Breastfeeding

Switching sides?

Do you drain the first breast before offering the second? I've heard you should do this but also have heard it's best to switch after active gulping ends with the first one (as opposed to being patient with the first one and allowing pauses and stopping for burps).

Re: Switching sides?

  • I think this is different for everyone.  I had a huge oversupply and HAD to let LO nurse until the offered side was empty or I would have a clog by the end of the day.  If he got enough from one side and didn't take or finish the other side, I'd pump the second side dry and save the rest to be sure I was empty.  Then, for the next nursing, I'd switch the side that I offered first.
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  • I also only feed one side per session.
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  • I only fed one side per session as well.  You want to keep baby on one breast for a good length of time so baby gets plenty of fatty hind milk.  One way to think of it is that the first breast is the meal and the second breast (if offered) is dessert!  For a newborn, burping and going back on the same side is often needed (as they need to burp more frequently).
  • Each feeding for DS is 15 minutes on one side then switch to the next side and let him eat until he pulls off.
    I'm wondering if this is not the right thing to keep doing. For those of you who nurse from one side each time how long are they nursing? And the offering the second boob for "desert" how can I know he wants to eat more? FTM my sons 9 weeks. Thanks!
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  • Most times my little guy will feed from the one side. There are certain times when he would like both. Usually I know when to switch sides if he keeps latching on and then coming off. He will do this a few times and if its not fixed by a burp then I put him on the other side. His nursing sessions here lately time wise has been all over the place, but ranges roughly from 30-50 mins usually on one side.
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