Hi! Not sure how to ask this one gingerly, so I'll just come out with it: The longer I've been nursing, the more and more uneven my breasts have become! It's to the point where one produces all the milk and the other one is pretty much useless, i.e. when I pump, I get about 5oz from one and barely an ounce from the other.
Has anyone else had this happen? And if so, did your breasts go back to being even after weaning? We're in the early stages of weaning and they seem to be more uneven than ever. Will I ever go back to normal?
Yes, that happened to me with my 2nd daughter, who breastfed to 1 year, and heavily favored one side over the other. I'm happy to report that she's been weaned for 4 months now, and everything's back to normal!
Best wishes!
yes, and yes. My sis taught lamaze and also teaches Maternity nursing and Pediatric nursing . . . she told me to feed my child first on the less productive side. That will stimulate milk production and help to "even you out". Also, if you are still pumping, you can pump the "full" side while he's nursing on the other, which makes it easier to pump.
After I got done nursing, both breasts went back to "normal" size.
I had one "super boob" that was the main milk producer while the other one was a slacker. This too shall pass and you will be back to normal.
R.
Hi B. ~ my youngest, #4, favored one side over the other so it produced more milk. After weaning they both went back to the same size.
Blessings ~ J.
Yes, I had this problem too! Not at the beginning, but as time went on. I also think it was because my son favoured my left side.
By choice I only nursed on one side so, yes I was alittle lopsided! All returned to normal after weaning.
Starting out I had one side that was always slightly larger then the other (I've been told this is normal reguardless of breastfeeding) however, after nursing my first son the difference was less noticeable.
Now, I'm still nursing, but the difference has returned. I'm starting to wean him and he only nurses in the morning and not always every morning but the difference is slightly less noticeable but more so then before nursing. Did that make sense?!
From the beginning I could always get more milk out of the larger side and after going to LLL I've found out this is also normal. Some people are able to balance out the difference by pumping more on the side that produces less after nursing and within a month it usually starts to even out. I was never that great at pumping so often so I didn't attempt this! If you have the time (and evergy!) I'd say to try that.
Good Luck!
I too have this problem. Only advice I can give is to totally stop using the enlarged breast. Only let the baby nurse on the unused side in order to get milk production there sped up a bit. I do hear that after nursing they will return to being fairly the same size again.
Hey, B.!
Yeah, that's very common. Most women find that the breast on the same side as their writing hand is "old faithful". Also, keep in mind that NO pump is even close to as effective at removing milk as your baby is, so don't be afraid that your other breast ISN'T producing anything or that your child isn't getting anything from it at all.
One thing you can do when you need to pump is nurse your child on one side and pump the other at the same time. Many women have amazing results with this technique!
Keep up the awesome work!!!!!!!!
Yes! I had the same exact problem and I thought I was the only one. Although my lopsidedness started long before weaning. For almost a year I had about a 2-cup size difference and looked ridiculous.
But the good news is that I totally evened out after weaning. Bad news is that I'm even smaller than I was before nursing (barely an A), but it was all definitely worth it.
Yes and no...I was slightly uneven before and I remained that way, but it was worse when I was nursing. Another friend had a daughter that only would nurse on one side and while I don't notice it, she says she's still extremely lopsided. I think it depends on each individual's skin and muscle tone in that area! Hey, at least it gives you an opportunity to go for a good bra! I'm STILL looking for one:)
Yes, I had this prob....I actually was a tad un even before getting preg....a little more noticable nursing, and completely normal after....My one breast did not preoduce even an ounce where my other one was like 5 to six ounces....I noticed it more in the morning.
I'm pretty positive your breasts will be fine when you are done nursing. In the meantime, start nursing on the side that is producing less. This may stimulate it to produce more. It sounds like the other side has been getting more action. You may, also, want to pump that side when you are done nursing for additional stimulation on that side. This may help to up production on that side and to even out your bosom.
Don't stop using the larger side unless you are ready to wean. It will take a while to up the supply and you don't want your child to be malnourished while you are trying.
Best of luck.
Hi B.,
Many women produce more milk from one side than the other. I always tried to nurse my son first on the side that produced less - that way it helps to increase the production on that side. Yes, your breast size will go back to normal after you are done nursing. You are doing a great thing for your baby and should be so proud that you were able to give him this gift!!
J.
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