Is it ok that LO only eats on one side per feeding?

dmw531 · July 2011

Everything I read says baby should eat off both breasts during each feeding. At first LO would, but since yesterday he only wants to eat on one side before going to sleep. I have tried everything to get him to wake up between breasts, but if I am successful in waking him up he screams bloody murder when I try to put him to the other breast and absolutely refuses to eat any more. Is it ok to only take one breast per feeding? Do I just rotate the breasts with each feeding then? Or should I pump the other breast after he eats from the first?

tokenhoser · July 2011

My baby has rarely taken more than one breast per feed (except when he's cluster feeding and will do 7 breasts...).

It's fine. Don't pump. Offer the other one next time - if you can't tell by feeling your boobs, wear a bracelet and move it back and forth to keep track.

lindsay.lou · July 2011

When my son finishes one side, I always 'offer' the other side, but it's a joke. 99.9% of the time he won't take it. He's gaining wet and soiling his diapers on the regular, so I'm not concerned.

SarahP15 · July 2011

My LO has only been taking one side for a few weeks now and it's working well for us. He's 6.5 weeks old and almost 12 pounds already! Between the weight gain and wet/poopy diapers, I know he is getting plenty and I've been able to pump the other side to start getting a nice freezer stash going.

Lisa102304 · July 2011

My DD only does one side too, and she is a chunky monkey. I just alternate sides with each feeding. I pump the other side only after the 1st feed of the morning. That milk I freeze. Occasionally, I will pump one side later in the day, but rarely.

Jaimels78 · July 2011

Think of it this way: Dinner and dessert. Sometime he wants dessert, sometimes he don't;)

Birdies08 · July 2011

tokenhoser:
My baby has rarely taken more than one breast per feed (except when he's cluster feeding and will do 7 breasts...).
It's fine. Don't pump. Offer the other one next time - if you can't tell by feeling your boobs, wear a bracelet and move it back and forth to keep track.

Ah, the 7 breast feedings!

My LO sometimes only wants one side, too, nothing to worry about! I only pump the other side if I want something to store.

mjcbradley · August 2011

Yes. It's okay. We've been doing it that way going on 5 months now. Do what works for you and baby.

(It took me a little while to realize that.) I use a hair band to keep track of which side we did last like PP said. It works great.

Want a personalized experience?

Is it ok that LO only eats on one side per feeding?

Re: Is it ok that LO only eats on one side per feeding?

Choose Another Board

Search Boards