7-8 week old- both sides or one side

[Blue2020]

So DD has just started going a bit longer between feeds at night and I’m getting very full. To add the fullness then continued during the day until the late afternoon. I do think she also fed a bit more a few days ago so she requested more milk and has since gone back to her usual amount. On top of this when I felt full I used a manual pump to take some out. Not empty but definitely more than just a little amount. So I think I have also added to the issue.

She is 7 weeks old. So far one side per feed worked quite well (early evening was both sides). I had moments of fullness but manageable. Then a few days ago my boobs were soft throughout the day so she fed a bit more and now all of a sudden I’m very full quite a lot of the time, so I have started offering the other side closish to the end to take the edge off for myself (if she hasn’t fallen asleep). However I don’t know if this is for the best, or whether to offer both or keep to one side and manually pump the other side to take the edge off instead and hope it regulates.

Did you ever have engorgement issues and what did you do?

I wondered if I should keep to one side per feed and just express the other side a bit (I would use a manual pump and take <1-2 ounces to feel comfortable). Or whether to shorten the initial boob time so the second time she comes off to wind (time doesn’t matter but eg 6-8mins rather than a full feed being 10-12mins for example) then offering her the other side for the final few minutes because she’s already a bit sleepy/satisfied.

I have just started this second approach of offering the second side a bit earlier to take the edge off. I just don’t know if it will cause issues later on with supply.

They used to recommend five minutes each side. Worked for me (start with alternate sides)

I had the same and I would shorten the first side a little bit. Pump creates more work and also creates an oversupply. Let baby take what she needs.

The engorgement and these ups and downs in supply will go away soon FYI. By 12 weeks mostly gone and by 4-5 months totally gone.

Aww bless you those 1st few weeks of bf are a bit of a rollercoaster - well done for keeping it up.

if you’re engorged haaka / pump may be causing oversupply unless you’re pumping when baby has a dropped feed or is having a bottle. There’s no real science to it really and eventually your body will self regular to what baby needs. Are they dropping any night feeds at all? This could be contributing to engorgement too.

I would stick to just feeding on both sides for every feed for now until things regulate a bit. Depending on where you live there may be a community infant breast feeding support team - can ask your midwife / hv - I found them extremely helpful x

Offer both sides each feed and alternate which boob you start with. Sounds like you're doing fab xx

For me, even 2oz pumped a day is enough to cause oversupply and lumps. Paracetamol and cold packs might be a better solution

How long does she feed for at each feed normally? Say it takes her 30minutes, you could try and do 15 each side instead x

@Paaseitjes yep, I remember pumping 2 oz every morning to try and build a stash, when I was about 8 or 9 weeks, and by day 4 created an oversupply, which i then took over a week to get over.

Sorry to ask another question on someone else's thread. But I've been using the hacca every night while 10week old DS feeds and I haven't had any symptoms of oversupply? I assumed I have lots of milk, I get 8oz per hacca use and baby is 99centile. I don't have soreness or lumps or anything ? Am I doing something wrong? Is my supply rubbish hence lack of engorgement ?

Sounds like you have a massive oversupply! If you're comfortable and the baby is growing you're probably fine, it will just be costing you a lot of energy. After all, it's possible to feed twins! If you have really too much supply, your milk can get thin and then the baby gets uncomfortable, not enough calories and you can get frothy green nappies.

I have small breasts and very small nipples which seems to make it harder to get properly empty with a pump. My baby is only 9 weeks, so it might also just be early days, but I get hard lumps within 12h if I don't feed regularly or pump for a stash more than once every 2 days, and the lumps then produce milk blebs. I think the baby must be getting a decent amount out because he only wants to feed on one side at a time and can go a few hours between feeds.

Yeah someone said that to me the other week but I didn't think anything of it at the time, she seen my freezer full of milk and said she couldn't pump like that. I dont pump though i just use the hacca once a day. Maybe because i only do it once a day my body is used to it? But I'm not experiencing any issues, so if it isn't broke I won't fix it! Baby happy and content and definitely not green froth.

Aw congrats on your baby boy. Sounds like he's feeding well. Mine uses me for comfort and would be on there 24/7 if I let him ha.

@dontcomeatme I think the issue may arise when you stop using the haakaa. At some point your baby will randomly and unexpectedly stop waking in the night and you won't be able to sleep because your body needs to get rid of more than 8 oz of milk, which is an enormous adjustment.

You do what works for you, obviously, but that's why an oversupply is not a great thing. It creates work at times when you should be resting/sleeping.

Ah that makes sense. Once my oldest starting sleeping through I used to set an alarm and pump during the night anyway so I'll probably just do that again. Thank you 😊

Sorry for the delay. She feeds for about 10 minutes typically. Mostly still on one side, I offer the second side when she still shows signs. She’s only had a few occasions of going longer, mostly in the evening when she doesn’t have the generous let down/milk flow. Then she’s not as happy. In the daytime she typically goes 2ish hours, in the night 3ish hours.
As of last night my boobs are now fairly soft, so I think they might be regulating now. Or attempting to.