Should you always offer the second breast?

[Cheffie100]

Ebf my 3 week old and was wondering if you should always offer the second breast?

I think you should always offer it; if they don't want it they will refuse.

I always did. My feeding would go breast 1-breast 2, breast 2-breast 1, breast 1-breast 2, iykwim.

As she got older she stopped taking the second one so I stopped offering. And now she just has both sides at bedtime.

I would, leaves it up to them to refuse :)

Yes, always offer. More opportunity to get milk into the baby, and better for your supply to have both sides stimulated often.

I do now, but for first 8 wks or so I fed one side per feed due to over supply. Then there reached a point when it was obvious lo wanted the other side too (popping on and off first side, getting frustrated, but wd then latch on to other side and feed calmly). Now I offer both if she hasn't totally passed out on first side. Often she'll only take a few sucks of second side.

I have only offered one at a time, unless he lets me know more is needed. I dont know if this is the correct thing to do but it has always worked very well for us. He is nearly 6 months ebf no solids yet and 99.6 centile so no supply issues!

congratulations on your 3 week old!x

I did at first. now I don't

I didn't offer both often. I had oversupply issues for months though.

I didn't. but I think I did at the start until I felt sure she was satisfied.

I got such differing advice on this. I only did one side at a time, which was fine for a while but by about 5months he wasn't putting on much weight and looked a bit skinny compared to other babies. If we have another I'll definitely offer both sides.

My HV advised to offer the second as baby may be thirsty and need a drink of the thinner first milk to wash down the richer hind milk. I find sometimes she does, sometimes she doesn't.

I usually don't, but sometimes I do! Probably every baby is different and every boob is different, so you've just got to find out what suits.

Thanks all, really interesting reading your responses.

I never did but only because if constant over supply (why oh why? I could have fed an entire army)

I never found any official advice on this - just worked out what was best for my (productive) boobs.