one breast not making enough milk

[andiandsierrasmom]

I have an 11 week old daughter, whom im breastfeeding but I am having problems with my left breast. In the begining we were having problems with Sierra taking the left breast the nurse in the hospital said that it was due to me being right hand dominant and that I just needed more practice with using the left side...things got better but she always seemed to prefer the right staying longer and being more satisfied but i keeped giving her the left to try to inprove it. Now I have returnd to work ive been back about a month when I pump I only get about an ounce on from the left to the avarage of 4 to 5 from the right, And when she feeds she will only take the left for a few min befor she becomes fussy. I have tryed feeding on that side first and going back at the end of the feeding or pumping at the end to increase production and also have tryed to pump extra on that side for the same but no real results is there something that I am doing wrong or not doing that I need to be. I have read that it is some times the pump but i have a high quality pump its the medela pump in style so i dont believ that is the issue but i would love some good advice.
Thank you

[whitnessforhim]

Its very normal for one breast to produce more than the other. Its also normal for a baby to prefer one side to the other as well. I think you are doing what you can to keep the left side stimulated by offering it when you can and pumping.

I don't think this has anything to do with right/left hand dominance though. I've never heard that one before.

My right breast has always produced less then my left (i'm right handed). Just now I pumped 3oz on my left and only 1oz on the right. I think most women see the same discrepency in some way. I wouldn't worry.

[andiandsierrasmom]

Thank you, I'm just worried it seems to be less and less milk every day and i even had to supplament a little in the last couple of days. This is my second child but due to sever complications with the first birth, i was in the icu for her first month so was unable to breast feed her.

[whitnessforhim]

Are you producing less and less on that one side or both sides when you pump? I'm not sure if I misunderstood you.

Why are you having to supplement? If you could give some more details we can try and help :)

[madelsmama]

I agree with Whitney.

You do not need two breasts to sustain a good milk supply. Moms who are nursing twins or tandeming two children, even breast cancer survivors who've had mastectomies feed each child from just one breast. So, if that is your main concern, it shouldn't be. As long as she is giving you 5-6 wet diapers, she is likely getting plenty of milk.

As far as having less and less milk every day, it is at about 12 weeks or so that we start having less "surplus" milk and start making milk that is more tailored to our babies' demands and needs. That is to be expected and normal. Supplementing at this stage can be harmful to your supply, since milk supply is soley based upon demand.

If baby is fussy at the breast, switch her over to the over breast, rinse and repeat. Your breast is never truely empty, and if your supply*is* a tad low, the breast way to increase it is to incease frequency of putting baby to the breast. Sometimes the fussiness you're describing will occur when there is a growth spurt going on. The solution is to put baby to the breast as much as she demands, drink your water, and eat oatmeal.

[andiandsierrasmom]

Yes Im getting less and less but only on the left breast. The right has stayed the same. John has had to supplement only alittle during the day if she wants to feed more than I have had pumped but then there are days when she does not take all that is pumped, I dont see that being a problem any more ( we now have a few extra in the freezer, for her hungryer days) i think I made my mistake not pumping enough when we recenty went threw a bad time with his mother in the hospital and her passing way (verry stressfull time).
And I think your right she is going threw a growth spirt she is 12 weeks tommarow and has doubled her birth weight so I know im getting enought I was just afraid of it not lasting.
Thank you for your help
Dennelle

[KerryS]

I don't think this has anything to do with right/left hand dominance though. I've never heard that one before.

Research has found that in most women, the right breast produces more than the left, independent of hand dominance.

5-6 oz. of milk per pumping session is actually REALLY good. How often are you pumping and how long are you away from your baby? How much does she take in while you're away?

[andiandsierrasmom]

Im away about ten hours sometimes more do to the nature of my job I sometimes have to stay longer ( emergency room) it is also difficult to have a "regular" pumping time so I do try to do it as much as I can and do extra at home and on the weekends. The left breast is starting to get better at times but sometimes i get nothing even continuing the pumping after the milk has stoped.
I was ahead a little till this weekend when we came home to find that the freezer had broken and every thing had defrosted!!! But what can I say with out bad luck we would have none at all!!!

[ima062002]

Just wanted to chime in and give you a link for optimally bottle feeding the bf child. It's easy to overfeed regardless of what is in the bottle :). Just putting that out there. I totally overfed my first who was often on a nursing strike. She went up in percentiles and nobody told me to ease up. If your baby at 12 weeks drinks 5 oz per session that is quite a lot. Here is the link: http://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/bottle-feeding.html