Uneven milk supply/pumping question

[laneysprout]

1st question: So DD is now 3 weeks and 3 days old. We have been nursing well, but over the past few days I have noticed that my right breast seems to be producing more milk than we need. Every time I feed her on that side, she practically chokes and when she tries to pull of the breast, the milk sprays her in the face leading to general unhappiness . During the night, when she is sleeping for (slightly) longer stretches, it's the right breast that becomes engorged.

We have been nursing on one side at a time (so, nurse on the left, burp and change diaper, nurse again on the left. the next feeding we switch sides). What is causing this overabundance on one side and what can I do to fix it?

2nd question: We are exclusively BF and when I return to teaching (part-time) in September, MIL will be watching DD two afternoons and one morning a week when I am in class. I will need to start pumping at some point. My questions are a) when (now, two weeks, not until September? b) what time of day is best to pump? and c) how much? We also have a wedding to go to at the end of July and MIL will be watching our girl. I would like to be able to leave a bottle for her. We will not be gone more than four hours, but she eats every 2. How do I do this? I'm looking forward to hearing from all of you with experience in this realm!

TIA

[JamieCatheryn]

Uneven supply - your best solution is probably to nurse more on the side that doesn't produce so much, but don't favor it to the point you hurt badly from engorgement (heat helps soothe engorgement btw)

Pumping - I'd start in August so you have a buffer ready. Morning is best, the earlier the better, a little while after she has her morning session. During naptime works well. Pump however much you can get in about 15 minutes. It will start out less and get to be more when your body adjusts to the routine. Say 1-2 oz at first, 3-4 oz later, varies but this was my experience. And of course when the separations start pump during that time if at all possible.

For the wedding in July about 3 days before it pump a little each morning til you have a full bottle or 2 ready to send with her (probably about 4oz feedings). You'll only need to refridgerate it that way, which is good because some of the nourishment is destroyed in freezing.

[nikihodges]

i have one boob that produces at most 4 oz the other fluctuates alot

[zensven42]

Hope this helps

I have experience here so I hope I can help. Jaime is right, nurse more on the side that is producing less (lefty), even though it seems counterintuitive. Then, before you nurse on the side that is producing more (righty), express a little milk either by hand or pump (you can do this when your milk lets down when you are nursing on the left side), just to the point where it starts to soften, then nurse her on the right and the pressure should be less. Just favor the left, while not letting the right get too engorged and you can quickly even them out. With my most recent child, I went back and forth constantly for a few weeks, then things started to even out.

As far as pumping goes, it can be difficult to decide when to start. You don't want to start too early, as pumping does not always drain the breast correctly, and can cause milk supply problems. But, you do want to start early enough that your little one is used to taking a bottle. You don't want to step out to the wedding, and she refuses the bottle because she is not used to it. Bad scenario.

I found that if your little one only nurses on one side during the middle of the night feedings, (mine mostly did) you can pump on the other side at the same time, or shortly after they go back to sleep, and then switch sides for the next feeding. This helps keep the milk coming while still allowing you to bottle some for when you go to work.

By the way, it is recommended that you wait until one month after birth before you start pumping to allow your body to establish a strong milk supply. If this is your first child, it may be a bit easier.

Also, how do you know one boob only makes 4 oz? Have you already started pumping?


Good luck and welcome to the BF club!


I can not figure out the smilies so here I go in words instead:
Nurses-in-public - unschooling rocks! – no-circ –cosleeping is cozy – go organic (plays in dirt) – vax hmmm? – baby and toddler wearing – ADHD is a gift – Nurtured Heart Approach - Pregnancy is not a disease- yay for homebirth! - My husband is my superhero