What has happened to my super boob?!

[mrsjuan]

There's a sentence I never thought I'd say

My right breast has always been much better in terms of supply than the left. I used be able to express double the amount.

But for the past couple of days I can only express from it if I am constantly squeezing and massaging it. It still feels fuller than the left and I do eventually get a decent amount out but it is a bit of a pain.

I am down to just 2 expressing sessions a day now (DD mostly bottle fed due to mega fussiness & crappy weight gain) so was expecting supply to drop but the milk still seems to be there - just not coming out without a fight!

How old is your baby - I found this happened to me around 4 months.

Are you expressing AND feeding as well or just expressing?

If just expressing, twice a day isn't enough to maintain a good supply. IIRC you need to be pumping at least eight times a day.

Also, are you expressing at the same time each day or different times. I know from my experience of expressing that it was better if I stuck to the same time every day; your body gets used to being in demand at that time.

Hopefully someone more knowledgeable will be along to help soon.

Baby is 5 months now - I am just expressing (plus occasional night feeds). I am slowly ramping down the expressing (used to do 6 x) so now she only has 1 bottle of EBM per ay & the rest is formula. I know supply will drop but I'm curious as to why the right boob suddenly needs so much coaxing whereas the left is still plodding on as usual!

Not sure mrsjuan, one would expect that the least productive boob would drop quicker.

there isn't a blockage there is there?

I am soooo stupid.

I have just swapped the suckers over (double electric pump) and it appears that there is something up with the one I have been using on the right. Not sure what as yet but at least I know it's not me.

lol mrsjuan

at least you have an answer

Is it a Lactaline pump? If you get a tiny hole in the tubes it stops the suction. You need a new tube, but in the meantime you can locate the hole and cut the tube at that point.

No it's a medela. But it does have tubes so I'll see if I can find a hole. Can't see anything else that's wrong.

Thanks