We pride ourselves on having the friendliest
and most welcoming forums for moms and moms to be! Please take a moment
and register
for free so you can be a part of our growing community of mothers.
If you have any problems registering please drop an email to boards@justmommies.com.
Our community is moderated by our moderation team so you won't see spam or offensive messages posted on our forums. Each of our message boards is hosted by JustMommies hosts, whose names are listed at the top each board. We hope you find our message boards friendly, helpful, and fun to be on!
I know we have some breast experts on here, so hopefully someone will have ideas for me:
I am putting both babies to breast 3 times a day, and also pumping every 3-4 hrs. It is going well, but my right breast never seems to empty. Even after 30 mins of pumping it still feels hard in Places, and I don't get as much milk from it. I have been massaging it in the shower, during feedings, and letting the babies eat more on that side, but I am not seeing an improvement. What else can I try? I know it is common for the 2 sides to be different...just worried things are clogged up in there.
Ugh, when this post loaded, there was an Enfamil ad at the bottom of the page
Update: Met with a LC this morning. First she worked with George and I...he was having trouble latching, but she got him on in no time flat. He didn't nurse for long, but it was a big improvement for him. I asked her about my right breast feeling full and possibly clogged, and she decided to show me how to properly massage my breast. Yikes! She was quite a bit more aggressive than I had been, and it hurt.
Afterwards she watched me pump, and yes! I was using a flange that was too small! I moved up a size, and then pumping was much more comfortable. I also got Rightie to give more milk...still not as much as the left, but better.
I have been pumping and massaging all day, and my right breast feels SO much better. There are hardly any hard spots, and it feels more empty after pumping. Wahoo for breast relief!
I'm pumping about 30-32 oz per day right now, plus doing 4 short feedings with the babies. So far I am making more milk than they need, so I am thrilled!!
It's still early. It's very normal to feel quite full and sometimes even engorged during the first few weeks after your milk comes in. It's also normal to have one breast that doesn't quite seem to drain as well as the other one does. As your body gets used to what your babies need, it will regulate.
Are the hard spots painful, or do they just feel full?
One thing that might help is trying a different hold with whatever baby you have on that side. Might be tough with 2, but sometimes just having them latch from a different direction helps empty better. I tend to hold the baby different ways just to try to keep from having any clogs form. I'm certainly no expert, and it's been a while since Eli stopped but that's the only thing that comes to mind for me.
I second the warm compress. I was also going to suggest massaging while you pump/feed, but it sounds like you're already doing that. Are you using the correct size flange for your breast? I upped my pumping output a ton when I started using a size large instead of medium flange. I didn't realize the size I was using was too small.
You are so early post partum, it's probably engorgement. Keep on nursing and make sure to empty the breast completely as well as you can. If you really do suspect a clog, when you massage you really need to dig on there with your knuckles as hard as you can. But you definitely don't want to do that if it's normal engorgement!
Make sure you don't see clogs on your nipples too... sometimes you can get clogs there that back things up. If you see white spots or blisters, then put hot rags on them and soak them and then try and scrape them off. If there is a clog on the nipple, the whole system gets backed up.
Is it hurting tremendously? Could it be Mastitis perhaps?
It doesn't hurt at all, so I don't think it is Mastitis.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ShawnaCAN
It's still early. It's very normal to feel quite full and sometimes even engorged during the first few weeks after your milk comes in. It's also normal to have one breast that doesn't quite seem to drain as well as the other one does. As your body gets used to what your babies need, it will regulate.
Are the hard spots painful, or do they just feel full?
Just feels full. I have had clogged ducts before, and this doesn't feel like that...this is a more all-over full feeling. I'm glad to hear that it can be normal!
__________________
Thank you peimum for my amazing siggy
Are you using the correct size flange for your breast? I upped my pumping output a ton when I started using a size large instead of medium flange. I didn't realize the size I was using was too small.
I wonder about this! I have an appt with a LC in the morning...she is going to watch me BF George and then pump, so I will ask her.
Thank you, Ladies! Between all your advice and my LC appt in the morning, I feel much better about this
My left breast was like that all the time with dd. It is the bigger breast, gave lower output, and the only one I had mastitis with once or twice. It just never seemed to want to empty itself.
__________________
Celebrating the birth of Luyando IfeOluwa N. gorgeous daughter of Mac and Yetty and beautiful sister to Lolu. Born September 30, 2012. You are precious to us.
awesome! yeah if you are backed up, you have to massage until you cry almost. but i wasn't sure if your issue was engorgement, in which that would be very painful.
you're producing a great amount right now for being so close to their birthday. yay!
__________________
mama to 5 yr old DS1 , 3 year old DS2 , and nursling DD .
JustMommies Message Boards
» 2012 Play Rooms
» October 2012 Playroom
»
BFing/pumping question- update!
11Likes
, 3 year old DS2 
, and nursling DD 
.
Linear Mode
