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One side-eater question

TexasAggie06TexasAggie06 member
in Breastfeeding

DS almost always only eats on one side at a time.  He's a pretty efficient eater (in my opinion) and only eats for about 10 minutes.  During the day this doesn't pose any issue for me, but at night it can become uncomfortable.  IE, if he eats on the left side last before bed and then sleeps 5 hours, nurses right side, then sleeps another 3 hours... it's been 8 hours since my left side has been nursed.  

My question is this:  In this situation should I pump the opposite side or will it compound the engorgement issue?  

I do pump once a day just to build a freezer stash, but not until afternoon.  I typically am able to pump about 5 oz. 

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Re: One side-eater question

  • amberandtroy19amberandtroy19 member
    I am a FTM so by all means NOT an expert...but I always pump opposite of LO for our first morning feeding. She sleeps for about 8 hours straight and so by 6am both sides are as full as can be. I haven't had any issues with this, I can't imagine not being about to pump opposite. But like I said I only do it for that one feeding. Goodluck
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  • leasajleasaj member
    My LO only eats one side which Dr said isn't a problem if she's gaining weight. I say do what's best for you. I have pumped just one side before to even out and I've also pumped both after her eating. I'm bad about pumping in the middle of the night just bcuz I'm so tired so I often wake up with sore, full, porn star boobs.
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  • TexasMom7137TexasMom7137 member
    If you pump at that time you will probably have to continue pumping because your body will think that milk is needed. If you hand express just a little to be comfortable your body will realize that the rest of the milk is not needed at that time and wil adjust accordingly. I had this issue and it took about a month for my supply to regulate when DS started STTN. DS wakes between 5 and 6 to eat. If I happen to wake up at 4 I feel fairly empty but at 5 I can feel quite a bit more milk come in. It really interesting how well the supply regulates to the demand.
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  • aylafsu88aylafsu88 member
    I only pumped in the morning and the opposite side from the one that LO nursed.  I used that milk to build my stash which was great.  Your supply will adjust when your body figures out how much milk to make and when.  The engorgement will last a week or two but then your body will adjust.  I agree with the PP if you need relief just hand express some. 
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  • MomIn2013MomIn2013 member
    My LO does the same. In the beginning, I would pump the other side in the morning to build a stash. Then when I got a good stash built up I stopped pumping in the morning. Yes, it felt like the other side was going to explode. Agree with PP's though, as long as you pump at that time you're telling your body to keep making more at that time so the problem will continue. Either just pump a little or hand express for comfort if you need to. Or just wait it out and it should regulate in a couple weeks or so.
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  • gingerbabegingerbabe member

    I agree with PPs. If you pump at night your body will keep producing the milk then. If you wait it out, your body will adjust and stop producing so much milk during the night. 

    My DS is 9 months and has always ate from one side only per feeding. I think he was about 2 months when I stopped feeling engorged at night. But he ate quite frequently during the night till he was a month or more. 

    Baby #1 DS born August 2012
    Baby #2 DD Born January 2014
    Baby #3 ?? Due June 5 2015


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