I'm not producing as much milk

[FRANCIA]

Hi,
I'm not producing as much milk anymore. I use to pump twice a day. But for a week now I've been getting less milk. one of my breast is smaller than the other and when I pump I get less than an ounce from it and about 3ounce on the other one. My son is 10 months old and he won't nurse from the small one, he gets frustrated cause he's not getting any. Please help.

[txgrl16]

You can try mothers milk plus that worked to increase my supply and pumping after each feeding for like 5 mins each side and its normal for one to produce more than the other. Just stick with it, I sometimes get frustrated and think of giving up but then realize the benefits to my DD and push through that moment...good luck!

[FRANCIA]

I will try that.

[Bumpy]

I would let him eat on that side first, and then I would try to pump that same side for 10 mins after he gets done with it. Also I would try to pump while he is eating off the other side. it is tricky at first, but once you get the hang of it is easier. Also, i would try the fenegreek supplements. It is in a pill form and you take around 3 pills 3 times a day. But it take 72 hours to start working, and it you must pump frequently. So you can try to pump after each feeding, and if you want it to even out then you would just pump more often then the one that pumps a lot. Make sure that you don't ignore the little one, it will keep loosing milk that way.

[FRANCIA]

Can I get it at any drug store?

[Bumpy]

GNC carries it and some places that carry supplements. i haven't found it at the drug stores yet though

[Amy_G_]

get it from a health food store if possible. sometimes the stuff at the grocery or drug store has sat on the shelf for a long time.

Most babies have a breast they prefer,
most women have one breast smaller than the other,
most moms have one breast they tend to "go to first" when nursing, maybe because they are right handed or baby just seems to "fit" there easier.

so this is pretty common. consciously put baby on the smaller side a little more often. if he fusses a bit, just put him back on there as often as you can. You can also nurse on that side, then put him on the fuller side and then put him back on that side or pump on that side to get the supply up.

He's still getting milk out of the smaller side, it's just not flowing as well and he wants it faster and stronger.

Are you pumping twice a day to go to work or other reason?

[Bumpy]

I knew you would chime in Amy, i am glad that you did. I was thinking the same thing, but I wasn't quite sure about it.

[Bumpy]

i would check you pump also, maybe the membranes need to be changed, or the horns may have a crack. you will pump less because of this. May not be the problem though

[Amy_G_]

yeah definitely check the pump.
if you want to pump more, you gotta make the breasts think the pump is going thru a growth spurt ;)
so pump more often, pump one side then the other, then back on the first and repeat, then about the time your breasts think that the pump is full and should be able to sleep for a while, pump again. ;)
that's what a baby does when it wants to up your milk supply, and within a couple days, your milk supply responds

[Brianna]

My son always had a favorite side, and I always had a smaller side. I think it is really quite common. I chose not to worry about it. When he was asleep or less alert, I could trick him into taking the less prefered side.

[madelsmama]

The easiest way to increase supply is to increase the demand, ie, nurse the baby more often or pump more often. If you're pumping twice a day a work, the pump 3-4 times a day, just to stimulate the breasts more often. You can also pump for 10 or so minutes after feeding from the breast to help with stimulation.