Community› The Bump Message Boards› Babies: 0 - 3 Months
Babies: 0 - 3 Months
New Discussion

do you offer one breast or both during feedings?

lovemymaddylovemymaddy
in Babies: 0 - 3 Months
About 4 days ago I went to the dr. because of some breast pain and he suggested that I feed just from one side during each feeding as to completely drain each breast. I've been doing that each day since then and it's worked. I do feel much better. However, little feeds just for about 17-20 mins for each feeding on the one breast. May be enough, maybe not...She is a very sleepy baby and I have to wake her up to feed, change her diaper in the middle of feeds, etc to get this long.  I feel like if I switch her to the 2nd breast after she's "done" with the first one then I get another solid 4-5 mins or so on the second breast, therefore giving her more milk...What do you think? Worth it to try on the second breast as well in line with the thinking of having her "dinner" on one side and "dessert" on the second side? WDYD? Do you offer just one breast per feeding or both breasts??? THANKS!!!
Warning No formatter is installed for the format bbhtml
Report Reply to Post

Re: do you offer one breast or both during feedings?

  • liza0828liza0828
    I think if one breast is working for you then stick with it.  FWIW my LO doesn't go longer than 20 minutes at a feeding; usually a lot less than that. 
    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
    Report Reply
  • Loading the player...
  • BonnieG79BonnieG79
    I have been doing one breast per feeding and alternating sides.  It has been working pretty well so far, but I don't know if this practice will hold up through this 3 week growth spurt.
    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
    Report Reply
  • blckwhtyllwgirlblckwhtyllwgirl member
    I have been giving one breast since birth and it has worked great. LO eats anywhere from 10-30 minutes off that one side (usually around 20) and then I just give the other breast at the next feeding.
    imageLilypie Second Birthday tickers Lilypie First Birthday tickers
    Report Reply
  • evaseckaevasecka
    I would stick to the one breast if that seems to satisfy herand you. She might get more foremilk otherwise which contains more sugar and it could make her gassy. Not always the case though and by all means if she is still hungry then offer it. GL!
    Report Reply
  • wachswachs
    My LC told me to offer both breasts at each feeding. LO is only a week old but he will feed for 10-20 minutes on one side and fall asleep. Then we burp him & change his diaper & offer the other side. He usually feeds for 5 minutes or less on that side.
    "Dear Lord, I would have loved to have held my babies on my lap and tell them about you, but since I didn't get the chance, would you please hold them on your lap and tell them about me?" DD 9/22/03 Our little sassypants! DS 4/10/10 My little man is growing so fast
    Report Reply
  • Mrs.BoomBoomMrs.BoomBoom
    I was told to do 'dinner' and 'dessert' as you describe (with the shield I was told to take him off the 1st side after 20 min and move him to the other.  Now, without he takes about 10-15 min before falling off the 1st, then takes 8-10 on the 2nd).  He usually takes a full feeding off each side.  If I just fed one side routinely, he wouldn't be satisfied.
    Report Reply
  • bump54321bump54321 member
    It depends.  I started out doing 15 minutes on each side, but became worried about over supply and DS not getting enough hindmilk.  So, now I let him eat off of one side until he's done or that side is "empty".  If the side is "empty" and he still seems hungry, I'll offer the other side or "desert" as you say.  I always offer the second side (unless he's eaten for a long time on one side and seems really content), but I don't stress about it if he doesn't take the second side.  A friend told me that her LC told her that it's always polite to offer the second side.
    Report Reply
  • poison489poison489
    I have just been doing one breast since the begining.  Sure sometimes during growth spurts he would ask for a second one.  If it seems like he still might be hungry offer a second boob. 
    Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker Baby Birthday Ticker Ticker
    Report Reply
  • CircleInTheSeaCircleInTheSea
    Same here.  FWIW, ds is never eats longer than 8 minutes.  And he's a chunky little guy, still mainly b-fed at 18 months.
    Warning No formatter is installed for the format bbhtml
    Report Reply
  • MrslisvennMrslisvenn
    i think you can determine what works the best for you.. i started off feeding lo with one breast per feeding.. when lo was about 2 1/2 weeks old, i was recommended to feed her with both breasts since i would feed about 40-45 minutes per feeding.. that has helped so much as i now feed one breast for 20 mins and then i will burp lo and then alternate to the other breast and that tends to last about 10-15 mins.. lo seems satisfied and shes not as hungry as she was when i was feeding with one breast.. 
    babies
    Report Reply
  • grapeape73grapeape73 member

    I have always done 1 breast per feeding unless the baby is super hungry.  I just alternate breasts with every feeding.  She can completely empty me occasionally, but usually I can still pump an ounce after she is completely finished.  The nice thing about only nursing on one side is that I can pump the other.  I still alternate breasts, but I pump one side while nursing the other.  Since the let down is faster while nursing than pumping, my pumping sessions are faster.  It helps make a nice big freezer stash. 

    With DD 1 I had so much frozen BM I ended up not being able to use it all before it expired.  I was even making her baby food with frozen BM.  

    Warning No formatter is installed for the format bbhtml
    Report Reply
This discussion has been closed.
Choose Another Board
Search Boards
"
"