Breastfeeding Issue... - Altonah,UT

Updated on October 06, 2010
T.H. asks from Altonah, UT
9 answers

I have been breastfeeding my daughter. It has been going great, I have been lucky enough not to have any supply issues or anything like that... The problem is that my left breast makes a LOT more milk than my right. I think it's probably because of an injury from when I was a teen... I was attacked by a dog, and it's claws ripped into my right breast. It scarred, so I'm assuming it also damaged my milk ducts or something along those lines. My daughter is getting enough, which is the most important thing... but now I'm lopsided! My right breast is 3 cup sizes smaller than my left!!! I always start on the right, hoping to stimulate it to produce more, and I try to pump that side a little more often, but no matter what I try I can't get it to even out. Can anyone help me?

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J.G.

answers from New York on

Me too. lol. When you forget which side you're supposed to be on- and you will eventually- go right. It took about seven months with my son, but I did eventually even out. Until then, think socks...

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J.B.

answers from Grand Junction on

I have the same issue. I had a surgery on my left boob and it never produced more than an oz. I tried everything... Starting on the left, pumping, orienting my baby's head in the same direction as the other boob ( football hold ) and nothing worked. It was super hard after feeling like an alien was in my body for 9 months. I just wanted to look normal. I got padded bra and took out the padding on one side. No one notices. 14 months later I am now struggling with weening. Remember how luck u and your baby are that u can feed him.

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J.M.

answers from Boston on

That was totally me, without the dog attack. It might just be the way you work. See if you can find a padded nursing bra and remove the pads on the larger size. In good news, when I stopped nursing, they mostly became the same size again. Good luck!

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H.D.

answers from Miami on

I breast feed my third child for 11 months. No problems other than a rocky beginning. I did however have one breast larger than the other but not by much. If you are worried that the attack might have damaged your milk ducts, check with your doctor. But if all checks out, they should return to normal size once your done with breast feeding. Enjoy it, it ends so quickly and then you'll wish you were lopsided again!

1 mom found this helpful
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E.L.

answers from Los Angeles on

With both babies my right side produces WAY more milk. When I pump I get an ounce or two on the left, but about six on the right. I used to try and stimulate the left more, but my right would get engorged and I have major problems with that. I have just learned to let my body be lopsided :) I assume it will go back to normal after this baby as it did with my first when she is done nursing.

1 mom found this helpful
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G.J.

answers from Colorado Springs on

Welcome to the world of lopsidedness...lol...As I write this, I am nursing my 11 month old on the "good" side....the one that makes more milk, the one that hardly ever even considers getting mastitis...and, most importantly, the one that lets me type and write with my right hand. Yes, it's true. I'm lopsided because I'm a miserable multitasker...The left arm holds the blissfully chugging baby, while the right does everything else. After doing this for now five lactations, I'm pretty sure I'll be lopsided for life.

Anyway, though my problem is self inflicted and your isn't, the bottom line is--these things happen. Hold your head high, secretly pad your bra like the rest of us, and revel in the look on your darling babies face while she nurses! If it's not so bad that you tip over when you walk, then it'll be okay...

Best wishes and blessings

1 mom found this helpful
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T.W.

answers from Denver on

I have always had that problem. My left produces like crazy and my right barely a thing. No amount of suckling works. I can't explain it, I just lived with it. You are doing the right thing by having her feed on the low producing side first but you may not ever get it up to par. The most important thing is that your baby is getting enough food.

Good luck!

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S.W.

answers from Pocatello on

Same problem, I think its common. My left side is quite a bit bigger, always has been a little bit bigger but since having kids it is noticeably bigger. I finished bf 3 years ago (my baby turned 5 today) and it is still like that. I have talked to my doctor about it and functionally nothing is wrong so the only option would be to have plastic surgery to fix it. I can't afford that, nor do I want my breasts cut open, so I just buy the bra to fit the left and pad the right.

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C.O.

answers from Sacramento on

Functionally, your body is doing what it needs to feed your daughter. It has adapted and all is well. For your own self image, get some padding for the right so you fill in the bra and feel better about it (assuming it bothers you. If it doesn't bother you, don't worry about it). One you are done breastfeeding, things will return to 'normal'.

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