Breast Storage Capacity

There are a lot of factors that can influence the amount of times your baby needs to nurse in 24 hours. One of these factors is your breast storage capacity. If you have a large storage capacity, your baby may be able to consume 5+ ounces of milk per feeding, keeping them feeling full longer. If you have a small storage capacity, your baby might only consume 2 ounces or less per feeding and will need to nurse more frequently throughout the day and night to get the calories they need.

A small or large breast storage capacity depends on the maximum volume of the mothers grandular tissue. Not to be confused with fatty tissue of the breast which makes our breasts appear physically larger or smaller. A woman with large breasts may have smaller grandular tissue capacity than a woman with smaller breasts and vice versa.

The good news is, no matter what your grandular tissue storage capacity may be, most mothers have the ability to produce a full milk supply for their baby. If your breast storage capacity is small, your baby will want to nurse more often throughout the day and night to consume the amount of daily calories they need. If you have a large storage capacity, your baby may want to nurse less during the day or sleep long blocks at night because they are consuming larger amounts of milk per nursing session.

The benefit to having a smaller milk storage capacity is that your baby is more likely to empty your breasts at each feeding. This ensures that your baby is consuming the higher fat milk or hindmilk that is available when the breasts are on the empty side. The emptier the breast, the higher the milk fat content. The more full the breast is, the lower the milk fat content.

You might have already guessed the benefit to a higher breast milk storage capacity. Longer intervals between feedings and possibly longer stretches of sleep at night! However, some moms with a larger storage capacity can be more susceptible to clogged ducts, mastitis and their babies may experience more digestive discomfort especially in the early weeks.

It’s important to remember that whatever your breast storage capacity is, you likely have the ability to make enough milk for your baby. Small glass or large glass, which one does your body offer your baby?