If your baby consistently nurses on only one
breast at a feeding during the first few weeks, pump the other breast to relieve pressure and protect your milk supply.
Women can collect as much as 1/2 - 1 ounce
per breast at each feed, and some mothers have obtained several ounces at a feed.
Try to make sure they empty at least one
breast at a feed so you can be sure they've got plenty of hind milk.
It is ok to nurse on one
breast at a feeding and then start with the other at the next feeding.
I was told to, «breastfeed on
both breasts at each feed» but before long I had a HUGE oversupply and my baby was sputtering, cranky every afternoon and gassy because of my over active let down.
In the first few days of your baby's life, try to offer
both breasts at each feed.
Some women have an abundant milk supply and only need to feed from one
breast at a feed.
Previously, I had been feeding him from
both breasts at each feed.
Do you need to breastfeed from
both breasts at every feed?
Breast milk is the perfect food for your baby, but you may not be able to feed your baby right from
your breast at every feeding.
As long as your baby is getting enough breast milk and growing at a healthy, consistent pace, it doesn't matter if you nurse from one breast or
both breasts at each feeding.
The decision to offer one breast or
both breasts at each feeding is a matter of preference.
Always offer
both breasts at each feeding.
Try to feed for at least 10 minutes at
each breast at every feeding.
Being finished after one
breast at some feedings and wanting both breasts at some feedings is also perfectly normal.
If the thought of uneven breasts bothers you, you may want to nurse on
both breasts at each feeding to try to keep your breasts more balanced.
Paying attention to the number of feedings per day and how long your baby stays at
the breast at each feeding can give you a sense of how much your baby is eating.
Limiting the baby's time at the breast or failing to offer
both breasts at each feeding.
One common recommendation is to make sure newborns feed at least 10 - 15 minutes on each breast and take
both breasts at each feeding.
During the first few weeks of breastfeeding when you're building up your breast milk supply, you should breastfeed your newborn from
both breasts at each feeding if you can.
Feeding
Both Breasts at Each Feeding Human milk changes during a feeding.
Babies may take one
breast at a feeding, or they may need to feed from both breasts.
In the beginning, try to feed your baby from
both breasts at each feeding.
Just as there should be no «rule» for feeding
both breasts at each feeding, there should be no rule for one breast per feeding.
If your baby is gaining weight well, there is no good reason the baby must be fed on
both breasts at each feeding.
You should offer
both breasts at each feed unless the baby is obviously full.
I am offering
him both breasts at each feeding, but I am taking him off the 1st one after about 10 minutes and then letting him finish on the 2nd.
He does this pretty much all day... I am offering
him both breasts at each feeding, but I am taking
However, if you would rather your breasts stay more even from feeding to feeding, you can breastfeed from
both breasts at each feeding to keep them more balanced.
If you breastfeed from only one
breast at each feeding, your breasts will probably be uneven.
A baby who is attached properly should be able to empty
your breast at each feed.
Some mothers switch babies and
breasts at every feeding and other mothers find it simpler to assign each baby a particular breast for a whole day, and alternate breasts each day.
They can also cause a decrease in your breast milk supply because if your child can only remove a small amount of milk from
your breasts at each feeding, your production of breast milk will go down.
Feeding Both Breasts at Each Feeding
If your baby is fussy, gassy, gaining weight quickly, and having green bowel movements, nursing on one
breast at each feeding may help to reduce these symptoms.
If your baby shows signs of too much foremilk, you can try to breastfeed from only one
breast at each feeding to help your baby get more hindmilk.
Should you breastfeed from one
breast at each feeding, or should you offer both breasts at each feeding?
However, if you breastfeed from
both breasts at each feeding, it may not be as obvious.
Be sure to offer
both breasts at each feeding.
Just as no rule says you must eat the same amount at every meal, there's no rule that says your baby must use
both breasts at every feeding.
e. Just as there should be no «rule» for feeding
both breasts at each feeding, there should be no rule for one breast per feeding.