Swapping Breast when Baby Falls asleep after One Breast Feed

[flapjackaddict]

Hi,

I wondered if anyone can give me advice based on your experience. I have read that I should always offer the other breast after my newborn latches off the first breast, however the problem is he often falls asleep after his first breast feed and so I am reluctant to wake him to up to offer him the other breast. Should I do this? Is it better? Or would you / do you let your baby sleep? As his feeding is so irregular at the moment (demand feeding - he is 2.5 weeks old) I cannot tell if letting him sleep = he sleeps longer or wakes up earlier for more food.

Also his poo is sometime green and I read that this means he isn't getting the hind milk so I want to make sure he gets enough milk from one breast. Not sure how much of a problem this green poo is the health visitor said not to worry about it but I would like my baby to get the hind milk.

Thank you in advance for your help and advice.

I would still try. If he is tired he will go back to sleep. My opinion is that babies sleep better on a full stomach.

The other breast, I mean.

I never did - just fed from the other breast at the next feed.

I was advised to offer the other breast when baby's sucking got 'tired' and stopped swallowing at this age. I think that was because he was eating for 90 mins every 90 minutes and I was knackered tho so not sure if it applies to you.

I'm pretty sure all the foremilk/hindmilk stuff is over thought - its not something that can be measured and as long as you are letting baby feed for as long as s/he wants as often as s/he wants you shouldn't have anything to worry about

there's some lovely knowledgeable ladies on this board so I'm sure someone will be along in a minute to confirm either way :)

Congrats on your new DS :)

The foremilk/hindmilk thing is very confusing, isn't it? There's loads of conflicting info. Your breasts only make one kind of milk and the fat content gradually increases throughout a BF. There's no sudden switch so there aren't really two different types of milk. This is a good explanation.

I know you say his feeding is irregular, can you have a guess how many times he feeds over 24 hrs?

Green poo may or may not be something to worry about. Has it happened a lot? Does your DS seem unsettled?