Breastfeeding - One Side Poorly Performing!

I have an 11 week old boy as well and I have the same problem, but on the opposite side. I've found that I almost always start pumping on the left and then move to the right. By the time I am in the middle of pumping the right side, I am a bit frustrated and impatient to be done, and I think my stress level slows the milk let down. I've found that if I relax and keep pumping on the right (even when no milk is coming out), I will have a second (and even third) milk let down. It takes a little longer on that side, but I can get almost as much on that side as on the left now.

Good luck!

This is very normal. With my first child, I produced a ton on the right, but much less on the left. With my second child, it was just the opposite on the sides. It may be due to the baby preferring one side over the other and that side gets more stimulation.

If it bothers you, try pumping a few minutes longer on the side that produces less. This will stimulate it to produce more after about three days.

Best of luck to you!

Paula,

This happened to me too and it is perfectly normal. I was lucky enough to have the Northern Colorado Medical Center Breastfeeding clinic to help me through it. If you are anywhere close to Greeley they might be able to help more. They meet at the hospital Monday-Friday from 12:30 to 3:00.

Anyway they told me that it happens but I bought the next size up in the suction cups and it helped my milk. It helped to reach all the milk ducts. Once I changed those it helped the production. I still had one side that produced more but it helped.

I ended up not being able to produce a whole lot while I was at work but still breastfed at home perfectly. My 9 month old daughter is breastfed whenever she is with me and gets one formula bottle a day. It works perfectly.

Good luck and don't give up!

Paula,
Is is common for one side to produce more milke than another.
Just like you feet, hands are breasts are different sizes, you will have a different amount of breast tissue and glands that produces milk. Also, how much you pump is a reflection on how your body responds to the pump, not how much milk you actually produce. If you are able to leave enough milk for your son with you regular pumping session, you really don't need to worry about it, but if you are trying to increase your milk supply, you can only do that by nursing more and pumping more. You may want to contact a Le Leche League Leader for more help. Good Luck, Breastfeeding is worth it!

I breast fed all 3 of my children and I had the same problem. I didn’t know that the left side was producing more milk than the right until I started pumping. I pumped so I could have Dad help me with the feeding. I talked to the ladies at the lactation department at the hospital that they were born at, and they reassured me that that was normal.

A little about me. I am a stay at home mom of 3 beautiful children, 61/2, 5, and 22 months.

That is totally normal. I had the same problem. What I did is when I was home I started feeding on the low producing side first and ended with the mass producing side. It helped a little, but my doc said that is perfectly normal. Not all boobs are created equal, even the two we have. Hope that helps.

yes, you are not alone i had the exact same problem. From what i heard sometimes you have more ducts in one side then the other. i dont think there is a way to resolve it. Someone told me to start with the opposite sides Hang in there keep pumping keep nursing you are doing great!

Paula,
I don't know if I can provide any help but I can send support that you are not the only one in this situation. I have a 2 and 4 year old and breastfed them both for a year. My left breast barely produced any milk. When they were little they would feed off of both sides but they eventually stopped wanting to nurse from the left side. I worked full time with my oldest and I continued to pump both sides but would always get at least 3x as much from the right (eventually only drops from the left even with additional pumping). With my youngest I exclusively breastfed ( I pumped to have bottles sometime, which she refused, and still was not making milk on the left). Even with out the left being productive my daughter had plenty of milk. I tried to ask the dr and she said it was normal for one side to produce more. I thought mine was extreme but she tried to express some (not such a fun experience) and it came out fine, which it did but only for an ounce, so she said it wasn't a problem. My sister also has the same exact situation and it currently nursing her second who is 9 months. Hope that this at least makes you feel less unnormal.
C.

My left side always produced much less than my right side. I know you are probably tired of hearing this but drinking water increased my supply dramatically.

S.

Paula,
Make sure you do not have a clogged milk duct on the side that is preforming poorly. I had the same issue and thought that one side just didn't produce as much. In fact it was the more productive side and was clogged. Needless to say i did get mastitis very badly.
M.

Hi Paula,
I am a mother of 4. I breast fed all 4 babies. The first three nursed fine on both sides. My fourth always favored one side. I am not too sure why that is? But, I tried to start her out on the "bad" side at each feeding. It is worth a try to keep using it even though your baby is not getting a lot from it. I actually ended up stopping using that side and she just nursed from one side and got plenty. I was a bit lopsided, but it was something only I noticed. Not even my hubby ever noticed. She was my longest nursing baby out of all 4, and she had some lung problems I had to deal with when she was first born, so it was amazing! One breast works! But keep trying to offer her both!!
Good Luck!

I don't know how much less milk you are getting, but I can tell you my right breast never performed as well as my left...ever. This never served to be an issue for me since I always had plenty of milk between the two so I didn't worry about it.

Dear Paula,

Like a previous response, I can't really give much help but can let you know that you're not alone! I exclusively pumped for 13 mos with my oldest (just turned 3) as she never took to the breast and I worked full time. I always got 2 - 3 times more on my right. I would just pump a little longer on my left, but it still wouldn't produce much more. But my daughter certainly didn't starve as my right side produced so much! I was able to pump this way til just over a year when we started her on cow's milk.

I have been exclusively breastfeeding my now 11 month old and she latched on with no problem from the get go. But same problem. I'm always lopsided because my right breast produces SO MUCH MORE! ;) I've just lived with it and figured that's the way it is. I have my daughter feed from that side when she's most hungry (1st thing in morning, before afternoon nap, and bedtime). The mid-morning and mid-afternoon, when she's not as hungry (maybe she's self-weaning??) I feed her from the left. Or maybe that's why she's less hungry those times because there's less milk and she's just gotten used to it?? Who knows.

So I say keep on pumping! As long as you are, you'll still get SOMETHING out of that left side, even if it's just a little. At least the right side is compensating so your son will still have plenty to eat!

Best wishes!!

I had the same "problem". As long as you are getting enough milk to fulfill what your baby eats, I sugest pumping less on the full side and more on the side that produces less. Yes, you will be uncomfortable for a few days but eventually they will even out a little bit. I still have one side that produces more than the other, but it is better than it was. It was the same with my first child. It is all supply and demand, pump less produce less. Good Luck!

Like everyone said--it is normal for one side to produce more milk. Always start your baby on the side that produces less. I've had 3 babies and one side was favored by all of them. However, remember two things:

1. When you stop breast feeding, they do not stay uneven! They go back to normal (well, a little droopier though! :-)
2. Victoria Secret sells silicone bra stuffers (to increase cup size), but if you end up lopsided, putting one in one side works wonders on balancing them out!

HI Paula,
This happened to me also while I was pumping for my daughter. You can try to pump more often or longer on the side that produces less and see if that gets it up to speed. Sometimes though, like with me, that's just how it is, one side works better than the other. As long as you are making enough milk for your baby that is what matters, and your boobs will go back to how they were before the baby after you are done pumping, don't worry! Good luck.

I had this problem and it was due to my son's reflux. He wasn't comfortable laying on his right side since he had more reflux that way. If your son is spitting up, that might be the reason, but spitting up isn't always an indicator of reflux.

Hi Paula,

I have noticed that your breast produces according to how much you nurse or pump on that particular side. I catch myself favoring one side because it is easier to me. Also I forget what side I used last. To help with this problem I put a rubber band on my wrist, or a paper clip on my bra strap. That way I rotate it so I know which side I need to nurse on. I hope that helps you. Good luck.

As long as your overall supply is sufficient I would not worry about it. My right side has ALWAYS produced more than my left. I agree with the suggestion to feed on the left side first (as long as you don't start to notice a decrease in your right side). My babies (all girls, now ages 8, 6, 3 and 9mos) were all one side at a time feeders. Until they were closer to a year old they filled up on one side so I just rotate each feeding. If your baby nurses on both sides for each feeding, start your next feeding on the side you left off with on the last one.

I totally can sympathize with you! I have had the same exact problem since my daughter was about a month old and she's 18 months now, and still nursing. The only thing I can say is remember that breastfeeding is about demand and supply, the more you nurse the more you produce. Try pumping on the left side while nursing on the right side. Even though most women don't realize it one breast always produces more than the other, sometimes it's just more noticeable. You can also try to use herbal supplements to help increase your overall supply if you're really concerned, but know that although it's not preferable it is possible to provide all the necessary nutrition to your little one from one breast. Happy nursing!!

Hi Paula - I'm on my third baby and your scenerio is very similar to me. sometimes I stop the pump on one side and pump the left twice as long. I still don't get as much as my right side. The lactation specialist told me that that's fairly normal. when I'm breast feeding I always start on the left side to make sure I keep the production up.

Paula,

As with all the other responses I had the same issue, I think that's how the body works depending on which side is dominant. The only added advice I could give is trying fenugreek - avialable at any nautral grocery. It helped boost production for me especially as my daughter got older and I returned to work, but it does so for both sides.

I don't know if there is anything you can do, but know that you're not alone. For me it's the right side - my seven-month-old doesn't like to nurse on that side because it doesn't produce as well, which then makes it not produce as much since he isn't suckling...kind of a rough cycle. I've tried pumping more on that side and can't seem to increase production. My doctor said that some women just don't produce as well on one side as the other. That breast has always been smaller anyway, so I wonder if it doesn't have as many milk glands? Anyway, good luck with this, I'll be watching to see what you find out!

Yep...on my fourth and last bb due in June and I've breastfed all of my kids. My problem was also the left..but trust me..bb will do a better job than a pump so you'll probably have to accept it and just persevere if you can't increase bb's time at the breast. I have always taken about 8 weeks maternity leave except the last one was only 2 weeks...but I started pumping before going back to work. I've also always had problems producing. I seem to keep up until the child is close to about 4 months and then for some reason, my supply doesn't increase with their appetites. With the first, I anguished over it, with the second it was easier to deal with and with the third, I knew what to expect and what to expect with this last child. I'm more relaxed about it now. Trust me, I've tried every known suggestion from oatmeal to fenugeek, etc to increase my supply. Nope. But, I did bf all my kids until 9,10 or 11 months. I had to supplement but they also got whatever I could produce. I continued to bf at home and exclusively through the night and during the day, they did get some formula. It was the best of both worlds and now that I'm more experienced, I know that whatever I give them is good for them..so I don't fret as much when about 4 months, I can't keep up any more. Good luck! K.

Hi Paula,

You might try having the little guy nurse on your left side as much as you can possibly stand to bring up the production.

Also you could try drinking Mothers Milk tea. I think there are herbs you can take too, but I don't know what they are.

Hope this helps!

K.

Hi Paula. I have a 10wk old daughter and I have the same issue. My left breast is an overachiever when it comes to milk production and my right I can barely get an ounce out of when I pump. I think it is normal. Remember, the baby will be a lot more efficient at getting milk out of your slow side.

As far as I have read, it's normal. I have the same thing with the left side. I just try to stimulate that side as much as I can with breastfeeding but it hasn't changed. Good luck

This may sound odd...but have you ever had you back cracked? I nursed incredibly well off of both sides with my daughter, but with my son, my right breast never really filled up no matter how much he nursed or I pumped. Then I got my back cracked one day and almost immediately my breast was ready to explode with milk.

If that doesn't work, try keeping the pump on it for longer periods of time and have your son nurse on that side first....the more vigorous sucking might help stimulate production a little better. Good luck!

I had the same problem. What I was told to do was always take the milk out of the breast that gives the least amount first, than pump the other but only take out as much as you did from the first. One more time go back to the first and see if you can get any more out. But if not do not take out all the milk from the second. They will even out. the first breast will either start having more or the second will have less. If you do not do this your breast will change in size considerable when you no long breast feed and the one that gave more milk will look worse.

This happens to me but it changes sides depending on which side I nursed Coop last in the morning at daycare. Could that be it for you too? If not, it shouldn't be a problem. I do know that some women have less production on one side. Check out www.kellymom.com for more answers. That site has some awesome bulletin boards you can post questions to. :) Good luck!!!

I had that problem too. I can't remember which side, but one always produced less than the other. I drank Mother's Milk tea. You can get it at any grocery store. It's organic and tastes very good. You can drink up to 3 glasses a day, and let me tell you it really increases your milk supply. I always drank it when I needed to pump milk the next day. Have a cup in the evening before bed and then in the morning before work and you should be good all day, even if you still produce less on the one side, you will make way more so you can keep up with a growing baby. :) Good luck!

Start pumping on the side with the least amount first for a few minutes then add the other side. See if that helps even things out. I seem to remember having that problem with my now 6 yr old, also pumping at work. Another suggestion is have a pic of your little one to look at while you pump and make sure it's pretty quiet where you pump and your not worried about anyone walking in on you, so you can really relax. Good Luck, Carie, Brighton

I had the same issue when I was pumping to feed my daughter several years ago and again my son last year. I just assumed it was normal and never tried to do anything about it. Sorry I can't be of more help, but at least you know you are not the only one!

I breastfed all my children for at least 14 months. When I had less milk in one breast, I would let my baby breast feed more on that breast. The more stimulation the more milk. I also started on one breast and had my baby feed for about 10 min, and then changed to the other breast. Then next time I would start with the breast I finished with. This way you get a good balance for both breasts. I had a safetypin or something similar to make me remember which breast to start with. Pumping is usually unstimulating, but don't give up.
Good luck. Best regards J.

I also had the same problem with breastfeeding both of my kids (both over a year). With my first he had weight issues so I had to pump to monitor how much he ate. I would pump a little extra on the left, but it was hard because I was pumping so much and didn't want to do more. It never really improved. When I breastfeed my second I did not have to pump. For the first while I tried pumping on the left side after I feed her, this helped some. I also started her on the left and ended on the left side. This all helped some but never where they anywhere close.

My daughter would not nurse, so I pumped exclusively for 9 months. I ALWAYS had half to a third the production from my left breast as my right. If I waited too long to pump, I looked very lopsided. Makes for some interesting pictures when I look back... My doctor, and some of the research I was able to find, said that that is perfectly normal and something that you don't normally notice unless you are pumping. Good luck!

I, also, had a similar problem. I found that if I fed (or pumped) longer from the side with the problem that after a little while I had more milk on that side. Do you find that you are using one side more than the other when feeding/pumping? It can be hard, especially when it is so much easier and takes a lot less time to feed/express from the side that gives more milk. But, I do know that milk is generally produced according to demand. I do have a good friend that just has a difficult time producing milk at all. We're all wired and plumbed slightly differently! Hope this helps you. Good luck.

It is quite common that one side produces less than the other. I had a conversation about my doula concerning a similar issue. There is nothing you can "do" about it. You can pump more frequently and take herbs to increase your overall production. I made a home made tea that was fenugeek and fennel that really worked. You can also purchase lactation support herbs at vitamin cottage...
Good luck!

hi there, I had the same problem while brestfeeding both of my children and I had to "re train" my breasts. You need to pump your left side almost 2 times as much to "train" it to produce more. after your left side is empty, continue to pump it for 5-8 min longer, letting your body know that it needs to make more. or you ca not pump your right side as long and it will stop producing as much. wich ever you prefer. I hope this helps. Good luck.

J.

The only thing I can think of is that that your son favors the right side more, drinking more from that side so it is producing more milk. If not, I dunno I would be stumped!

I had the same problem ,and I wasn't able to resolve it becase the babies wouldn't want to feed on that side because the nipple was inverted a little bit so they got frustrated with it. So if that is the same problem with you they have these nipple shields that are suppose to help but It was to much of a pain so I just gave up on the one side and just used the one more. Although I definetly had one larger breast then the other, but nobody noticed except me.

Hi Paula,
This happened to me and when I called the lactation specialist, she said it's normal for one breast to produce more than the other and your baby will usually favor it as well. It's like being right- or left- handed. It is what it is and she didn't seem to think it was a problem. Other women I've talked to have had one breast produce more and be larger than the other. It evens out when you stop breastfeeding.

I do the same thing. From what I have read it is normal to have one breast perform better than the other one. I have also noticed that my babies prefer to nurse on the side that performs better. However, the right side (my worse side) still worked fine and my kids would nurse from it too.

Looks like you've got some great advice. Mine were the same way and I just fed her off the low side first (when she was most hungry) and then fill her up with the full side. They never did even out in over 9 months, but she's healthy and happy.

Check your pump. If it's the Medela Pump in Style I had the same problem and one tube wasn't pushed in as far as the other. Once I pushed them both in things got better. Good luck!

Have you tried the herb Fenugreek? You can get it at GNC. I had a similar problem but was pumping for twins. I needed to increase my milk supply and a lactation specialist suggested this herb. It is safe for you and it won't hurt the baby in any way. I was able to increase my milk supply enough to go without supplementing formula for my twins for over 7 months.

Very normal. I nursed and pumped, tried all the supplements, and emphasized the lesser one as much as possible, but neither the baby (as determined by before and after weighing) nor the pumping could get more out of the lesser one. Do try the tips you've been given, but don't think there is anything wrong if it doesn't help. Good luck, and keep on nursing!

I have the same issue and did with my daughter as well. I dont think there really is a way to resolve it and as long as you are getitng enough between the 2 you will be fine.

If you do find something that works please pass it along!

S.

When I started breastfeeding at first, both sides were "good to go" but then one side did have that same problem. My doctor said to just keep pumping on both sides evenly. Even if one isn't "performing" and it will come back after a week or so....and it did.

There really is no problem. It is totally normal to have one side that produces more milk than the other. There really is no need to try to correct it - unless it really bothers you. If it really is bothering you, you can spend more time pumping or nursing on the side that produces less and less time on the one that produces more. In theory, over time, things will even out. But there's really no need to go through all that.

this is actually pretty normal. I've breastfed 5 children, 4 of whom were hopitalized as neonates. Most people just don't notice because it goes into baby and isn't measured. If you want to build it up on left side, pump longer, let baby suckle longer on that side, but don't worry about it if it's not even.
I've even had babies that prefer one breast to the other, but always encourage them to try both.

Paula,
My left always (both children) gave less than half the amount of milk as my right. With pumping, I'd pump it longer, and would get more. My right would just stop once a certain amount of time lasped, but the left would continue to give as long as I pumped it. That would be my only suggestion, to continue to pump your left side longer than the right. It worked for me. No lactation consultant suggested it to me, I just tried it.

I have something similar only I am opposite---my left overproduces. It wasn't quite the problem with my boys because they drained both breasts at each feeding. However, my daughter would usually eat really well on one side and only a little on the other. So what I would do is always start her nursing on my right, the underproducer, unless I was feeling a little too full on the left. As far as pumping, I had a dual pump and just did the same amount for each side and by draining the left, I felt the right was getting equal stimulation. Over time, the left still looked a little bigger but only when I was standing in front of a mirror just out of the shower.

Best wishes.

It is pretty normal... my left always seems more abundant than my right... however I don't think it has to be that way. Here is what I would do. I would continue to pump all you can get out of your right and then even when your left isn't giving you any more continue to pump. Like when your baby eats 2 oz then increases to 4 then 6 and so on I think the fact that they are sucking and demanding more more often is what gets you to produce more. so pump even though nothing is coming out as well as maybe add a couple more smaller pump sessions with that side so it sees that more is being demanded. Also drink lots, cause I always produce better if I am drinking enough.

Paula,
I was never able to breastfeed either of my daughters, but pumped for 7 months with the first and 1 year with the other. I always got more on the right side than the left, this is normal and nothing to worry about. Pumping is not as efficient as breastfeeding, but if your baby is getting enough, don't worry about it. (Breastfeeding moms don't notice if they get more from one side or the other.) I found if I massaged each breast after I was "finished" pumping I always got a little more out. Sometimes I had to massage 2 or 3 times to get all of the milk out (due to the inefficiency of pumping.) If your really worried about it, talk to your MD, but if your baby is healthy and happy, why worry about something you don't have to?
FYI: I got 32 oz each morning, and then 10-12 oz every 2 hours for the entire year (2nd child-we joked that I was the Dairy Queen). I gave the extra to 2 other moms who fed their babies exclusively (no formula) with it.