Expert: ruth kraft - 4/6/2009

Question
My milk came in with my left breast having double the volume of my right, and I heard 2-3 times more was normal ( about 1 oz of right = 2 oz left).  However, in the followin3-4 weeks, my left breast kept increasing milk production a nd now I can pump nearly 4 oz from it (I pump after just about every feed as I have twins) but my left has gone down in production to just half an ounce even after a half hour of pumping. I don't get the jets anymore.  I worry that the baby I have nursing on the right doesn't get much milk. I do swap them every feed. They are on full EBM or breastfeeds so I need my right brast to be productive! Please help

Answer
it is very normal for one breast to produce more than the other. it is also very normal for after a month or two to see that your breasts either don't pump as much, or are not full any longer , which makes you think that your supply has diminished. however, your body is working just as it should and has adjusted to your milk supply. that fullness and overabundant feeling at first is because the body produces ALLOT of milk an the babies or pumping will determine what is the right amount. this is why they say it takes 6 weeks to establish your milk supply. around 6 weeks, your breasts are more balanced and make only what the babies need at that time. and they continue to balance themselves out from there so you don't have engorgement, swelling, over abundance and squirting of milk all over.

If you haven't done anything to wean the babies, ( like adding cereal or food etc ) then your supply should be fine.

I hope that helped!

Ruth Kraft
www.honoringwomen.com