Do you produce more milk switching sides or sticking to one side?

[rumtumtugger]

If I offer both boobs during a feed then is either side being properly drained hence is my body getting the correct signal to produce enough? Also, if I feed on both sides then my boobs are being emptied every 2-3 hrs and don't have 4-6 hours to refill. I hope I've explained myself well enough, sorry -bit sleep deprived!

[Fazerina]

Hello and congratulations on your new baby!

Don't worry too much about your body producing enough milk - it will as long as you feed your baby. You might find, especially in the beginning, when your milk production hasn't quite settled yet, that you will feel much more comfortable, when you feed from both sides each time, as your boobs might feel quite full otherwise in between feeds. Otherwise, don't worry about it affecting your supply, whether you switch sides every time or not.

Once your supply is fully established and settled, you won't feel like your boobs will burst between feeds anymore and might only feed from one side at a time, if that's what you prefer.

[HomeIsWhereTheHeartIs]

I usually offer both sides, but then start the next feed from the same side I finished on. (Does that make sense?) never found supply to be a problem. Might not be the same for everyone though so you've just got to experiment until you feel your baby is full and you are comfortable. Good luck!

[mrsmartin1984]

I used to offer both sides. Wait until your baby is finished then offer the other side. Don't get too worried about not producing enough milk. It can make you paranoid. I don't worry about which boob a last feed from. Normally I lift my boobs and feed off whichever feels heaviest (which is what allot of women do). If you can't tell then it doesn't matter.

Oh congrats!

[rumtumtugger]

Ok great - so the advice to offer both sides is only whilst the milk is coming in and you have rocks for boobs? Dd is now 4 weeks. I should really know all of this given she's my 2nd!!

[MummyWeatherwax]

Your baby should be allowed to come off the first side naturally, then offer the next side. If she isn't interested, that's fine, if she is, also fine

Next feed, start with the side she had last during the previous feed. That will help keep both breasts balanced.

Really, if you are concerned about the amount of milk you are producing, you want to leave less time between feeds. because the more you feed, the more signals to make milk your breasts get, and they'll catch up. Leaving them time to fill up tells them not to make as much.

But as long as you feed on demand, your clever breasts will make exactly what your baby needs

[DeathMetalMum]

When feeding I offer the breast until baby starts to fuss then I would usually wind and re-offer the same breast until baby fussed (was sometimes straight away but others would have another decent period of time on the breast.) Then I would offer the other side and repeat. At times my dd can fully drain both breasts then go back onto the original for more.

I can rarely remember what side was last so also just go by feeling which breast is heavier/firmer or just guess.