You have been breastfeeding for a few months now, and you noticed that you seem to prefer to nurse on one side over the other.
Perhaps you noticed that one breast produces more milk than the other when pumping.
It is even possible for your breast cup sizes to differ dramatically! Why does one breast produce more milk than the other when pumping?
One Breast Produces More Milk Than The Other When Pumping
Mothers are all unique, and so are their breasts!
It’s not surprising that many breastfeeding moms find that one breast produces less milk than the other because no one is perfectly symmetrical.
In most cases, both you and your baby will be comfortable, so there’s no need to change it.
However, there might be uneven supply, and you can actually do nothing about them.
You might wish to adjust the milk supply and reduce the discomfort, which makes feeding more effective.
As per demand and supply, breasts produce milk.
Therefore, the left breast can produce more milk than the right breast if you or your baby prefer it.
This will lead to low production of milk. In response to an increased demand for breast milk from one side, your body produces more on that side.
There are several reasons why a nursing mother has varying amounts of breast milk. The lower growing side is affectionately known as the milk dud or slacker boob.
1. Is There A Reason For This?
Breasts are usually not symmetrical. An asymmetric appearance is normal for many human body parts (eyes, feet, hands, ears, etc.).
This is because there are some differences in the milk-producing tissues like alveoli or even a slight difference in the quantity and size of milk ducts.
It is common for mothers to notice that one breast feels “fuller” than the other, often due to differences in size.
In addition to previous surgery on the breast and previous injury to the breast, there are other less common reasons for this discrepancy.
Poland Syndrome is rarely responsible for asymmetry.
It is quite proven that one breast is often minor and less developed because of the syndrome.
This can result from missing or underdeveloped muscle tissue on just one side of the body.
It is perfectly normal to have an asymmetrical breast and one that is more milk-producing than the other.
Also see: How To Make Breastmilk Fattier
2. Supply And Demand Are Expressed In This Equation.
When you are pumping breast milk to maintain your supply, a slight variation in milk production between breasts is common and should not be alarming.
However, if you notice that one breast produces significantly less milk than the other, it may be time to address the discrepancy and implement some of these tips.
It is easy to determine when your one breast produces less milk than the other one when the switch comes to a down position.
3. Pump More Often
With a targeted breast pumping routine, we can correct this uneven milk supply.
Pumpers can quickly resolve this issue, but it takes a bit more effort than if you are solely pumping.
When all the breasts have been fully emptied, wait 10 or 15 minutes before beginning with the other boob for extra minutes.
Then, as you begin to increase the pump frequency and the volume of milk present in the lazy boob, that same breast should realize that it needs to catch up.
Why Does Breast Produce More Milk
There’s a lot of pressure on mothers to breastfeed perfectly, but that rarely works.
In fact, most women take a while to get the hang of it and find something that works for them and their baby.
Related topic: Top Picks for Best Cooler Bags For Breast Milk in 2021
Uneven milk production is quite common and not really something you need to worry about. So what does one breast produce more milk?
Here are some of the more common reasons:
1. Preference
It is natural for your baby to prefer suckling from one breast.
This is mostly because it’s easier for them to latch on to. You may even find yourself directing them to the breast that feels better for you.
It means that your body’s natural response will be to make sure that that breast produces more milk.
If your baby starts preferring the other one, your body will naturally adjust the milk flow accordingly.
2. More milk ducts
No two breasts are the same in size or shape. It means that the bigger one will have more milk-producing ducts and have more milk.
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3. Letdown effect
This affects the force by which milk is released and is triggered by your baby’s suckling.
If this is too much, the baby may not like suckling from that breast.
Based on your baby’s preference, this will cause one breast to produce more milk than the other.
4. Previous injury
If you have suffered some injury on your breast or had surgery, this can affect milk flow.
It could have led to the damage of milk ducts and reduced milk production in that breast.
Even when you are wondering why breasts produce more milk, there are ways to encourage more even milk distribution.
These include:
- Change nursing styles and encourage your baby to suckle from the other breast. It will trigger milk production in that breast as well. You can also make it easier by massaging the breast and applying a warm compress between feedings.
- When your baby is tired, you can have them suckle from the breast that produces less milk. They are less likely to make a fuss then, and you can switch a few times during feeding.
- Pumping both breasts after nursing will help with milk production in the less used breast. You can store the milk and use it to feed your baby later.
- Sometimes the milk expressed may be a bit too much, especially at the start of feeding time. If the letdown effect is too forceful, you can try using your hand to express milk for a few minutes. It will help your baby not to get overwhelmed when they start suckling.
- Feeding the baby whenever they are hungry also helps to even up milk production in both breasts. More milk is produced once the breast is empty, so just let your baby suckle until they are done.
- Your diet can affect milk production. If you want to increase it, make sure that you drink lots of water daily. You should also ensure that you get enough rest. You can also see a lactation expert who may prescribe a galactagogue for you. This can be prescription medications or natural substances like fenugreek seeds that increase milk production.
Nursing a baby is not an exact science, and different things work for different people.
When one breast produces more milk than the other, it is not something that should stress you out.
Just try these easy steps, and your milk production should go back to normal.
Summary
Here, you have reasons why one breast produces more milk than the other when pumping.
Experts believe the most important message from this article is that it is okay if one breast is producing more or less milk than the other one.
The pumping, massaging, and vibrating are simple yet effective methods for fixing this uneven milk supply.
Often, one breast is less responsive to pumping than the other and gives less output.
In addition to the lower-producing breast, hand expression can increase the over achiever’s breast pumping work!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is there any suitable time that it takes to increase milk supply in one breast?
When you ask your body to increase the milk, it is generally considered the fastest way to increase milk.
The more breast stimulation you give your body, whether by nursing your baby more often or pumping more milk, the more it will know you need it.
It usually takes about three to five days to increase the milk supply.
If I’m not getting milk, should I keep pumping?
Pumping for 15-20 minutes is the standard recommends, and you.
You are required to pump for this long even if you do not have milk flow every time to stimulate your nipples.
Additionally, pumping at least 5 minutes after your milk flow stops will send your body a signal that more milk is needed, which will increase your supply.
When does the breast refill?
In fact, what is referred to as emptying the breast is when the milk flow slows down so substantially that a significant amount of milk cannot be expressed.
This stage lasts for approximately 20–30 minutes before the breast begins to “fill up” again, i.e., the milk flow increases.
Iesha is a loving mother of 2 beautiful children. She’s an active parent who enjoys indoor and outdoor adventures with her family. Her mission is to share practical and realistic parenting advice to help the parenting community becoming stronger.
