More breastfeeding questions?

Question

My son was born 2 weeks ago, 9 weeks premature, and is still in the hospital for another two weeks or so. I'm pumping for him and was wondering two things: is it possible for one breast to produce more milk than the other and is it normal to produce more milk in the morning than at night? Between both breasts, I can pump almost 16 ounces when I wake up in the middle of the night, but at the last pumping before bed, I can only pump about 8 ounces. Is it because I go a longer time without pumping during the night and it's been accumulating? I just hope I'm doing everything right because my first was also 9 weeks premature and I pumped for him, but my milk dried up after only two months. I was hoping to go at least six months, if not a year, with this baby.

Answer 1

It is normal for your breast to produce different amounts at different times during the day. To keep your supplies up add in ateast one extra pump. This signals to your body that the baby needs more food and your body will produce more. Better to have more than less.

Try taking a picture of your baby in the hospital when he is crying for food, look at this photo while you are pumping milk, the brain is a very powerful thing. You can also listen to audio of his crying for food and this will produce the same effect, more milk, or easier pumping of the milk.
-Try holding something that smells like him, a hat for example. This will also help you to produce milk.

If you are planning on breast feeding (not pumping) when he returns from the hospital try to keep the pumping in tune with what his feedins would be like, this way you breast produce the milk he needs when he needs it, and not some much (ie middle of the night) when he is only feeding every 2-4 hours. I know right now you are resting and taking care of an older child, going to the hospital daily etc etc, but try to pump when he will need the milk. This will make the transition smoother and allow you to continue breast feeding for as long as you both need, go for a year!!!!!

Drink loads of water while pumping and try to relax.

I wish you the very best of luck!

Answer 2

CONGRATS and GOOD JOB! It sounds like you're doing everything right so far.

Both things you're asking about are normal. One breast can produce more milk than the other. You can try pumping the lesser of the 2 longer, to see if it will increase production, but that doesn't always change things. I was uneven the whole time I nursed.
Also, it is very normal to produce more milk in the morning. You are more rested and yes, your body was "making milk" all night. Take advantage of this! :)

If at any time, you seem to not be making enough milk, you can try and pump once in the middle of the night. I did this with my son because I was working more than 40 hours a week and it was the only way I could keep up. Just keep the pump next to your bed, set your alarm, and pump. It should only take about 10-15 minutes and then you can go right back to sleep.

GOOD LUCK!

Answer 3

It is possible for one breast to produce more. My daughter was born 3 months ago and my right breast produces more than my left. Maybe it is because I am righthanded, but I'm not sure.

Feeding is indeed supply and demand. The more you pump, the more the breast gets stimulated. Even if there is almost no milk at first. Because of the stimulation, the breast will produce more in time. But if you stop stimulating it regularly, then the produce of milk will become less.

But the amount of milk is also stimulated by your emotions and your physical state. If you are tense or if you are very tired, then the body cannot relax enough or has not enough energy in order to let the milkflow come. So try and find a quiet place when feeding your child or when you pump. Maybe put on relaxing music or taking a hot shower before )warmth stimulates).

If you pump and it does not flow very well, then maybe look at a picture of your baby of listen to taped sounds of your baby (or another baby) crying, laughing or gurgling. That might help the milkflowing reflex.

There might be two reasons why you have more milk in the middle of the night. 1: you go longer without pumping and so there is more milk for a while. 2: because you slept your body is more relaxed and able to produce more.

I breastfed my firstborn for about 5 months. Then I started working again and I pumped less during the day and there was more stress (in mind and in body) and my milkproduce became less. But I might have been able to feed longer, but I would have had to pump more regularly (supply and demand).

Gongrats with your little one. Hope this info helps.

Answer 4

it is definitely possible, and probably is how it usually is, that one breast produces more milk than the other. It is completely a matter of how often you are pumping, and how strongly, that will determine how much milk you have. I think you are doing agreat job pumping becasue it is much harder than breastfeeding. It is hard to produce milk when the baby is not doing the work to stimulate your breasts. And it's a big commitment to pump around the clock. I think you will have a much easier time once the baby can start doing the nursing himself. Until then, you are really jsut keeping your milk supply available for when he is ready to nurse. What ever you can pump is fantastic, and your breasts will be able to produce more once he starts being the one to demand more. I hope he does well and congratulatins!!

Answer 5

Totally normal!!
That happened to me, i pumped for my preemie. One breast always pumped out more milk than the other. Also it's very common to have higher amounts of milk in the morning, your supply generally dips as the day goes one, this is NORMAL! so don't worry about that. I could easily pump about 16 ozs in the morning but by end of day was down to 6 ozs. Just to let you know, i pumped for 9 mths with my baby. I did have some periods where my supply seemed to dip but it yo yoed a lot. Also I was able to get her to finally breastfeed at 9mths aand we are still nursing two yrs later. If you'd like any support from one thats btdt, feel free to email me.
good luck

Answer 6

if you pump one breast more than the other it will produce more because it works on a kind of supply and demand thing. and it is very normal to have more milk in the morning because yes there is usually a longer period between feedings. you are doing everything right. i wish you luck.

Answer 7

Its a supply and demand thing with breast milk. The more you offer baby the boob, the more you produce.

Answer 8

yeah, you're doing fine, just keep pumping, you'll make more milk as it's used.