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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

Feeding from both breasts

17 replies

kbaby · 07/09/2004 18:24

I know this seems daft but how will I know if DD wants milk from the other breast after the first breast. She fusses sometimes on the one breast but if I sqeeze my nipple I still get milk so I was asssuming it couldnt be empty. Is this right. Sometimes ive put her on the other breast just encase I was wrong but sometimes she still fusses and other times she doesnt. Dont know if I should continue to offer the other breast or not.

OP posts:
Lowryn · 07/09/2004 18:30

Is she windy?

Beetroot · 07/09/2004 18:33

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tiktok · 07/09/2004 18:55

Beetroot, sorry, that's not right. Some babies do need more than one breast, Some babies need more than 2 and go back to the first...some will then go on to have 4!

kbaby, there is no such thing as an empty breast - there is always milk there. I do get cross at the silly books (no names) which insist mothers empty the breast and even that they check they have done so.

You just follow what your baby seems to want. Some babies never want two breasts, some always want them, some sometimes want to go backwards and forwards (see above), some do one thing one time, and another thing another. When she seems to have had what she needs from the first (stopped sucking, messing about, not really bothering, fast asleep) offer her the second side. Some mothers get to the point where they know the baby will just not take that second side so they stop offering. You'll get to know, too, but the baby may change her mind at some future point as well

Berrie · 07/09/2004 19:01

Do you know what, I worried and fussed for months about whether I was doing things right. I read every book and magazine I could but in the end all you need to do is do what feels right. In the end I don't think it matters much. If the DD seems to be fussing maybe she's had enough, maybe she wants some more, try her and see, it won't hurt! I enjoyed my baby so much more when I relaxed and trusted my feelings. You can't go far wrong - enjoy!

Yorkiegirl · 07/09/2004 19:03

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kiwicath · 07/09/2004 20:34

You're doing great Kbaby!! In the beginning my lovely rounded, pert, Hollywood looking boob would be transformed into an old sock in half an hour flat but I could still get my hubby with a milky missile at the other end of the sofa. Never once have they been "empty". As for the 1 boob or 2 dilemma?? Sometimes I have double helpings of dinner, then pudding, then while clearing up I have another go at the left over roasties ... then have some more pudding I can only guess that sometimes our little ones want to do the same.

Lowryn · 07/09/2004 20:38

kiwicath...I thought only I did that!

Prettybird · 08/09/2004 08:51

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hewlettsdaughter · 08/09/2004 09:07

Here's a previous thread that might be useful.

Original poster
kbaby · 08/09/2004 11:42

Thanks everyone. I try winding as she does burp but then when I put her back on the same breats she isnt interested but will feed on the other. I supose im trying to find a pattern that isnt there. Sometimes she wants it other times she doesnt.
Thank you again. Ill offer the 2nd just encase as like someones said it cant do any harm.

OP posts:
linnet · 08/09/2004 12:34

When I had my frist baby I was told to feed from both breasts, feed one side then offer second, she always took the second. And feeding was very successful for us both.

With new baby I was told only to offer one side at a time. I think this is maybe what caused me all my problems and I really struggled with feeding her as I was getting very full up between feeds. I did eventually ignore midwife and Hv advice to only offer one breast but she wasn't interested by that point and I'd already started mixed feeding. I wish I'd offered both like I had the first time as it worked for me.

GeorginaA · 08/09/2004 12:50

I gave ds1 one breast each feed and I got mastitis twice I don't think it was the one breast feeding that caused the mastitis (I'm pretty sure it was due to an infection due to a small cut - sorry, too much info!) but I do think it contributed as the infected breast then didn't get drained as frequently. As a result, I think that contributed to ds1's slow growth as the antibiotics to treat it did lower my supply considerably, which then led to "early" weaning at 17 weeks replacing calories he should have got from milk further slowing his growth.

This time around I've been offering both and no sign of mastitis and ds2 is storming up the weight charts... but then again he was colicky (which some people seem to suggest can be caused by too much foremilk which is richer in lactose).

Horses for courses really ...

tiktok · 08/09/2004 13:08

GeorginaA, interesting story. I think you are right - it's not usually a good idea to routinely give one breast per feed from the start. It might be enough for some babies,but as they don't come with written instructions telling you this, offering the second breast is better. The baby can always 'say' no thanks

Prettybird · 08/09/2004 14:31

It goes to show all kids are different - even though ds was routinely offered (and took) both boobs, he gained weight EXTREMELY slowly (a thread in itself!)- but he was always happy, healthy and alert - and is now a cheerful almost 4 year old.

It'll be interesting to see what happens if I ever manage to have another one.

mears · 08/09/2004 22:50

I personally always offered the second breast. Most times babes took it, sometimes not. I have a friend who had extremely colicky baby in the past and she felt it was because of overfeeding on 2 breasts so she chose to feed from one only at each feed. Her last DS was 12lb 2oz at birth and he gained weight very well. My advice as a midwife, at the outset to mums, is always to offer the second side. If there are colic problems or very short spells between feeds I will say to try feeding from one side, winding and offering same side. Depends on baby really.

Portree · 09/09/2004 09:49

Kbaby, I always offered both right up until weaning. It was only then that he would maybe only have one side and that was his choice. Like you, I never ever got to the stage where there was no milk there and this is still the case at 10m. I'm constantly amazed at the conflicting advice that is given by HVs and MWs. Both of mine said always offer the second and babe will let you know if he doesn't want it. Just goes to show that bf is not an exact science.

MammyShirl · 11/09/2004 23:23

hello
not sure if you will see this now. when i breastfed i was like a cow and produced too much milk - got mastitus three times until i followed some good advice. i let her feed for 10 minutes on breast number one and then offered her the breast number two, sometimes she would suckle for nearly another 10 mins or just a minute or so. next feed i would start with breast number two. this made sure that every feed at least one breast was drained! At the beginning i was let her feed as long as she wanted on one breast which is the right way. i started the above when she was 4/5 months or so. hope this helps.

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