Breast Feeding 4 Month Old, Let down Difficulties???

I had the same problem with my kids, so I took them to Maternal Expressions (breastfeeding store in Folsom) where you can do a feed & weigh. When I weighed them before and after, I was able to determine that I needed to supplement with formula b/c although mine were both gaining weight, they were not getting enough ounces of milk per ech feeding. So, I breastfeed, then supplemented with a 2 ounce bottle.

All the answers you've gotten so far are great. Keep it up, nursing on the left first for awhile.
Another little trick that might give you a better idea of what is really happening on that left side: As you start the feeding on the right, have a support person attach and hold a high-quality electric pump on the left at the same time. When one side lets down, usually, the other will, too. If the left side is getting pumped simultaneously as the baby nurses on the right, you might be surprised to see how much milk is actually coming out.
Then again, if you're less than impressed, remember that babies are the very best pump!

You've gotten great advice! I just wanted to add a resource for you (and others): Nursing Mothers Counsel. We are a non-profit organization of peer counselors who provide free, non-judgmental education and support to nursing mamas at all stages of their breastfeeding career. We have a website http://www.nursingmothers.org, warmline for pressing questions at 650-327-MILK, and you can email me at ____@____.com if you'd like your own one-on-one counselor :)

I'm sorry that I don't have advice for you, but I wanted to let you know that I was not alone! I could also only initiate letdown from my right breast, and as time went out, letdown actually stopped happening in my left breast (around 5-6 months). My doctor said that sometimes that happens. You're not alone - stay strong!

You are not alone. I have the same issue. My baby will be five months on the 18th. I believe that if the baby is a healthy weight don't stress out about. If your right nipple is really sore invest in lanolin it wks or try and by a nipple shield until the tenderness goes away. That is what I used. Hope this was helpful for you.

I highly doubt that you aren't producing any on the left. What you pump and what baby gets are totally different. Baby is far more efficient at getting milk than a pump ever will be. Put him to the left side and watch him-is he swallowing, does he need to burp when he comes off, is he there for a few minutes. If the answers are yes, then you are producing. After a certain amount of time you just don't notice the let-down as much and it's not as dramatic as in the early days. You need to put him to both breasts (or try at each feeding). The right could accommodate on it's own but you probably don't have to. But if you haven't been putting him to the left for awhile you'll need some time to build the supply on that side again. Offer him the left at every feeding to get it going again.

In order for you to increase milk supply and improve let down on the left side, nurse her more often and start on the left first. Then when the left catches up to the right, rotate equally. It may be that you are right handed and you just nursed on the right side more often without thinking. Good luck!!!

Personnaly it was more comfertable for me to nurse with my right side then with my left, so my right always seems to have more & is bigger then my left because of it. I would always try putting the baby on my left side first - since they suck harder when they first start & then move to the right side about 10-15 min later, unless the baby refused to reattach on that side for some reason.

I think everyone has a side that produces more then the other & that side does seem to ge soar from all the work it is doing. I did try different positions also, sometimes it helps to get milk flowing from different areas of the breast & gives ducts a little break. When I had a blocked duct, my sister told me to put the babies chin when when the duct is (if it on the lower breast, lay in the bed w/ the baby parallel with you) because when the chin is is where the main suction is - it did help to make them feel better.

Also, the position I used for them right side wasn't as comfertable when I held them that way on the left, so I had to find the most comfertable way - so I could relaxe inabling the let down happen more naturaly.

Good luck w/ nursing!!! But most of all congratz on the baby!

Same thing happened to me around that time. You just need to spend extra time on your left breast. Always start him out on the left, and only pump from the left. It may upset him at first, but after about a week the problem should resolve itself, and they should even out.

For so unknown reason my left side will slowly start to drop off in supply at about 4 to 6 months. I was able to continue to nurse all 3 of my girls and anticipate nursing my fourth as well until they were all well over a year. We did not supplument with formula at all and did not start solids until 6 to 9 months, depending on the baby.
I would suggest that you just keep nursing frequently on the low supply side and hopfully the supply will increase.
Blessings, K.

I had this problem as well although my left would let down, it just took much longer. I would suggest to keep trying the left first. When you put the baby on, make a conscious effort to relax. Take slow deep breaths and really let go of any stress or other things you have to do after you get done nursing. I found this helped me to initiated let down easier. Good luck. Nursing is hard work but it is so worth it.