During the breastfeeding period, various problems will arise that make the mother wonder. Starting from breast milk that is difficult to get out, nipple blisters, swollen breasts, even babies who are always fussy while breastfeeding. In addition, some breastfeeding mothers also complain of the next big breast during breastfeeding. How can it happen? See the following explanation.
Is it true that breastfeeding can make the next big breast?
When you are breastfeeding your child, the nerve cells in the breast will send signals to the brain to release the hormone prolactin and oxytocin. Prolactin plays a role in increasing breastmilk production, while oxytocin is responsible for delivering breast milk from the mother's breast to the baby while strengthening the closeness between mother and baby.
That is why, the more often you feed your baby, the hormone prolactin and the hormone oxytocin produced in the body will also increase. There are times when breastfeeding, babies tend to suckle on one side of the breast only. Actually this is legitimate and not dangerous. However, the effect on the mother is one of the large breasts next to her while breastfeeding.
Quoted from the Very Well Family page, breast tend to be bigger next to breastfeeding is normal and harmless. This condition is caused by the pattern of breastfeeding the child who may tend to prefer one side of the breast, not both. The reason is, when you breastfeed your baby, the milk supply tissues in the breast will work harder. The more often the mother is breastfeeding the little one, the more the cells of the breast tissue will also grow bigger.
Therefore, when mothers only breastfeed in one part of their breasts, then the size of this breast will grow bigger and look not the same as the size of the other breasts that are rarely used for breastfeeding.
In addition, when your child is more interested in one of the mother's breasts, the production of breast milk in other breasts that are rarely used for breastfeeding will be slower. This condition results in other smaller breasts.
Tips for smooth breastfeeding when the breasts become big next to them
There are several steps that you can apply if you have to breastfeed your child in the condition of a large breast next to it. Following are the steps.
1. Breastfeeding with the smaller side of the breast
Begin to give the baby a side of the breast that is smaller in size more often. Although perhaps the production of breastmilk produced is not as much as a larger breast, in a few days this breast will release more milk because of the stimulation from baby suction.
2. Pump breast milk in smaller breasts
After you finish breastfeeding, you can try to pump a smaller size breast. The goal is to stimulate the breast to produce milk so that it can help equalize its size with other breasts.
3. Feeding in a balanced manner, on the right and left side
If your two breasts have returned to almost the same size, you should re-give your baby ASI alternately from the two breasts equally.
Should breastfeeding from two sides of the breast?
Breastfeeding on both sides of the breast can help stimulate milk production in a balanced way, while preventing the occurrence of several common problems during breastfeeding such as swelling in the breast, blocked ducts, and mastitis.
When your child starts to grow up, you can begin to have a way of breastfeeding as what is most appropriate to apply to your baby. If breastfeeding several times can only suckle on one side of the breast, you should pump the breast milk on the other side and give it the next time.
In essence, of course there are benefits behind alternating breastfeeding on both sides of the breast. In addition to helping to produce healthy milk, balanced breastfeeding can also make your child rest more soundly, and maintain a balance in the size of both mother's breasts.