Nursing on my side causing uneven draining.

[lysimachia]

At night I like to nurse my four-month-old while lying on my side. But I notice that when I do this lately, she doesn't end up draining the whole breast, and I end up with part of it (usually the top outside part) hard and sore. I'm wondering if I need to change her position somehow (we're facing each other, pretty much parallel), or if I have to stop nursing in this position? (I really like nursing like that because I don't have to be so awake!)

[tibeca]

Some moms find that nursing in bed can require a little more organization than expose breast, add baby. You did not note whether you are nursing from the bottom breast or top breast, and this could make a difference (but not necessarily). For a simple answer, you can try some breast compressions when your baby is nursing at night. Simply apply a little pressure to the area that normally doesn't fully drain. This will stimulate a let down and ensure that that area drains, at least partially.

Also, after nursing, be sure to move around and ensure that you are not laying or applying any undue pressure on that breast. This includes from the weight of your arm or the pressure of a baby snuggling into you.

[lysimachia]

I nurse her from the bottom breast. I've tried the top breast, and it seems to make the problem much worse. And I do use some compression on the area, as much as I can while lying down. I've been thinking I should experiment with having her farther up and farther down, to see if that makes a difference. (After nursing I generally put her back in her basket, and I lay on my back, so direct pressure on the breast isn't an issue.)

[NSmomtobe]

are you using the same breast each time? Or alternating?

[lysimachia]

I alternate, and it seems to happen the same way on both sides. I'm wondering if it has something to do with how she holds her head... since it didn't happen for the first 3+ months of nursing her like that.

[NSmomtobe]

I don't know... but I tend to keep using the same breast until it feels drained, if possible, before switching.

[lysimachia]

You know, I often do that during the day, since I have had problems with oversupply... I think I've been worried that if I go all night only nursing on one breast (she hardly ever nurses more than twice a night), the other one will be painfully full by morning.