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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

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Original poster

Breastfeeding advice

11 replies

satinshoes · 01/01/2007 15:43

Hi there,

Sorry if this has been asked before but I couldnt find anything...

Dd2 is 3 weeks old. I think she has just been through a growth spurt as was feeding non-stop for 3 days.

She is putting on weight well.

My question is. Each time I feed I start on the alternate side. DD feeds for about 20 mins on one side, then i wind her, change her nappy and offer the same side again. She sometimes takes it and sometimes doesnt. If not I offer the other side and she often feeds for about 15 mins. So far, so good.

She then seems quite happy and we'll play for a bit. But after about 30 mins or so she is often hungry again so I end up offering the original side again. Ie, left, right, left. Is this normal? I seem to recall DD1 doing the same thing but all the books etc say one side and then the other, and nothing about going back to the 1st side.

Also in the evening DD cluster feeds for a few hours so the one side then the other thing just cant apply and I just feed her as much as she wants from either in some kind of pattern.

Does this sound right? Do I keep going this way, or should I be doing something differently.

TIA for any advice,

OP posts:

QuootiepieTheHogmanayAss · 01/01/2007 15:46

Sorry, abit lost at your post, but, when DS was feeding so often, I fed from one side until I literally felt empty, then switched, then switched back when that side literally felt empty. Now feeds are longer inbetween, if he stops feeding and wants more within say 5/10 minutes I offer the side he's just had and don't switch. Unless the feed is lasting ages, but, it rarely does now (9 months). I switched roughly every 20/30 minutes or so, back and forth between breats

QuootiepieTheHogmanayAss · 01/01/2007 15:46

I think thats what you're asking?

Original poster

satinshoes · 01/01/2007 16:04

Thanks Q....tiredness is making me ramble but yes, you've answered my question

OP posts:

QuootiepieTheHogmanayAss · 01/01/2007 16:04

lol, ok

livysmum · 01/01/2007 21:41

What i was told when i was breastfeeding was that at first your DD will get the formilk(thirst quenching stuff) then after so much time the hind milk will come in which is the fatty filling stuff.
So if your giving her all the formilk and some hindmilk, then playing and switching breasts then when you switch your just giving her that formilk off the new one so which may be why shes hungry just 30 mins later. You may feel like the breast you originally started on is empty which is why you switch but if you try staying on the one breast for the whole feed she may do better. and i'm sure she'll let you know if there is nothing left in it.
I was also told that your body is a brillant machine it'll make as much milk as your little one needs. Your body will respond to how much milk is being taken and when so i wish you luck and see how you get on.

NotQuiteCockney · 01/01/2007 21:42

I think you're doing fine. You can switch boobs more, or less, as you like. It doesn't really make that much difference, from what I know, particularly given your baby is gaining weight well, and you're not having oversupply issues.

averymerrymonkeymooXmastoyou · 01/01/2007 21:47

I had a two hour rule:

If bubba has fed within the last two hours use the same side that you finished on last time.

If after two hours then start on the new boob!

DizzyBint · 01/01/2007 21:48

kellymom.com is extremely helpful with these sorts of things, don't know if you've had a read on there yet.

you don't have to worry about the foremilk hindmilk thing or about 'emptying' your breasts. it's not like the old fashioned books say, about feed for X minutes to reach the hind milk blah blah.

Original poster

satinshoes · 02/01/2007 09:54

Thank you so much guys. I'm not overly worried as she's gaining weight ok but it was something I used to stress about with DD1 and just want to do it right

OP posts:

MRSJINX · 03/01/2007 18:23

one small tip.... make sure you eat something mid afternoon to boost your blood sugar. it often helps milk production early evening when your supply is naturally dwindling before it revs up again overnight. Hot chocolate always worked for me

lemonaid · 03/01/2007 18:28

Sounds like you are doing fine. I wouldn't stress too much about exactly which sides she's feeding from when. Feeding on three or more sides (i.e. switching and then switching back) is a recognised way of building up supply and if it's producing good results for you then stick with your instincts.

In the evening, if you're at the point where you can't tell which breast is fuller by giving them a prod then it probably doesn't much matter which you feed from. Again, just go with the flow and keep doing what works for you.

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