One breast is larger than the other
If you suddenly wake up one day with lopsided breasts (and you didn’t have a previous breast surgery or injury on one side), it’s most likely because your baby has been feeding too frequently from the larger breast. This could be because:
- You simply lost track while recording the feedings and mistakenly fed too often from one side
- The baby has an ear infection or another illness that makes it uncomfortable to eat in a certain position
- You have a breast infection in the smaller breast, making your milk taste salty
While the problem will probably even out with time, there are some measures you can take - as long as there isn’t a medical issue preventing nursing from one side:
- Start each feeding on the smaller side because babies often eat more vigorously in the beginning
- If the problem is drastic, try nursing from only the small breast for two feedings in a row, then switch to the larger one. But be careful not to let the larger breast become engorged, which can lead to clogged ducts or a breast infection
- Feed normally but pump the smaller side for five to ten extra minutes for a couple feedings
You should see results in a matter of days.
Related stories:
Breastfeeding positioning
Breastfeeding benefits
Lactation aids
Breast care
Written by Linda Drummond for Kidspot, New Zealand's leading pregnancy and parenting resource.
