One boob or two, and other breastfeeding questions

[Lobyd]

So I've been EBF my DD for my than 3 months now, and there's just so much I still don't know.

I seem to be the only person who offers just one boob at each feed. She settles after and isn't hungry, so is this enough?

I seem to have an enormous supply of milk, so I would say yes, but it's not just about feeding her - I've just had mastitis, possibly partly because one breast is always fairly full, because it doesn't get touched for 6 hours or so.

This brings me onto the next problem - in the quest for longer periods of sleep, which is going fairly well considering she's only 3 months old! - my breasts get increasingly full and massive the longer she goes without feeding. I have twice now woken her up to feed her as I couldn't stand it any longer.

So, am I doing any of this right? How can I get round the full boobs thing? I can and do express but getting up in the night to pump is just not going to happen considering how valuable sleep is - and during the day I obviously want to go out sometimes! which means I can't do it then either.

I so don't want to get mastitis again - can anyone give me any advice or reassurance I'm doing this okay?

If it's working, don't break it. You tend towards oversupply, and your DD is happy with one boob, so one boob is the right call.

If her weight gain is good, you might want to try block feeding, only feed on one side in any given time period. Your breasts will get large and uncomfortable, but this will reduce your supply.

It's absolutely fine to only offer one side. You could offer the second to see if she wants it but my dd only ever took one side and got to 28 weeks on bm alone, weiging a whopping 25lbs (very long but exceedingly chubby!).

It's possible that you have a small over supply issue and you really need a breastfeeding expert/lactation consultant to advise.

However, I had a slight over supply and cut out expressing entirely for a while because it was signalling my body to make more milk that I did not need. If I felt full or engorged and dd was not ready for a feed (she did feed every 2hrs day and night for 7 months though!) I'd express the minimum amount to feel comfortable but no more. I also offered a dreamfeed occasionally to alleviate the fullness. My supply gradually adjusted.

Could you express before bed if you're keen to build up a stock and then you'd feel less engorged at night?

Like I said, am not a bfc, but did have an abundance of milk myself.

NQC is spot on, it's good to have slightly more milk than you think you need but if it's causing problems (I had blocked ducts A LOT, an abscess and mastitis twice) then there are things you can do.