breastfeeding problem?

Question

my daughter is 6 days old and i have been breastfeeding but today i noticed my left breast was twice as large as my right and my right was soft and not hard any more... what could be the pr oblem i feel like i dont have enough milk now

Answer 1

6 days is very early in the breastfeeding process, so it sounds like your breasts are just adjusting - it took mine about 3 months to fully adjust so that I wasn't engorged in the middle of the night, etc.

Some advice, though. Be wary of people or websites saying to do such and such TIME on each side, or to make sure to do both sides at every feeding. All babies eat at different speeds, and you really want to make sure that you feed your baby the right way for her. For my boy, that is feeding him only on one side each feeding only for as long as he'll go, which is usually no more than 5-10 minutes. He still eats about every 2 hours. He is a big boy (born 9lb 1oz, at 7 months he's still in the 75th percentile for height and weight) and has grown perfectly. He just eats fast and efficiently! For my mom with my much younger brother however, he suckled on one breast for about 10-15 minutes, would appear to get bored and sleepy, then she'd move him to the other side and he'd suckle again for another 10-15 minutes. He could go 3-4 hours between feedings.

The most important thing is that the baby gets to the hindmilk and empties (although a breast is never really empty...) one breast before you go to the other. And, they may or may not want the other. You'll know they've gotten to the hindmilk and have nearly "emptied" a breast when the sucking really slows down and they fall asleep, or are awake, still sucking, and seem frustrated that they aren't getting more. These are both points when you can attempt to offer the other breast, though the baby may or may not be interested (and of course don't force it).

So, at this point, be flexible and patient, and watch your babies cues. I've been at this for 7+ months, but it probably took 3-4 months for us to really groove with our breastfeeding method.

Hope this helps! Hang in there - it's SO worth it!!!

Answer 2

Your left breast has become engorged with milk and your right is normal. Try warming up a damp handtowel or heat pack and placing it over the swollen breast. Lay with this on for 20-30mins and then try feeding you daughter from the left breast so it can drain, when you feel the "let down" let the milk run for 1-2mins so she doesn't get overwhelmed with milk and suck air or not latch on properly. Also warm water in the shower can make you "let down" so the milk can run. Your breasts will compensate and produce more so don't worry about not having enough. They are designed to fill back up!

Make sure you try and correct this with heat, hot water etc asap as you will develop mastitis otherwise and that is not fun (infection, anitbiotics, fever's etc...)
Try consulting a lactation consultant or Le Leche Legue or Breastfeeding association but don't despair or give up. At day 6 your breasts are still learning how to do it and so are you.
Make sure to alternate between each breast at feeds so they fill up evenly.

Good luck and congratulations!!

Answer 3

Your left breast is probably engorged meaning there is excess milk in the breast from not feeding as frequently on that side. Make sure you switch sides each time. Start with the left side...when she is done offer her the right. Whatever side you start with, start with the other side next feed. If you have a pump you can pump on that side to expel some of the milk that is in there (don't worry there will still be plenty for her as a pump isn't anywhere near as efficient as your baby).

You can also hand express milk if you don't have a pump. Since its been 6 days your milk should definately be in by now. Once you feed her on that side it should go down slightly...just be sure to keep switching sides.

Congrast and good luck....

Answer 4

Are you feeding her on both sides equally.
Because if you aren't feeding her equally on both, one breast will make lots of milk and the other wont.
Try starting on one breast for one feeding, and the other breast for the next feeding.
Also, try pumping ur soft small breast as well as feeding so that a way you stimulate it to make more milk

Answer 5

Just keep feeding. You may want to start trying having your daughter nurse first on your right breast to try and boost production though. I have a full cup size difference between my left and right breasts(the right being the favored, larger one). Most babies tend to prefer one breast over the other, you just need to make sure that you at least attempt to do even amounts of feedings on each breast.

Answer 6

your left breast is engorged
you should start with the left breast at your next feeding
if this continues pump your left breast

your goal should be to have relitively equal amount of time with each breast a day
the more you pump or nurse the more milk you will make

also if you focus more on 1 breast it will be biogge rand have more milk leaving you lookin lopsided and thats not very cute

Answer 7

You'll never feel like you have enough. I would just keep feeding the same on equal sides. The left will go down in time, probably pretty soon since the right did.

Good luck, and congrats.

Answer 8

you have to rotate breasts-I'm guessing you have been feeding on one side more than the other. You have to feed her one side for 20 minutes the other side for 20 minutes. Make sure she has a wet diaper every hour and if so she is getting enough to eat.

Answer 9

I'de make it a point to call your dr,my wife had the same problem,but there was nothing wrong good luck!