When to switch sides?

10 replies

PrettySprinkles · 14/03/2009 17:53

Ok I know that switching sides too early can result in the baby not getting enough hindmilk. But how long is not long enough and how long is too long? Is it one of those 'no definitive answer' things. If the breast doesn't 'empty' how do you know when to offer the other side?

OP posts:

TheDOGmamma · 14/03/2009 17:56

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DreamingAboutSleep · 14/03/2009 18:02

I'll be watching with interest too as my DD has always been a very efficient eater and i've never been quite sure if or when I should swap her over either!

hercules1 · 14/03/2009 18:04

I offered other side if baby seemed to have had enough of the first side. Usually this meant either rejecting other side or starting again for a good feed. DOnt worry about teh hind milk/foremilk thing. If they are happy feeding no reason to move them over.

noolia · 14/03/2009 18:10

I only ever did one boob each feed.

giantkatestacks · 14/03/2009 18:14

When my dd was younger she used to only take 1 side a lot of the time but if she fell asleep I would wind her and then offer the other one.

Nowadays (at 10 months) she finishes one side - usually just after the letdown for some reason, and then shrieks until I manage to sort it all out and give her the other side at which point she will settle down for a good long feed.

Agree that there is no need to worry about the fore/hind milk thing - if the baby seems hungry or unsettled after winding then just offer the other one as well.

Although I would say its good to watch them closely so that you can recognise when they are asleep - properly asleep not just settled down into feed/wait/feed/wait iyswim.

StarlightMcKenzie · 14/03/2009 18:17

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CherryChoc · 14/03/2009 18:20

I do what hercules said - when DS seems to get frustrated with that boob (kept coming off, but then latching back on and grizzling/coming straight off again as if it was not what he wanted) I would offer the other. At the moment he will often have one side more than once in a feed - I think it's called "switch feeding"?

Original poster

PrettySprinkles · 14/03/2009 19:01

I really should know this as my DS is 4 months old, but I have a bit of a snackster, especially at this time of the evening. He would happily just perma-attach to the breast. What I tried to do is wait for five minutes or so after he stops actively drinking then try switching. Then just as I'm going to move makes him start drinking again! Should I switch anyway or let him keep going? This is really confusing.

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MrsHD · 14/03/2009 22:01

The bit I find really extra confusing about it all is that the boob never empties of milk, so on that basis why should you ever need to switch?? It's never quite made sense to me. However, switching might be the solution to my problem of never knowing at night when Ds has really fallen asleep - if he doesn't latch onto the new side then I guess he's gone.

kathryn2804 · 14/03/2009 22:06

The official advice, as given to us in our peer supporter training, is to let the baby come off on it's own. It usually does a little wriggle and then spits the nipple out, or goes all floppy in the mouth if asleep. Then you wind baby and offer other side if baby wakes. There isn't a 'time' to change, it should be driven by your baby. With new borns it can be anything up to 45 mins, with a 5 mth-er, it could be 5 mins!

If baby is just fussing and being annoying (!) then you can put it back on the same breast.

I fed twins so I always had to put them back on the same breast as they were both being used all the time!! You get another let-down after about 5-10 mins of finishing a feed. Amazing things - boobs!

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