For those who BF

armywife76

Do you BF from both sides at a feeding or one only? For how long on each side?

If you do just one side, do you pump the other each feeding? Do you do it simultaneously or after your LO is finished?

I've been increasing my BF sessions after previously primarily pumping, but it's kinda tricky to BF and pump simultaneously. Just wondering if you have any tips?

Mrs.Reem

Ana is a VERY efficient feeder so keep that in mind. 

I feed off of one side only at each feeding.

She feeds for about 8 minutes.

If I'm going to pump, I pump the breast that she just finished but I wouldn't need to do it that way.  I could probably pump the other breast while Ana was feeding off of the other one and be just fine. 

 I've tried pumping while feeding and it wasn't pretty, or fun. I dumped milk everywhere and couldn't find a good place for the equipment to be. The collection bottle was jabbing Ana in the belly all the time.  

crystalgirl

At the beginning I always offered both sides, and usually, he would take both sides.  I think we were taking about 20 minutes per side at that point.  When he got a bit older, I started just feeding from one side to make sure he was getting enough hind milk instead of a lot of foremilk.  He quickly got more efficient and would take about 15 minutes total.

ETA:  I was never a regular pumper, so no advice there, sorry!

navyandviolet

I would always offer both breast, esp in the beginning, but it was rare that she would take both.  Normally one side then done.  She took about 30 min to feed in the beginnning but was down to under 10 minutes once she hit around 6 months or so.  She also fed very often for a very long time.  She was (and is) more of a snacker.

Marc's Mrs.

I offer both sides.  DD usually eats anywhere from 10-15 mins a side.  If she takes less from one side, then that's the side I start on the next feeding.  I didn't pump after each feeding.  Usually after the AM feeding and I'd try to squeeze in a late afternoon or early eve. pumping if I could.  I'm back to work now so I'm pumping 3 times during the day.  I never did try to feed and pump at the same time.  I knew I wouldn't be able to master that one.

Aliki

When LO is going through her growth spurts and wanting to nurse 10 times a day, she ends up BF from both sides. When she was a month old, she would nurse for 15 min each side. Now she's down to about 10 min and only needs one side.

 

I haven't figure out how to pump and feed her to build up a freezer stash. I used to pump only when I was engorged, but now at 2 months, my breasts aren't "filling up" anymore.