Milk Production Is Uneven... Is This NORMAL?

I work and pump and every day each side is different. For me it really depends on which side she ate off of last. I would also not recommend pumping before she eats. I would feed my daughter and then when she switched I would pump each side for about 5-10 mintues to increase my supply... Congratulations on the baby!

I don't think you should worry about an oz difference. I've had three girls, and my right side has always produced and pumped more and more easily than the left. Just the way I am, I guess.

No worries!

As others have said, it's completely normal. :) I second the nurse first, pump after or in between idea. I just wanted to add that I actually encourage you to pump to have some reserves. Even though you stay at home, it will give you flexibility when you need it (or want it). I didn't pump nearly enough when I had my son, and I was always rushing to pump enough for when I'd be gone from him. This second time around, I plan to have plenty in reserves so it doesn't stress me out to get enough milk. Good luck and congratulations!

Absolutely normal! AND when you experience this when pumping, it doesn't even mean that you actually have less milk in one breast, but just that is doesn't pump/let down as well as the other. I experienced the same thing and know this from many other moms as well.

Even the best pumps are less efficient at emptying your breasts than your baby, so even after pumping she will probably get some milk.

Since breastmilk changes over the duration of the nursing/pumping session (foremilk/hindmilk) I would not advocate pumping prior to every feeding.
BUT if she doesn't usually empty both sides when nursing, you can nurse one side, pump the other and then let her finish the pumped side.

Good luck!

that is incredibly normal. i actually pump full time and my right side produces usually an ounce to 2 ounces less than my left side at every session. it is absolutely nothing to worry about.
as for your pump draining your breasts, yes, you can. it can take a little extra work (compressions and massage) but it can be done, so it's usually better to pump after baby has fed.

All good advice below. I would just like to add that since your baby's sucking is strongest at the beginning of nursing and milk production is a supply and demand issue, you can actually increase the production on one side, if you want, by starting on that side first every time you nurse, for a while. Unequal milk supply is not a big deal, so it doesn't really matter, but I did that for a while, myself, since my left side produced more (and was noticeably bigger) than my right side. I didn't like feeling "lop-sided," so I just always nursed first on the right side for about a week. It helped to even things out. You can let your baby empty the side with lower production, then nurse what she wants from the high production side. After she's done, then pump whatever more you can from the second breast. Just an idea.

Hey SP,
This is totally normal. I have a 1 month old that I am currently BF and my right side always produces way more milk than the left. The same thing happened when I was nursing my first child too. Also, pumping after you nurse will cause you to produce more milk so you could try pumping only the one lesser side when done feeding. If it doesnt bother you to be uneven, you dont have to do anything. Your body will still produce enough between the two sides to keep your baby healthy. Hope that helps!

Drink up to and beyond 80 oz of water. It will really help! It makes an enormous difference for me!

Hi,
Yes I would say this is not uncommon for you to have one breast producing more than the other. You need to feed your daughter first from the right for a little while and then switch to the left for the second half of her feeding. This will increase the milk production on the right side because she will eat more vigorously durring the first half of her feeding which will cause the right side to produce more milk. Using a breast pump will never drain the breast as well as your daughter will.If you are using the pump to increase your milk supply I would suggest pumping a little after feeding your daughter first. You will increase your supply as your daughter grows and needs more. Its kind of amzing how our bodies can do that. Also, be sure to really drink a lot of fluids and get as much rest as you possibly can. Those two factors are very important when it comes to making breast milk.
H.

I was the same way - it is totally normal not to worry. I don't think it is necessary to do anything to try to fix it. as long as your little angel is getting enough to eat there is no problem. As far as the draining when pumping that just depends. If you pump till you are dry then baby will have to wait awhile while your body makes more but if you stop before you have pumped everything then there will be milk left over. It sort of depends on why you are pumping. Enjoy your baby!

It is Normal for one to give more than the other when pumping. It's different for each breast with the breast sheilds, different contact and they don't adjust like your little on will. Don't worry about it the amount unless there is a dramatic decrease over time which means you might need a different size shield.

There would be some hind milk left, the pump in good but the baby is better at draining your breasts.

Yes it's normal for there to be variation in pumped volumes between breasts. Also, it's much better to pump only after you nurse, so that she can get the best and the most of your milk directly from your breast, and any pumping that you decide to do can be secondary to her getting her needs met by breastfeeding. It's also considered better generally to let baby nurse as long as she wants on one breast before offering the other (she may not want the second one, which is fine), rather than thinking she needs to nurse on both breasts at each feeding. By letting her drain the first breast as fully as she wants, she will get both the foremilk and hindmilk. If you really want to keep your milk supply up and your breastfeeding relationship going strong, I'd suggest that almost all of her feeding be by breastfeeding, using the pump only as much as you really need to, for example if you will need to be away from her for any several-hour stretches and want to store a little milk for those occasions. You didn't say why you are pumping - I would assume that as a SAHM you won't be needing to be away from her very much and therefore would need very little in the way of stored pumped milk.

it's definitely normal. most women don't have completely symmetrical breasts. as long as you're getting milk, you are golden. what i'm getting is that you're worried with the amount of milk your daughter is getting rather than the evenness of your breasts? it sounds like she is getting plenty so just continue to let her eat her little heart out from both/either and she'll be fine.

you can definitely pump after breastfeeding to stock up or do it sometime between her feedings. you just don't want to do it too close to when she wants to eat or you won't have enough and she'll be angry!

Uneven production is perfectly normal and nothing to worry about! :) If you're within an ounce, you're pretty close to even in my experience. Your question made it a little unclear, but are you alternating which side your daughter starts on for each feeding? If so, then you're really doing everything right! :)

A pump does a pretty good job of getting the milk out, but it's nothing compared to a baby's suckling! There won't be as much available obviously, but your baby will always be able to get more milk.

Hi there! That is totally normal so dont worry! My right one used to pump about half again what the other one would! It used to freak me out but found out that is fine. On the draining question, I think you can drain it to a point, but you will always get a little bit out of it right after. I dont think enough to do a feeding though..I would think that would depend on how soon after you were going to feed.
Hope that helps!

Yes, it's totally normal. My right side has always been much more productive than the left and most of my bf'ing M. friends have had similar experiences. It's just like one foot (or breast) being slightly bigger than the other, I think. ;)

As for draining your breast, a pump is never as efficient as a baby, so you probably have a little left if you'd like to feed your baby from the same side you pumped.

Only your baby can truly drain your breast, and how much you can pump is not a good indication of how much you have to offer your baby. You may just let down faster on one side. Either way, one ounce more is not anything to worry about. You have so much to think about and consider right now in your life that you should just let the little things go.

Yes it's normal. That's the short answer. Also, pumping is no indication of what is actually in there. Babies are much more efficiant then pumps in getting the milk out. You might try nursing more on the the side that doesn't seem to have as much.
Your breasts are constantly producing milk, so you are never empty..and like I said before, pumping can't get it all, so you absolutly have more milk after pumping!

An awesome breastfeeding support and info website is www.kellymom.com