Hello,
So I've heard it's really common during breastfeeding for one breast to be larger and produce more than the other. Just wondering if there's anything you can do to help the problem? I have a 3 month old, and pretty much from the start my left breast has produced more, but it seems like it's gotten worse and is really noticeably larger than the other. I'm getting self-conscious about it.... and worried it will never go back... any advice? I know in the long run it doesn't matter, I'm making milk for my boy and that's all that matters. But I've had itty bitties my whole life, and now finally have some boobies but can't show 'em off because they're so crooked! ;-)
All women have uneven breasts. Pregnancy and breastfeeding temporarily exacerbate the problem. On top of that, the baby will inevitably prefer the bigger breast as their favorite, which may make the issue worse. You can always pump extra from the smaller breast to see if that helps.
Your husband will not care or notice this... women are ALWAYS more critical of their bodies than the men in their lives are. Enjoy having bigger breasts!!
S.,
My mother in law is a lactation consultant. What she suggest is to always start on the smaller side AND end on the smaller side. So what you would do is break your feeding in to three equal parts instead of two. She says to pump on the smaller side if the baby finishes to quickly and wont nurse very long on that side. Also if you baby is preferring one side, he might have an ear infection in the opposite ear. So check his ears and try nursing him so he is more in an upright sitting position rather then laying down.
Good luck
E.
Mine are HORRIBLY lopsided I have an A and a Full C for my every day life and while nursing I had a full A and a D ... what I did was I nursed on the smaller side and pumped from the fuller side then once he was finished feeding on the smaller let him finish his meal on the larger and topped him off with what I pumped if needed. I felt that a difference was made in those efforts.
Just always start with your small side. The baby will nurse there more often and longer then the larger side therefore producing more milk.
Good luck!
LOL...I had the same thing happen, and it was because my son preferred one side over the other, probably because I was more comfortable holding him on that side, so he'd always spend much more time there nursing. It's a supply and demand thing. So, I made a point of always offering the non-preferred side first, then letting him spend a little time on the preferred side, then going back to the other side. It was a hassle, but eventually things evened out fairly well. But to this day, my right side is still slightly bigger :-(
Only 3 months old....your breasts may not have regulated just yet. Give it time. Sometimes babies tend to prefer one side over an another (mine always did) and then some women produce more on one side than the other no matter how often the baby nurses from both sides. I'm sorry to say that once I was done with pregnancy and breastfeeding, my breasts never looked like how they looked before I ever had a child. Don't obsess with your breasts at this point. Just wear a bra and you should be okay.
I did the exact same thing too. I agree with the ladies who said always start your baby on your smaller side--babies are most agressive at the beginning and it may stimulate milk production. Mine stayed lopsided while breastfeeding and I'm itty bitty too, so I went to Victoria Secret and bought inserts. I just put one on my smaller side to balance myself out when I felt self-conscious about it. (Nursing pads work too, but don't form as well). Don't worry though, when I was finished nursing, my boobs (although a little saggier) went back to normal. They do not stay lopsided!!! I was an A and a C when nursing, now they are both the same. It happened with all of my kiddos, but it is fine now.
Mine were the same way! Start nursing on the smaller side, buy some good padding, and enjoy the B. boob(s)! They'll shrink down to approximately the same size when you're done nursing; you won't be incredibly lopsided forever!
I know it is common, but I'm nit sure how to 'fix' fix the problem if you nurse more then more milk will come so maybe try that on the smaller side...It didn't happen to me but I'm over wieght and mine a large to start with
I was a bra fitter at Penney's for 3.5 years. Most women have one boob bigger than the other, get your bras fitted so the biggest one fits the bra. You can get inserts to fill up the extra room for the smaller one. Once you are done breastfeeding go to Penney's and get a bra fitting, it's free but appointments are appreciated. You can purchase bras off the clearance rack if money is tight. I hear ya on the itty bitty boob thing I am not that well endowed and both of my daughters are DD's.
Always try on bras when shopping, I know it's a hassel but even bras from the same company fit differently. If you happen to fall into an uneven number 35 or 37 for example you may have to try on both the 36 and the 38. Cup sizes are not exact but relative to the band size a 36D for example has a sister size in a 38C and a 34DD, these cups are the same size but the band size is different. You need a bra that fits in the band size and the cup.
I recommend Penney's because the associates have to go through special training to be a fitter. I had several customers come to me after going to Victoria's Secrets to be fitted and they were fitted wrong. One customer had been going bonkers for 10 years trying to find a bra that fit. VS had fitted her and told her she was a 36DDD, I fitted her and she needed a 40C. For the first time in many years she was comfortable in a bra.
