Is it ok to only use one breast per feed?

[WillSingForCake]

DS is 2 weeks old. He is already 1lb over his birthweight & has plenty of wet/dirty nappies. Every feed I'll offer him one breast which he'll drink from from around 10 mins & then come off. Everything I've read says to then offer the second breast, but if I do this he seems to really struggle with the faster flow of a full breast & ends up gulping, spluttering & crying. Can I therefore assume he gets enough from one breast, and not offer a second?

My 7 week old DD only very rarely wants the second breast. She is satisfied with the first and isn't interested in anything else. If he still seems hungry then offer but if he doesn't want it that's fine. He might when a bit older.

Have bf three children, i've only ever had to offer one side per feed except during epic cluster feeding sessions. If it works for you, go for it!

Same as Zoe both mine have only ever wanted one side except at bedtime but even then it's half hearted on the second side.

In fact DS looks utterly disgusted if I offer the other side when he was perfectly happy on the first side moments ago.

DD just used the second side as a pillow until I had the good sense to stop offering.

When they're little usually they only want one because their tummies are tiny. In my experience they tend to want two (or three) sides when they get bigger. But TBH you can't go wrong if you follow your baby's cues :) Never time feeds, just offer one side until they naturally come off and then offer the other side, but if they don't want it that's fine.

You will probably want to try and alternate breasts though or you'll end up feeling lopsided Some people use a bracelet that they swap from wrist to wrist, or a little ribbon pinned to your bra strap, or I used to sort of "weigh" by boobs in my hands to see which one felt heavier

I almost never had any interest in the second side. As soon as he was old enough he'd turn away from it and yell - I can take a hint

DS has been tracking the 91st percentile since week 3, so I guess he knew best about what he wanted. Keep an eye on things like weight gain and nappies, but I think it sounds ok.

I have always done this, it's fine

Dd 11 weeks only ever takes 1 side. She's fine!

DS only ever takes one side - he comes off when he's full and that's that!

I drove myself crazy wondering the same thing at several points in the first weeks of my son's life. But he is now 13 weeks old and in the 91st percentile for weight and length. He is EBF and gets one side per feed and I know he is full after. It just depends on your routine and your milk supply will regulate accordingly.

BTW Does anyone else think the term "offer the second/offer the other side" is really weird? Sounds like you are at a tea party offering jam tarts or custard creams! It's maybe just me but it creeps me out!

I've been ebf 13 month dd from one boob for the past 11 months. Could never get the latch right on one side.

She's on the 75th centile and 22lb so it's not done her any harm!

Same as Zoe and others, ds self-weaned at 15 months and I can count on the fingers of one hand the times he needed a second boob immediately :)

Thanks everyone! Really reassuring to see I'm not the only one with a baby who's happy with just one breastful!

In the mornings I used to feed from one boob and express from the other AT THE SAME TIME!!!!

Used to get a very damp hand though...and confused baby [grjn]

Wow, 1lb over birthweight at 2 weeks? Well done mama! I would keep going exactly as you are.
My 2 were only back to birth weight at around then.

only ever offer 1 side and i have/am feeding very large 91st/99th centile babes!! never offered 2nd side unless mentioned above epic cluster feeding session!

I have pretty much only ever offered DD one side per feed for similar reasons. She is 8mo, still bf, 98th centile - it's worked for us! Congrats on your new baby!

Ds2 is 7 weeks and very rarely takes a second side. He's always satisfied after one boob so I don't bother offering the second unless he is visibly hungry.

Yep we did one, till growth spurts then we'd do 2 and start again!