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Breastfeeding
Added: 814 days ago.
Added by: abbyquiet
Section: General.
Status: This question is Closed. (Questions will be closed after 10 days.)


I just had my baby a week ago today. I`m breastfeeding and I`ve started to notice that he feeds much better on the left side. He feeds longer and is more satisfied then often refuses the right side. When I try to start on the right side he mostly fusses. I`ve also noticed the left fills up faster and is bigger than the right breast. So after he fed this morning I decided to pump to see how much is coming out, and the left made 6oz in half the time it took the right to make 2oz. I also noticed the color in the two bottles was different. The left was whiter and looked more like regular milk while the left was more yellow in color. Can anyone tell me how to fix this problem, or let me know what`s going on. Thank you!!

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RainbowRach - 811 days ago Rating: 0 (0 votes) Hiya, your left side is just a preference as its producing more, the more you use it the more comes out!! you need to continue to put your baby on the right side to stimulate it into producing more. Also, you could pump in between feeds to encourage that breast a little. The difference is colour could be foremilk (watery and light coloured) versus hindmilk (thicker and yellow) or it could be that the right is still producing colostrum. Hope this helps x x

meecob - 813 days ago Rating: 0 (0 votes) This is not a 'problem'; it is very normal :) If you'd like one side to produce better, try feeding him from that side first...so it can get more 'exercise'. Then move him to the side that is producing better. The more you nurse, the more milk is produced. Your concern with color was a concern of mine as well when I first started. After some research I learned that: Foremilk When first starting to breastfeed, the first milk the baby receives is called foremilk. It is thin and watery with a light blue tinge. Foremilk is largely water needed to satisfy your baby’s thirst. Hind-milk Hind-milk is released after several minutes of nursing. It is similar in texture to cream and has the highest concentration of fat. The hind-milk has a relaxing effect on your baby. Hind-milk helps your baby feel satisfied and gain weight. Feed your baby until you see a sleepy, satisfied look on your baby’s face. http://www.babies.sutterhealth.org/breastfeeding/bf_production.html Good luck and congrats on the new bundle of joy!!

mariettap - 814 days ago Rating: 0 (0 votes) We had a spell like that but over came it eventually. The tough part is that by refusing that breast, there's the chance that that breast will become a lesser producer, perpetuating his preference for the other. You could try using a pump to express from that one (not the one he prefers)to make sure both get "exercised" about equally. Congratulations on your new babe!

christinesc - 814 days ago Rating: 0 (0 votes) I thought I was the only one! The EXACT same thing is happening to me. My baby hates the right side, but I am able to pump about 2 oz at a time. Glad to know I'm not the only one!

lb71 - 814 days ago Rating: 0 (0 votes) I'd guess the color diff might be due to a different ratio of foremilk to hindmilk in each side? Yellower would indicate a higher hindmilk percentage.

lgk616 - 814 days ago Rating: 0 (0 votes) I've been breastfeeding for 13 1/2 months now and I have the opposite problem. The right side is more productive than the left side. There's really nothing that can be done - it happens to some women and it's not a bad thing. Just be sure to let him feed on the side that produces more when you first put him to your breast. If he goes to the side that doesn't produce as much, he's probably annoyed and too tired to keep going - could be a slower let down on that side. But if he starts on the right side when he's hungry - he might be happy to just suckle on the other side after. As for the color - no idea! Breastmilk can be either white, yellow or blueish!!! xox

barbieken7981 - 814 days ago Rating: 0 (0 votes) My daughter was the same way. I am not sure about the color difference. When I pump its the same though where the left produces more and the right is almost nothing. My doctor said that it was nothing to worry about. She is 3.5 months old and still will only feed off the left.