Should I offer both breast or one?

[FrillyMilly]

DS is a week old. I'm uncertain about whether I should be feeding from alternate sides for each feed or if he should be offered both breasts during a feed. Im also not sure how I know if he has emptied a breast. He fusses quite a bit during feeds so I'm not sure when he has finished so if I was to offer both breasts how do I know when to swap over.

Can anyone help with this?

[CMOTDibbler]

When he comes off, swap to the other side. And when he comes off that, offer the first again, and so on.

It doesn't matter if he 'empties' them - cos they are never empty, as it all sorts itself out.

[OneLittleBabyGirl]

I always keep offering the other side until DD doesn't want it.

[RitaMorgan]

I was confused about the "empty a breast" thing at first too! Turns out it's nonsense

As others have said, if he comes off or falls asleep offer the other side. I wouldn't worry about it too much though - so long as you offer both breasts frequently it'll work itself out.

[xkatxdollx]

I still sometimes only feed one side but I always do both at night but during the day once she pops off the one side I play with her and if shes still cranky I feed the other usually she doesn't want it tho she's almost 5 months but at a week old pretty much every time she cried or fussed I fed her to build my supply and get a better hang of bfing

[Mombojombo]

For no particular reason I've only ever offered one side per feed and it's worked fine. DS is nearly 18lb at 19 weeks and a very happy & healthy chap. Just so you know there's no one-size-fits-all approach.

As long as your baby is thriving and your supply isnt compromised just do what works for you.