[NJ*Doula]

My left breast produces significantly more than the right. When I pump (a few times a week) I do it for equal amounts of time. When my son nurses, I put him on the right side far more than the left, day and night. Today, my son had nursed a few hours before I went to school, emptying both sides. By the time I got around to pumping, my left breast was so full it ached, and I ended up getting 6 ounces from the left, 3 from the right. What gives? Why am I producing less on the side we use more, and what can I do about it? I'm doing all the extra nursing on the right to try to even out my supply, but it's been months, and if anything it seems worse than ever.

 

[Carita]

i don't know - i have one over producer and one under producer as well... And I hear it is quite common. As a toddler, not DS is preferring the under side more on his own, and they are starting to even out.

I know it may feel weird for you to have 2 uneven boobs, but as long as he is getting polenty of milk, then you are doing a good job!

 

[Chloe'sMama]

I wondered about this myself. I feel so lopsided..... I call one 'super boob' because it produces so much more....

Anyways, interested in seeing what others have to say and if it all evens out.

 

[Santosha Mama]

I've had this for both children... exclusively nursed DS1 for 10 months (pumping 2-3 times a day, 5 days a week) and exclusively nursing DS2 for 3 months (and counting...much longer than DS1 I hope). I now pump 2-3 times a day, 3 times a week. I get about 4-6 oz out of my left and about 3 oz out of my right. I have just resigned to it being my lopsided body. They both shrunk back to normal sized after DS1, so in my experience, there are no long term issues because of it.

 

[jaidymama]

My breasts produced different amounts too... I don't know why, although I had some troubles with one side when I was getting started and it never produced as much as the opposite one. Eventually, after a year maybe? I just gave up pumping/nursing on that side, and used the good one the remaining years.

I don't know if it's possible to make the slow producer catch up. And do you think it gives more when your dc is nursing and less when you pump? I think there can be a little difference in amounts produced from nursing v. pumping.

I guess, I would recommend is just accepting what you get from your breasts. And as long as you are pumping, you may as well use those other 3 ounces. I don't know if you can make them produce equal amounts, but again, as long as you need the milk for pumping, I would keep doing what you're doing. I"m not an expert, but it could just be normal.

 

[mamapixie]

I'm like that too, always have been. My right side is my bad side, under producer, yet the one that gets mastitis.

 

[NJ*Doula]

Ok, I'm glad it's normal. I seem to produce enough for him, so that's not a problem. I admit that vanity has something to do with my question. The left one is definitely a tiny bit bigger than the right, and I'm fine with that. If it ends up being a lot bigger (a cup size or more), I don't think I'll be ok with that.

Is there a chance that that will happen at this stage, or would it have happened already if it was going to?