breastfeeding -- more milk on one side?

[poep]

To date, BF has been going great -- better than I ever expected. Shayna latched well immediately, and has had great weight gain. (In the week and a half since she left the hospital, she has gone from 6 lbs 4 ounces to 7 pounds 6 ounces.)

I have started pumping in the last couple of days and have noticed that more than twice as much milk is coming out of my left breast. This has been the case all 4 times I have pumped. Is there anything I can do for this or anything that I should be concerned about? At first I though the left was Shayna's "preferred" boob, but she doesn't seem to discriminate and is equally interested in both.

Thanks!

[umami_mommy]

this is perfectly normal. many right handed women have more ducts in the left side.

but why are you pumping so early? since your milk supply is not fully established until you have nursed for 6 weeks, i would not pump unless you are returning to work when baby is 6 weeks old if you absolutely have to pump, i would at least wait until week 3.

[scsigrl]

My LC said that some 70% of women make more milk on one side then the other!

Why would pumping be a problem? I have been pumping since SD was born (first to relieve engorgement, the to store for Dad to help out). I was encouraged my my LC to pump. I would not see this as a problem if you are!

[umami_mommy]

the lactation sources i trust recommend that you don't pump until your supply is fully established. for some women very early pumping (other than to relieve engorgement, which should bea really short pump) can really effect supply, esp in the future...

[Gray's Mommy]

Originally Posted by honeybeedreams

the lactation sources i trust recommend that you don't pump until your supply is fully established. for some women very early pumping (other than to relieve engorgement, which should bea really short pump) can really effect supply, esp in the future...

: Unless you need to pump, stay away from it in the beginning weeks.

[mooliette]

Can someone provide me with some information links on how pumping effects your supply in the early weeks. I am returning to work, but not until week 12. I started pumping a few days after my milk came in. I joke around that I'm tamdem nursing my newborn and pump. I have a huge supply, either I pump or it all runs out onto my shirt or nursing pads. I have already stored over 100 oz. I usually pump twice, once in the morning and once in the late evening and get 8 - 10 ounces a day.

[Jude Rose]

Originally Posted by mooliette

Can someone provide me with some information links on how pumping effects your supply in the early weeks. I am returning to work, but not until week 12. I started pumping a few days after my milk came in. I joke around that I'm tamdem nursing my newborn and pump. I have a huge supply, either I pump or it all runs out onto my shirt or nursing pads. I have already stored over 100 oz. I usually pump twice, once in the morning and once in the late evening and get 8 - 10 ounces a day.

I have stored breastmilk envy.






I started pumping too. About 2 days ago. The babes are 4 weeks 1 day. I hope I'm not messing anything up . I desparately needed a break to try to heal up my thrush in my breasts and also their latch kind of sucks. Pun intended. Their mouths are sooo tiny. I've had so many people who should know check the latch and say it looks great.

I have more milk on one side too.

[umami_mommy]

sorry about your thrush jude rose. it *does* get better as their mouths get bigger. ahng in there, i haave had lost of issues with nursing. this time around i think i finally figured out i have fibromyalsia, and this is why i have such horrible pain when i nurse. my chiro has been telling me for years i have fibro. i finally believe her. but i'm stubbon and nursed my son for 2 years... you will too.

[umami_mommy]

Originally Posted by mooliette

Can someone provide me with some information links on how pumping effects your supply in the early weeks. I am returning to work, but not until week 12. I started pumping a few days after my milk came in. I joke around that I'm tamdem nursing my newborn and pump. I have a huge supply, either I pump or it all runs out onto my shirt or nursing pads. I have already stored over 100 oz. I usually pump twice, once in the morning and once in the late evening and get 8 - 10 ounces a day.

sorry, nak, no links, but i will say that in some women it can make over supply and overactive letdown worse and in some women it can make low supply worse... in some women it doesn't really affect them... but for the most part, it's a good idea to not pump unless you really have to until week 6 or so.

[poep]

I too have stored breastmilk envy --- 100 ounces!!! That's enough to feed an army of babies!! I've only been pumping for a couple of days, and haven't gotten more than just over 2 ounces at any one pumping session.

Why would pumping hurt your supply? I thought supply increases with demand and therefore the pump would help.

[umami_mommy]

Originally Posted by poep

I too have stored breastmilk envy --- 100 ounces!!! That's enough to feed an army of babies!! I've only been pumping for a couple of days, and haven't gotten more than just over 2 ounces at any one pumping session.

Why would pumping hurt your supply? I thought supply increases with demand and therefore the pump would help.

sometimes the pump helps, sometimes not, since it isn't really a baby nursing. for some women it reduces their supply if they use it before their supply is established.

[m0dernist]

Originally Posted by poep

I too have stored breastmilk envy --- 100 ounces!!! That's enough to feed an army of babies!! I've only been pumping for a couple of days, and haven't gotten more than just over 2 ounces at any one pumping session.

:

DH thought I was crazy cuz i did a happy dance this morning over pumping 3oz.

[WinterBaby]

I was exclusively pumping while bringing in a supply, so I *know* both sides were getting equal time, but the left by far outstrips the right for supply, lol. I started doing more time on the right to see if I could balance it out, but it seemed to be a futile effort At least both sides *look* even. My sister had one breast a full cup size larger than the other for some time. The end result of this now that my baby is finally home is a freezer full of breastmilk I don't think I'll even be using! I have to resist the urge to go supplementing the baby just out of a desire not to think of it going to waste, lol. (Okay, I *did* give him the colostrum, heh)