Help!! one of my breasts has gone flat??

[petal80]

Help!! one of my breasts has gone flat??

Hi all

can anyone tell me what to do?

My little girl is just over 5weeks old and from day one has been a GREAT breast feeder - we've had no troubles at all - HOWEVER just on sunday I noticed that my left breast doesnt seem to be filling up like the other one?? and when she was feeding on it after like 5-7mins she would get frustrated and start crying and it seems as if there is no milk??

its all a bit frustrating, its like my boob has srung a leak and gone flat and decided its over the milk business :)

anyone got any ideas about what I should do - how can I build up the milk supply in one breast?

BB

[TLCC]

Hi BB,

You could try to use that side first each time to stimulate some supply. Also if you are feeding 3 or 4 hourly, try pumping in between on that side only to stimulate more supply. You could try this over a few days to see if its an improvement.

Make sure your drinking plenty of water to boost your supply and eating properly (I know thats easier said than done with a 5 week old!).

A lactation consultant might be of help I"m not sure if you have access to one at all.

Best of luck, I hope this helps.

Cheers,

[jonesso]

Geez breastfeeding is a complicated thing!!

Carol's suggestions are good and might help to boost your supply in that breast a bit. Don't stress though if you express and not much comes out - apparently some women have stacks of milk but can't get a lot out via expressing. Bubs are much better at getting milk out than we are!

The other thing is that your supply might be fine - I know that my breasts suddenly stopped feeling "full" and I stopped feeling the let down as much around the 6 week mark - this is a sign that your body is getting more efficient at producing milk. Bub is also getting quicker at draining the breast, which might be why feed times are getting shorter.

Another thing - one breast might just produce more milk than another. For me, my right breast is much bigger than my left and since my supply became established has always produced more and always felt "fuller". But my bub is fine. As Carol said, start bub off on the "flat" breast first, then put bub onto the other one to finish the feed. You're in for a growth spurt v soon too so this could be a factor as well!! Nothing is ever simple with babies!!!

Good luck, hope this helps!

:D

[tickle]

Hi there,
I had a similar thing happen to me. My ds favoured the other side though, so it was obvious why my supply was dropping on the other. I just made sure he drank from that side first.
Whenever I have tried to express I could never get more than a few drops on either side. Must be an art to it?? :rolleyes:

[Crazy Monkey]

I'm in agreement with the other ladies here... A lactation consultant or the ABA would also be able to help...

Good luck...

[petal80]

Thanks ladies!

your advice was really helpful + I saw a nurse down at the early child hood centre today and they pretty much said what you guys did so KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK :D