty.