><<Each of us have one breast bigger than the other (normal so far), but
>all of us get *substantially* less milk from the smaller one when
>pumping.  I can't seem to find anything about lop-sided milk production
>in the BAB.  My general thought all along has been that both breasts are
>producing enough, but that it is the pumping that creates an issue.  None
>of us favor one breast over the other (we all nurse on both sides,
>alternating each time).  The one gal I am dealing with now has a heavy
>duty double Medela pump that she's been using for several weeks daily and
>she will consistently get 4-6 ozs from the larger breast and only 2 oz
>from the smaller!   Please let me know any info. asap, she is having a
>very hard time.  Nicki, maybe you can ask out in Lacnet land to see if
>anyone has some answers!>>

It is very *normal* to have uneven production from the breasts of an
individual mother. It's hard to know if it is caused by maternal or baby
factors, or most probably, a combination. Mum might not consciously favour
one breast, but baby may well do with the amount he/she takes.

If you look at Peter Hartmann's studies into milk synthesis rates, etc,
they separately measured each breast of each mother. In examples used to
illustrate their papers, there are obvious differences in milk production
on each side for some of the mothers, but this varied amongst the mothers.
Often mothers don't know about this if baby is always feeding directly -
they only discover it if they need to express or it is measured like in
Peter's studies.

Reassure your mum that this is quite normal and just put all the milk together.

******************************************************************
Joy Anderson B.Sc. Dip.Ed. Grad.Dip.Med.Tech. IBCLC
Nursing Mothers' Association of Australia Breastfeeding Counsellor
Perth, Western Australia.   mailto:[log in to unmask]
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