Do you find yourself getting less milk from one of your breasts when you pump? It’s normal for one breast to be a “slacker boob” or “lazy boob” and underproduce compared the the other side. Here is why that happens, and how to fix lopsided breasts when breastfeeding.
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How common is it to have a slacker boob?
Very, very common.
I did an unscientific poll on instagram, and over 90% of the respondents said that they consistently pumped different amounts on each side.
What causes uneven milk supply when you’re breastfeeding?
After the first few weeks, milk supply is controlled locally, within each breast, so it makes sense that they might produce different amounts.
That being said, there are a few things that can cause you to get (for example) 4 oz on one side and only 1-2 oz on the other.
- In some cases, there is a normal physical difference between the two breasts; for example, one side may have more working milk ducts than the other.
- If your baby nurses or has nursed in the past with a preference for one side over than the other, that may have caused the preferred side’s supply to increase over time compared to the other one.
- If you have favored one side over the other when doing breast compressions or single pumping earlier on, this could also cause you have more supply on the favored side.
Can you increase milk supply in your slacker boob?
If you want to increase milk supply on the slacker side (because you want to pump more milk in general or because you don’t like the appearance of lopsidedness), there are some things you can try.
In order to even things out, you will want to try to pump the same amount of milk from your good side, and more milk from the slacker side.
This is because breastfeeding is a process of supply and demand. The more milk your baby – or in this case, your breast pump – demands, the more milk your body will supply.
Therefore, you want to demand more milk from the lazy side, which means pumping more. Additional pumping can trigger more letdowns, which means more milk being removed from that breast, which then will result in your body making more milk in that breast.
(When you do this, make sure you don’t change anything with how much you’re pumping on the good side! You don’t want to jeopardize your supply on that side or end up with a clogged duct or mastitis.)
Four ways to fix your slacker boob and increase milk supply in one breast
Here are a few ways you “demand” more milk from your slacker side.
Note that it will take some time – probably about a week – to see an increase in milk output on the slacker side, because it takes a few days for your body to ramp up milk supply in response to increased demand.
1. At the end of a pumping session, keep pumping the slacker side for a few extra minutes.
To do this, after you finish pumping for your normal amount of time, you’d stop the pump and set yourself up to single pump only the slacker side.
Most double electric breast pumps allow you to single pump by detaching the tubing from your pump parts on one side and covering that side’s tubing port.
Two quick tips:
- On your “good” side, you can either leave your pump parts and bottle in place without the tubing connected or put a breast pad on that side. This way, when your milk lets down again, you won’t leak milk all over the place on the good side.
- Start the pump in the letdown/massage mode and shift into the expression phase after a few minutes. You can stop either after the next letdown is finished, or after 5-10 minutes is up. (Even if you don’t get another letdown, the additional nipple stimulation may help.)
2. Do most of your breast compressions on the side that doesn’t produce as much milk.
If you don’t want to pump any more than you already do, you can focus your efforts on getting more out of the lazy side while you’re already pumping. Breast compressions can be a great way to do this.
To do breast compressions, massage the low performing side while you pump, moving your hands around and pushing as much milk out of the milk ducts as possible.
Take a break every few minutes to let your hands rest and then start again. Note: It’s much easier to do this with a hands-free pumping bra.
(Remember that you want to focus extra on the slacker side but not ignore the good side.)
3. Add an extra pumping session for only the lazy side.
You can also try adding one pumping session for day that is just for the low-producing side.
To do this, set yourself up to pump on just the slacker side, and pump for 10-15 minutes. You may want to use a milk catcher or breast pad on the other side to prevent leaks, because as mentioned above, your milk will let down on both sides.
Then at the next pumping session, you’d pump as you normally would on both sides.
4. Power pump the low-producing side.
Power pumping is an attempt to simulate cluster feeding. Cluster feeding is where a baby is on and off the breast repeatedly trying to get more milk, and it may increase supply because of the increased demand.
To power pump, you pump on and off for about an hour – generally 20 minutes on, 10 minutes off, 10 minutes on, 10 minutes off, and so on, though the exact intervals don’t matter much.
More details about power pumping are available here, though obviously keep in mind that you’d just be doing it on one side instead of two.
Do I need to fix my lopsided breast situation?
No, having one breast that produces less milk than the other won’t hurt anything.
If the difference in output or the appearance of the unevenness bothers you, then go ahead and try to fix it. However, if not, having uneven breasts is totally normal.
Regarding the appearance of unevenness, it’s likely that other people won’t notice it. But if it makes you self-conscious, using an extra breast pad on the low-producing side might help.
Have you successfully fixed a slacker boob? Let us know how you did it in the comments!
Stressed about establishing or increasing your milk supply while exclusively pumping? Always worried there is something else you should be trying? Check out my milk supply guide here (use code SUPPLY for 10% off)!
References- Bonyata, Kelly, IBCLC. “How does milk production work?” https://kellymom.com/hot-topics/milkproduction/
- Bonyata, Kelly, IBCLC. “Lopsided! What do I do?” https://kellymom.com/bf/got-milk/lopsided/
- Spectra Baby. “Use Breast Compressions & Massage to Boost Milk Output.” https://spectra-baby.com.au/breast-compressions-massage-pumping/
- Naik, Arpana. “Uneven Breasts.” https://www.healthywomen.org/content/ask-expert/1293/uneven-breasts
I have had a lower producing side, my smaller breast, for a few months now but in the last few days I have not been able to get anything at all from that side while using my double electric pump. I am going to start a few extra minutes on that side alone at the end of the pumping session as the article recommends. What else do you recommend? Is it normal to produce about 120ml from one size and 0 from the other?!
Hi Merle! I would say it’s not super common but not abnormal. I might also try hand expression on that side or using a Haakaa in addition to the electric pump. Good luck!
I have terrible slacker boob as my baby only took to one side for 2 months.. now that he takes to the other side I am trying to build it back up to uneven things out because I have a D cup sized breast and a B cup sized breast and it is really embarrassing 🙁 my supply somewhat has gone up but my breast size hasn’t changed… help!! Also he doesn’t take very well to the little side because the bigger side has a way better let down so I am pumping to try bring it up 🙁
Thank you. you have answered so many questions for me. But how long does it usually take for the slacker boob to catch up to the other one??
Hi Marissa! It totally depends. Some people even out pretty quickly but others aren’t able to do it at all. I would give it 2-3 weeks and then reassess. Good luck!
Is it possible to develop a slacker boob? I have always produced the same amount on each side but recently I dropped a session and now there is about an ounce and a half difference. Around the same time, I had some pain which I assumed was a clogged duct. I believe I unclogged the duct (not 100% sure…I still have some pain because I usually end up bruising myself from massaging too hard…I’m terrified of Mastitis) but the disparity in milk remains so I am concerned that I may still have a clogged duct.
Hi Mary! This is totally normal and unless you have pain and a lump still I think it’s likely you unclogged it. Milk supply can be affected after a clogged duct or mastitis. I would keep doing what you’re doing and maybe pump a little longer on the affected side if you have time to try to even it out. Hope that helps!
Hi! I had the same problem. One boob bigger than the other. I pumped the smaller one more and now, the smaller is the bigger boob. I just dont know how to even them out.
I would like to ask you what the technic that you used to make the small one is the big one.?! How much time took from you.?!
Thanks for this post.
Question – is there a way to capture the let down from the good boob without using a silicone milk catcher.
I’ve bought so many supplies (renting hospital grade pump, silicone suctions, hygiene kits, lactation pills) and I’m purchased out.
Can I use the pump to capture the milk that falls from the good boob? Is there a reason why I would want to do that?
Thanks in advance for your help!
Hi Sarah! You can hook yourself up to pump on both sides with a hands-free bra but not attach the tubing on the good side? Would that work?
Can I only do single pumping sessions on my slacker side only & nurse from the good side until I increase milk supply?
I don’t care about building a milk stash as much as I care about evening things out.
Ps. My baby is one month only and I have had a slacker boob since she was born. Am wondering if it could be because of my previous baby as he nursed from the right side (my good side) for a year or so and I stopped having milk from the other side (This was less than a year ago).
So stressed! Hope this works for me.
If your body responds well to the pump that can work! Good luck!
This is great as I was just feeling depressed about my uneven boobs and good to know I’m not alone. I have eczema which was quite bad in the areole during pregnancy and stilvl not so good on one side so don’t put baby to it and the other side is getting huge in comparison though I pump both and now do the weak side fo ..I.. r longer. I get about 40ml on one side and 5-10 on the other, which is most frustrating after 15 mins! Need my skin to heal and put the baby on it more. I’m also taking supplements like Lactation AOK and fenugreek. Hoping it will help. I heard sometimes the breasts don’t return to being even after breastfeeding?!
Hi Elle! I can only speak from own experience but everything went back to normal for me!
I always thought I had a slacker boob but now I am wondering if it is just that my pump doesn’t work as well on one side. My baby seems to be able to eat plenty from the slacker boob and if I go without feeding/pumping it feels just as full as the other. But I regularly get less than half from that boob as from the other when pumping. Any ideas?
Hmm. Have you tried switching the sides around and seeing if you see a difference?
I know this post is older, but I was having the same issue and finally realized what the problem was. My left side/slacker boob needs a much higher suction than my right side. So now, after double pumping for 20 min at a lower suction, I switch to single pumping the slacker boob at a higher suction for ten minutes switching between expression mode and pumping mode as needed to get more letdowns. Hope this helps someone out there, it’s worth a shot.
My left side produces 40% less than my right side after I had a clog. I’ve been pumping 5 extra minutes after each session on my left side for the last 12 days and I don’t see any result. Should I continue or try power pumping now? Or both?
I would try power pumping now and see if that helps! Good luck!
Hi Amanda,
Usually my „slacker boob“ produces about 3.5oz per pump. Unfortunately I had a clogged duct on this side a couple of days ago and now it only produces 2oz. How can I get the supply back up? (My good side still produces its usual 6oz per pump)
Hi Lara! Have you tried power pumping the slacker side? So sorry to hear about the clogged duct!
I’ve been exclusive pumping for a month and have always had the same side as a slacker boob. One side produces tons and the other almost half the amount. I went through a bout of mastitis on the slacker side and since then it has had constant clogs and I now have swollen lymph nodes in that armpit as well. Any suggestions? I massage it in a warm shower every day with the La Vie roller and work out the clogs that way but they come back a day or two later. I’ve had five or six clogs in that breast at once.
Hi Heather! Are you taking lecithin at all?
Try sunflower lecithin! IT has helped me a ton!
Letting the baby eat from the boob with the clogged duct has helped me. You start by having the baby eat from the boob, then you pump afterwards. The baby gets out all the lumps for me.
I’m 6 mos postpartum and have been exclusively pumping for most of that time. Over the past month, my supply has decreased about 100+ ml and I’m not sure why. I did drop my middle of the night pump, but very slowly (per your advice, which was great – no clogs!), and I also did get my second period a few weeks ago (but after my first period, even though my supply went down a little, it came back up). The thing is, my left breast is still producing like gangbusters but my right breast drastically decreased in production to 5-10ml AND after 25 minutes of pumping, if I hand express, I can get 2-3x that manually, so I know I’m not empty. Do you think it’s the pump? Something else? Would love your insight!
Hi Danya – did it come back up after your second period? I just want to make sure I understand. I know it did after your first but I wasn’t sure about the second one. Thanks!
11 weeks postpartum, trying to fix my lazy boob. Power pumping.
Not sure what caused the change in size as I was feeding equally from both breasts.
Will write back if I’m able to increase my supply and size of my slacker boob
Hi did the power pumping help even out your boobs/supply ?
My weaker side used to be my better side, but ever since it had blocked ducts the supply has reduced.
On the other hand my good side is overproducing and instead of increasing supply on the weaker side. I would like to decrease supply on the good side so that both are more similar. How do I do that?
You could stop pumping a few minutes before you finish pumping on the weaker side.
My low producing side was my high producer until I got mastitis in it last week. I’m hoping it will come back and was just a product of the infection. I’m 2 weeks pp and produce about 600 ml with 5 sessions. I stumbled into this and didn’t realize the importance of more sessions early on and maintaining the night time session. Since mastitis, I’m adding those back in (probably will get up to 7) and hope to see my supply increase. I also started Fenugreek and Lectithin to help.
Any other thoughts or suggestions?
This a great plan! You could also try oatmeal or power pumping both sides? (congrats on your 2 week old!)
Exact same situation happened to me! Have you managed to see an improvement with the affected side?
My low producing side is my larger breast for whatever reason.
Is it weird how that can happen??!