Nursing until boobs are "emptied"?

[clingon1012]

Starting with "I know boobs are never fully empty". But, all breastfeeding advice is to nurse on one side until it is empty then offer second breast. So I'm not really sure when to actually stop on the first breast?

My boob does feel softer and less full but I wouldn't say "empty"! And I do wait for DS to pop off himself, though sometimes he unlatches and relatches a couple of times and sometimes I unlatch him as he falls asleep, so its not entirely reliable.

He always takes the second boob regardless, maybe for less time though, which makes me think maybe he didn't get enough from the first boob?

Also regarding "listen to baby's sounds". Sometimes I hear obvious sucking and swallowing fluid type sounds but not all the time!

I sound really stupid, he's 6 weeks now and I'm still confused. I have sometimes supplemented with expressed breast milk/formula as after a long breastfeeding session - like an hour - he still seems hungry. I've also given full formula for some mealsx especially when I haven't produced enough milk. He's gaining weight well but I'm worried its because of formula than my breast milk - he does gets way more breast than formula though.

Also, once the breastfeeding session is over, do you guys pump? For example if you only gave one breast, would you pump the other as that wasn't "emptied" so will it affect supply? Or if my first boob wasn't properly empty and I just unlatched him too early by error, will my supply be affected as it wasn't drained? Thanks!

I know this sounds really simplistic, but just feed until they fall asleep or keep popping on and off or seeming uninterested.

You don't need to do anything with the other boob, just start on that side next time.

When we started I would do 20 minutes each side, but now I just wing it (13 weeks now).

Hard not to worry if they're getting enough but as long as there's lots of wet nappies and weight gain it's fine! You just have to trust.

It's your breast milk, not the formula!

It sounds like you’re doing really well and your baby is content. The only thing that stands out that would affect your supply is actually giving formula. I would go to a breastfeeding support group and see what they advise. The peer supporters are usually knowledgeable ( there are online groups too though if it’s difficult to get out).
If you don’t want to give formula but want some extra milk to offer you could collect milk in a haakaa from the opposite breast when you’re feeding the baby. It isn’t compulsory by any means but if it makes you feel more confident that the baby is getting enough you could do that. Look up paced bottle feeding to understand how to offer a bottle to a predominantly breastfed baby. I had to pump when my baby was a newborn due to feeding difficulties but after maybe week 7 or 8 I didn’t bother as it was more hassle for me.