left breast feels empty, right one is doing well...how do I get left working?

[Jasmer]

since I put up the message on how to empty your breasts, I have experiences something rather strange, as my left breast has stopped producing as much milk as it has been over the last weeks, or as the right one still does. I also dont feel the letdown so much anymore in the left one. Now I 'understand' what an empty breast feels like and now am worried that it stopped or is reducing to produce milk.

[Jasmer]

Just to add, since about four days I have started the 10.30 pm bottle feeding as Gina Ford is advicing, by expressing during the day, though as I had a lot of milk I cut down somewhat in order not to over flow it....

[susanmt]

You need to feed more on that breast! The only way to increase milk is to make sure you stimulate the breast a lot by feeding or expressing.
If I remember right, your baby is 3 weeks old. I think that at this stage I would be concentrating on establishing a good breastfeeding relationship. Both me children were exclusivley breast fed until about 5 months, and both took a bottle OK on occasion, but I didn't introduce the bottle until 6 weeks with them both, and then it was just an occasional one in the middle of the night to let dh take a turn and let me catch up on some sleep. If I were you I would be concentrating more on the breastfeeding than on Gina Ford's routines and suggestions, but then I had a bad experience with using her routines. Hope you can get it sorted out!

[susanmt]

Sorry about my spelling/grammar. Dh and I have been at the wine this evening!!
Luckily ds is 10 months so wont need bf until the morning! Just as well!!!!!

[SoupDragon]

I'm not a GF fan and I'd say that at 3 weeks you should concentrate on establishing a good supply of breast milk and forget about the bottle for now. I agree with Susanmt - you need to feed/express lots from that breast. Expressing does not stimulate the breast as well as bf though (if I understand correctly!) I have a friend who successfully introduced GF at 12 weeks so it's not necessary to start from day 1 - I think most bf counsellors are aghast at her ideas in realtion to bf anyway.

You won't always feel the letdown - I didn't with DS1 but it was really painful with DS2.

Don't worry about over-expressing as any surplus milk can be frozen for a rare night out

My gut feeling is to get to know your baby first, establish breasfeeding and then tweak GFs routines to fit your baby if you want to use them.

[Enid]

Jasmer, I introduced a bottle at 2/3 weeks with dd2 but I also breastfed on demand - I am in two minds about GF but definitely feel that the first 6 weeks should be about building up supply and getting to know your baby's own likes and dislikes. I think its fine to give the occasional bottle of EBM but please do make sure you are feeding LOTS at this stage.

I can understand wanting to get your baby used to a bottle, I didnt try to give dd1 a bottle until much later and it was a nightmare, she would rather have starved than take one. Thats why I've been introducing one earlier this time.

My left breast isn't as productive (or doesnt feel it) as my right one, but dd2 doesnt seem to mind. It may be because you are more relaxed holding your baby to your right breast, maybe its more comfortable. Anyway, the answer is to FEED FEED FEED on it if you are worried about supply probs.

To be honest I would forget about GF for now and introduce the 4 week routine when your feeding is well established at 6 or so weeks. Your baby will probably be able to stay awake much longer then anyway making it all much easier.

Good luck.

[honeybunny]

I've now been bf for 8months and ds2 won't look at my left breast either. Infact I've stopped using it completely over the past 5days as he just frets and bites! Its been an ongoing problem throughout. But as everyone has said here, keep persevering. I used to start ds2 on the left at every feed and if he grizzled at any time during the day to help stimulate things. It certainly kept things going up til now. Expressing didn't work for me this time, as ds1 just wouldn't give me the time, but as they say, the more you stimulate, the more you produce. However, I felt that ds2 was much better at stimulating production than my electrical milking machine.
Good Luck!

[prufrock]

I don't want to get into the GF debate again, and I know you had a terrible experience susanamt, but it is possible to suucesfully establish bf on a GF routine.
Jasmer, if you feel comfortable doing GF, then continue, if not then stop.
For your left breast problem, do you always start your baby off on the same breast? If you do feel that your left has stopped producing so much tehn try starting off on that for a few feeds. As others have said, the key is stimulation stimulation stimulation. Your breasts will produce just the amount of milk your baby needs.

[fluffball]

TO GET THE LEFT ONE WORKING HAVE YOU TRIED MASSAGING IT UNTIL IT RELIEVES THAT PAIN AND THEN ATTEMPT TO BREAST FEED AGAIN

[mears]

Jasmer - why do you think the left breast is producing less? Is it because you get less when expressing? The amount you get out when expressing does not tell you whether one breast is producing less - it tells you that one breast is easier to express from than the other, they are both different, in the same way that our eyes and feet are different sizes.

I expressed regularly when working and my right breast always expressed far more than my left but I was confident both breasts were producing enough milk. Please do not get hung up about milk production. As long as you regulaly feed your baby from both breasts, they will both produce milk.

[mears]

Jasmer - have a look at the expressing milk - hands free thread. There is useful information on expressing and storing milk.

[Jasmer]

Thanks everyone for the reactions. Its definately coming and going, though will follow the tips on stimulation and starting at the left breast.
I am not totally following GF, but am trying to pick out some sort of routine, as it is indeed difficult to follow, though I do think she does talk logic and sense.

[prufrock]

Jasmer that is definately the best way - if you don't get hung up about doing everything to the second then following the GF routines can (and note I only say CAN) suit some people really wonderfully. From the relatively "trivial" (but still completely justified) nature of the worries you have posted about it sounds as if you and ds have found a way that suits you. And of course, you found Mumsnet