BFing...is this normal?

to get more milk from one breast then the other? i pump during the day, and feed from the breast during the night. my right one seems to give 4oz at each 10 min pumping session, but the left only gives around 2-2 1/2oz. why is that? also, i thought that the pain of the "let down" would go away after a while. its only been 8 days since i gave birth, but its still very painful. i can finish pumping, and around 30 min later, i feel the let down, the heaviness, and the pain all over again. what is the average amount of milk that i should be producing at this point, and how many times should i pump daily? i usually have no schedule, i just pump when they begin leaking. any tips would be great. im getting frustrated with the pain of my breasts as well as the pain from my c-section, but im trying not to give up.

also, my nipples are soooo sore, and one is actually raw. what can i do to heal them, and continue to keep pumping/feeding without a problem?

thanks ladies

[shesherm]

Are you nursing also?  You should pump every 2-3 hours with a new born (that is how often they say they should eat at that age)  I pumped for about 10 mins after every daytime feeding to increase my supply.
the let down will get better but can still be a little painful....2-4 oz is great for this earlly since that is about all they are taking in and it is VERY common to get more from one breast that the other ( I do )..You can have more ducts in one than the other...

they sell creams you can use is they are REALLY raw...that too will get better with time.  Mine sometimes still hurt but just a little (Saraya is 11 weeks)
Good luck and keep up the great work

[misslollipop]

i agree wih above pump every 2- 3 hrs and use lanolin cream on your nipples it will do them wonders, instant relife

[tiredbuthappy]

very normal to get different amounts from the breasts- happens to most people who pump. the amounts you are getting are great for 8 days pp. some people don't get that much at 2 months pp. you should be pumping every 2-3 hours, as previous posters said. that is the best way to build up and maintain a supply. they say pump 8-10 times daily. if you sleep a stretch at night, you can make up for it during the day. although it is generally recommended not to go more than 4 hours at night without pumping or nursing. basically, you should pump as often as a baby would naturally nurse to build a supply (makes sense).

as for the letdowns, mine weren't painful, so i can't help. my only thought is that perhaps you should be pumping a little longer, and you aren't emptying completely and that's why you're having problems again so soon. most people advise to pump 15-20 min, or 5 minutes past last drop to ensure you're drained. (i did ok with only 10-15 minutes, but that's the guideline)

if your nipples are really bad, it's possible you are using the wrong size horn. you can try a different size, or many people find using a little olive oil helps lube things up. you don't need to wash it off after applying it or before nursing. you can either rub it around the base of your nipple right before you pump or rub it on the inside of the horn where your nipple comes in contact with the plastic. it helps tremendously.

the answers to all of these questions, and many more can be found at http://messageboards.ivillage.com/iv-ppexcluspump. if you scroll down they have a FAQ folder.

i'd write more but gotta run- dd is sick and i heard some terrible noises coming from her butt. pm me if you have ?'s, but check out that other forum!

[Michele, Katy, TX]

I always fed on demand when they were that age which is what the doctor recommends.  But I would always express the extra milk that wasn't eaten during a particular feeding.  This will help w/ your production and will also help you get a good supply going when you need to be away from the baby.