Breastfeeding - Hartford,CT

I was pumping as I read your request. The other moms are right. Lopsidedness is "normal" and so is having trouble pumping. I nurse full time and never pump more than about 2 1/2 ounces TOTAL at each pumping. Remember if you're pumping FT, everything else is extra so you're expecting your body to give you *more* than what your baby needs. It may take a while for your body to adjust to pumping rather than nursing. You might try renting a pump from your local hospital since they are the absolute best. I have a Medela at home but with my first child I never got the same results with the Medela as I did with the hospital pump. There's a monthly fee but if it saves you an extra hour of pumping every day, it may be worth it.

Regarding lopsidedness and a breast preference, they say to start the baby on the breast he/she prefers just until they're calm enough to switch over to the other breast. You could try the football hold on the preferred breast so the baby is in position to move to the other breast without having to turn him/her around.

I second the suggestion about a pumping bra! A cheap solution is to take a front zip-up sports bra and cut holes in it where your nipples are. The pumping shields fit through and you attach the rest of the pump elements to the outside. It makes the time you spend pumping a little more comfortable and possibly more efficient. If you can lock your office door (or borrow an office to pump in), you can pump and respond to emails, catch up on paperwork, or even return phone calls. I find if I don't focus on the pumping going on I actually pump *more* than when I sit and stress over each drop coming out.

Best of luck!

I believe it is normal for one to produce more milk than the other. Be sure that you are feeding on both sides equally. Milkmaid tea by earths mamma would help to increase your overall milk supply as will feeding more often or pumping more often as it is a supply and demand system.

It is normal to have one breast larger than the other and to have one breast produce more milk. Humans are not symmetrical!
You produce the most milk in the morning, so after nursing your baby when he wakes, pump out the other side and save for a later feeding.
If you have returned to work and need to leave enough milk while you are away, you will need to pump at work to ensure you are maintaining an adequate milk supply. It is possible. My son is almost 4 months old and has never had formula and I returned to work after 12 weeks. Good luck.

The size difference is normal. One of mine was always larger than the other- you are making more milk from that one. Could be due to a preference your baby has for that side or just due to your own physiology. The hardness in my experience is due to the fullness- sometimes also to the inability of milk to flow as easily through that one so it gets backed up a bit. If your breast is still hard after pumping you might try to do 1) wait for (or encourage) another let down 2) remove the pump and vigorously massage the hard portion of your breast- that will help coax more milk out and encourage the removal of any blockage. You can also do this while pumping but you might not have enough hands!) 3) apply heat to that side before/during pumping (a warm wash cloth).

It's definitely normal to be lopsided during the breastfeeding years, especially if your child develops a side preference!

The pump is not as efficient as your child's mouth is, no matter how you cut it. Some women never manage to pump at all, but with a few tricks you should be able to increase your supply.

Start with a good pump. If you're going to be working full time, you need to invest in a good quality double electric, particularly if pumping isn't easy for your body. The Medela PIS is always a good buy.

Pump in private and in quiet. Carry a picture of your baby to focus on while you are pumping. Be sure to drink plenty of water. Fenugreek and oatmeal can increase your supply.

I would also get a pumping bra, so that your hands are free while you are pumping :)

Good luck!

It is perfectly normal to have one breast larger than the other...and because its larger and has more milk, it will be harder. I always tried evening mine out by feeding him on the larger breast first...and do your best to feed your baby evenly on both breasts...or pump evenly. I went through small periods where the right side would be larger, then a few weeks later the left side would be larger...not a big deal though.

I dont know if you have ever tried it, but there's a tea called Mother's Milk that's sold at GNC. I used to drink it 3-5 times a day when my supply seemed low to me when I'd pump, and I swear it helped increase my milk supply. (I'd have to put honey in to sweeten it a bit) Its worth a shot though! Good luck

With my first daughter, who I nursed for 11 months, I had no issues with lopsidedness. However, with my second, it was almost as though I only had one breast! She favored the left side and after a few months my right side completely dried out even though I tried to pump to keep it working. The one that is fuller is probably the one that gets hard, that's just because it's more productive and if the milk is not expressed it will get engorged. About pumping, I had a hard time too. Drink a lot of water, try to relax, and be sure that you feel the let down, otherwise you're forcing your breasts to "work" when they're not really ready. Good luck - I know this can be frustrating!

S.,
I am not able to easily pump very much unless I am completely relaxed (feet up) and often times I have to put an ice pack on top of the breast to loosen it up and allow the milk to flow. (Hot showers make me feel better, but they can lead to more engorgement and pain!) It is completely normal for one breast to be larger and the best way to help matters to try and drain the breasts the same amount of time or allow the baby to nurse on the other side to even things out. BUT-- the more you pump and nurse on one side, the more milk that breast will produce, so be careful!!

Good luck and don't worry about the size difference. No one notices and it only lasts awhile. Hang in there!! D.