Confused! Foremilk & Hindmilk

[PickledInAPearTree]

I keep getting conflicting advice about this, I have been told to offer both breasts per feed, only offer one to make sure he is getting hindmilk, then I have read totally different things..

Can anyone help?

How long should DS be feeding per side, or should I only switch when he seems unhappy or full?

I am very confused.

If it makes any difference he lost a lot of weight early on and now is gaining but its slow, and he is only 7lb 3oz at 3.5 weeks.

Hi there, I'm no expert but I think the fore/hind thing is potentially misleading. DS is 17 weeks, EBF and has gone from 9th centile (he was born at 38 weeks) to 75th in terms of weight - basically, he feeds for just over 5 minutes from one boob and seems to get everything he needs (possibly more as he possets a lot...!). Some babies are just very efficient at feeding. As long as your little one's happy and not crying with hunger, he should be fine; I would feed him often (DS feeds on demand, my adage is 'if in doubt: boob').

Thanks grapes at last it makes sense!

He's alert, plenty of wet & dirties and putting on a bit of weight albeit slowly so I think we are doing ok then..

Yoko that's some weight gain! Just checked and his brother was much the same weight at this stage so I'm not going to worry!

I'd forget about foremilk and hindmilk - feed the baby on one side, when he comes off always offer the other.

Pickled I know...! He's a unit nowadays! :) I'm sure you'll look at DS2 in a few weeks and think 'wow, he used to be so tiny' :)