My milk came in late and I've been struggling with my supply. I know LO has a difficult time transferring so I've been pumping so that I can primarily supplement with breast milk. When I do my 10 minute pump session, I can usually get 1.5-2 oz out of my right side. My left side only produces about .5-.75 oz though. Is this normal? Any tips to help build up supply?
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I have zero tips, but wanted to say that my supply is definitely different! One boob produces 1-2 more ounces a day than the other!! I have noooo idea why, but I haven't done anything about it because my LO seems satisfied with what he's getting (I offer both boobs at every feeding) and so far I've been able to keep up with how much he needs for daycare, even though one boob is pulling more weight than the other!
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I think I need to go back to the LC to see how much he is transferring now that my milk is in. I feel so guilty because I was essentially (though unintentionally) starving him the first few days of his life and he lost too much weight. Now, I'm obsessed with how much I pump because I want to make sure I'm giving him enough to eat.
So stressful!
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Yes, my left side is an underachiever compared to my right side! One tip I got was when nursing, put your LO on the side that doesn't produce as much first . . . the idea being that your LO will nurse the first side more aggressively than the other, and that over time, it may help the under-producing side to pick up the pace a little. Oh, and definitely offer both boobs during a feeding!
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My supply is very different between boobs! I try to stimulate the slowpoke side by always starting the baby on that side, but there's still a big difference. I can't imagine what it would be if I didn't do that. Strangely, the side the produces less gets more engorged and has had more clogged ducts than the other side. BOOBS. Go figure.
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PS if you are pumping and bottle feeding, the way to improve supply might be to just let him nurse even if you don't think he's getting a ton of milk. That constant stimulation and closeness really helps.
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@rahlyrah: Yep, I did the same thing! Xander like 10% of his birth weight in 4 days and so they made me start feeding him every 2 hours, which was hard, because he was such a sleepy baby. I wasn't pumping yet at that point, though I think pumping after feedings will help boost your supply in general!
@MsLipGloss: That hasn't worked for me yet! I offer the under-producing side first almost always and it's still an under-achiever. But I suspect that Xander is just much better at getting the milk out of it than my pump is. Maybe that boob is just stubborn?
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Thanks for the tips!
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@Adira: My left side still under produces as compared to my right. But yeah, I think that the pump is never a good indicator as to what your supply is really like, although, while I still think that the left produces less than the right, I think the contrast is not as stark as my pumping sessions make it appear to be. I will also say that every once in a while, when I pump, both sides produce almost the same amount . . . but that has only happened maybe 2 or 3 times (and I have been pumping for almost 7 months . . . went back to work at 12 weeks, and LO is almost 10 months (holy cow!)).
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@sloaneandpuffy: LOL @ "BOOBS. Go figure."
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yep, my left boob has always been smaller (pre-preg too) and is also the one with the flat nip... and so DS always favored the right... we used a nip shield in the beginning for a cpl weeks, but then he latched on like a champ. It's always been an oz or so less than the right boob tho
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Yep I have a lazy boob too. I think it's pretty normal. I think everyone said this already but offer the less productive one first, but it may always just produce less than the other
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@MsLipGloss: Ahh, I've only been back at work for a month, so maybe eventually they'll even out, though it hasn't happened yet! Xander doesn't seem to notice or care which boob I offer him though, so he must be getting whatever he needs, though I do always offer him both sides.
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@mrsjyw: I have a flat nip on my left side, too! I can't get him to latch on without the shield. Did you just try it one day without the shield and he was able to latch? Or did you have to try different techniques?
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@rahlyrah: yep just tried one day n he latched. We did have to use it again on/off but after a few days he was good on bith sides he still prefers the.rt one tho (faster flow more.milk)!
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I'm almost 10 months out still breastfeeding and I have wayyy more in my right than left. When I pump, I usually get 4 off my right and 1 off my left. So annoying!
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Yep, I have a lazy right boob!
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@matador84: It's very similar for me . . . usually 4 from my right, and 2 from my left. *sigh*
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@MsLipGloss: I can't wait until my pumping days are over!!! I will be on summer vacation (as in done with summer school) on Thursday, so NO MORE PUMPING FOR ME!
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@matador84: WOOT! I can't wait to be done!
I am down to 1 session at work each day . . . I have been slowly day weaning BabyGloss for the last month. I am just glad that I met and surpassed my original goal of 6 months! I plan to still BF at night/early morning until she's 1, if she's interested.
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@MsLipGloss: i just started a new thread! i think DS is basically self-weaning...not as interested in the boob as he used to be and plays around. I CAN'T believe I've made it this far also--I never imagined it'd be such sacrifice!
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Yep, my right boob is suuuper lazy. Left boob easily makes 3 times more
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I think my boobs are pretty even in terms of supply (I've never needed to pump) but I do have a much faster and stronger letdown on my right which explains why we always had trouble feeding off it in the early days.
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My left side has always produces less. I call it bad breast.
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23 comments