One Breast Gives More Milk than the Other: Is This Normal?by Mary Ann Romans | More from this Blogger 21 Jul 2008 07:07 PM
First, let me assure you that as long as you have established a good nursing relationship with your baby, you will produce as much milk as your baby needs. Your baby won't suddenly starve if you have been producing milk and nursing successfully. Second, you should know that yes, it is perfectly normal for one breast to produce more milk than the other breast. Why does this happen? Well, I personally have two theories. The first is that as humans, we are not perfectly symmetrical. While we don't usually notice these differences in others, most people have one eye that is slightly larger than the other, wear different ring sizes on the ring finger of each hand, and may even have different shoe sizes. This is all perfectly normal, too. The second theory of mine that I feel contributes to uneven milk production between breasts is the fact that we might subconsciously favor one breast over another. We may offer that one breast slightly more often or nurse longer on that breast. And our babies may favor one breast and nurse longer there. This will tell your body to produce slightly more milk on that side. Science seems to bear me out on this second theory. A recent study conducted at the University of Illinois at Chicago found that there is usually a dominant breast, and that the majority of the time this was the left breast (51.6 percent of the days during the study versus 45.8 percent for the right breast. There was no dominance for 2.6 percent of days.). Perhaps this is because the mother's heart is on the left side, a source of instinctual comfort to a baby. How can you tell if one breast is producing more than the other? The best way is by pumping our milk and observing the output. Realize though, that dominance can change and may be affected by things such as health, stress, diet, etc. Mary Ann Romans writes about everything related to saving money in the Frugal Blog, technology in the Computing Blog, and creating a home in the Home Blog. Starting June 1st, don't miss her articles in the Baby Blog. You can read more of her articles by clicking here. More Great Articles: Girls Benefit Most from Breastfeeding Early Solid Food Causes Allergies? Maybe, Maybe Not Learn more about Mary Ann Romans  Mary Ann Romans is a freelance writer, wife and mother of three children. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, the kids and a 16-pound cat. Relevantbaby tags User Comments jonesx6 (1606) 22 Jul 2008 09:57 AMMary Ann, I found that one breast produced more milk than the other. It always did from the beginning. As time went on my daughter favored that breast over the other one. Laura 3mommyb (6) 10 Aug 2008 12:57 AMI just stopped breastfeeding my 7 mo old a few days ago and my right breast is almost dry BUT my left is engored. My left breast has always produced more milk with all 3 of my kids. I don't know if thats just the way it is or because maybe I nursed off my left more often than the other with my 1st because with my 2nd and 3rd I know I tried to alternate as much as possible.However, sometimes when my baby would cry, I'd switch him to my left and he'd be ok. I nursed my 1st for only 1 month and he latched on my left better because of the difference in my nipple so I probably did nurse him more on that one. After that I noticed how that breast was larger than the other so with my last two kids, I made sure that I alternated because of that. I nursed my 2nd for 3 months and my 3rd for 7 mo. So my question is could it be because I messed up with my 1st that it stayed that way with my last 2 or could it be that that is just the way my body is?  Valorie Delp (49340) 10 Aug 2008 01:21 AMI don't think you messed up. This is pretty normal actually--we're not made to be totally symmetrical.  Mary Ann Romans |
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