Does anyone breastfeed on only one breast per feed?

[birthofawoman]

I ask this because midwives etc always talk about "offering the other breast" and moving onto the next breast, but I don't quite understand how this is possible. There's literally no way my baby (6 weeks old, currently) would accept the second breast seeing as his decision to stop feeding from the first one was based on the fact that he's now full. I've tired, but my nipple is just met with a closed mouth.

I don't understand it. Surely I'm not the only mother who only feeds from one breast at a time.

I also don't understand how the average feed is supposed to last 15 minutes+. I just couldn't imagine a feed lasting that long as my baby literally only feeds for about 5-7 minutes at a time, and it's been that way since day 1. He's gaining good weight (he's currently between the 50th and 75th percentile ), and he's producing a good number of wet nappies, so I know he's getting enough milk.

Maybe my baby just has unusual feeding habits? I don't know!

I used to. It was fine. I always used to make sure I used the other one at the next feed though. Do whatever works best for you and your baby

One side per feed for 5-8 mins here too. Lied to hv about it as I knew DC was "supposed to" feed 15-20 mins on both sides

DC massive chunk and I leaked everywhere for the first 4 months!! So no supply or weight gain issues.

I feed both sides every time now, DC is 18 months and just has the occasional snack really.

Also a one side at a time here with my 10 week old and also plenty of wet nappies and weight gain!

I'm still BF 18 month old DS. Only one boob works (inverted nipple) and he's only ever fed for about 7 mins at a time. He's fine
As long as weight gain is good and nappies are fine there's no problem

My dd actually only fed from one side ever strangely enough. No idea why. She coped absolutely fine. I was a bit wonky for a while but that sort of balanced out.

I've only just started trying to offer the other side in the same feed and we're 12weeks in. Now we're feeding less often (e.g. every 2 hours) it helps me to take the pressure off my boobs-before he was guzzling so frequently alternating was fine. This baby would never ever refuse boob and would happily spend 12 hours a day gently chewing on my nipple-if I waited until he voluntarily let go I really wouldn't be able to do much! So I peel him off when he's obviously stopped feeding and switch sides, which does sometimes get him sucking properly again. But basically he seems fine, happy healthy and growing well-sounds like your baby is too so it follows that whatever you're doing is the right thing

The first breast might be empty.

I did one breast at a time and by about four weeks my son's weight started to fall down the curve. So I stared doing both.

My 8 week old DS only feeds from one side per feed too and in less than 10 mins! He's also feeding every 2 hours but more like every 1.5 in this heat. I find that the last feed before his big 4-5 hour stretch at night he might take the second boob but not every time.
Once your baby is gaining weight and producing wet nappies it's fine, all babies are different!

My midwives made a big deal of this too and it made me so nervous because they said I ‘had’ to offer both breasts if I wanted to maintain my supply. My ds usually fell asleep on the first breast and rarely wanted the other. Finally I mostly stopped offering unless he was obviously hungry. He has always been 80th centile and only lost 6% of his birth weight. He’s 4 months now and growing great and filling out 6-9 month clothes. So clearly not necessary! I assume as long as they are fed on demand as much as they want until they are finished or fall asleep surely your breasts will make as much as you need without needing to switch sides. I’ve always had ample milk and in fact oversupply for a time so must be just fine.

Thanks for all your responses - really helpful and really reassuring! Somehow, I always remember which breast I last fed with and so always use the other one! I seem to have oversupply and a very forceful flow/overactive letdown, so that could also be contributing to short feeds?

Thanks again!

I did with my singletons not with my twins.

I got asked by midwives if I offered the twins nothing breasts, I said ‘No’. They told me I needed to. I then reminded them I was tandem feeding and the other twin was usually still feeding!

I swapped sides each feed to regulate supply.

I only had one working breast, and always felt another one would have been helpful to offer. Also it had to work double time to recover for the next feed.

The only time I was questioned about my method was by a mum of twins which I found strange. I said well don’t you also feed one breast per child?

It wasn’t ideal as I had a megaboob and a normal one. But it’s as nature intended for me I guess.

birthofawoman it sounds as if everything is goin well.my DC1 was a very efficient feeder, like you there was no mismatch between my supply and her technique. She was literally at the breast for a minute or two every 4 hours from the first few days. DC2 was VERY different, an hour on every other hour for months. It was just the way it was. Luckily , as he was my second and had followed a very efficient feeder I had confidence and plodded on. DC3 was a great feeder but spent a lot longer comfort sucking than DC1 and was more of a cluster feeder. I was the same mother with very similar breasts all along!

I did with my first. I don't with DS2 who I'm currently feeding. I seem to have oodles more milk this time round so he wouldn't take it

Offering both breasts caused problems for me because DC never got to the hind milk. I ended up engorged and DC ended up with green frothy poo. Instead, I used to feed 4-6 hourly blocks on each side so it was even but each breast was thoroughly drained.

yikesanotherbooboo seems as though midwives and health visitors are very misleading with the advice they offer, giving off the impression that there's one standard way in which your body should work, your baby should feed, and you should perform things. Very anxiety-inducing for a new mother who may find that her body/baby operates differently. I don't know why they don't just tell the truth - that there's no one way for these things to go, as they differ from baby to baby/woman to woman. Would've saved me a lot of anxiety, confusion and googling!

My dd is 8 months and I've always only fed from one side at a time. In the early days it helped me to tell which side to use next as one was always massive and one was always deflated 😂

Yes, I soon figured out that the reason you can’t overfeed a breastfed baby is because they chuck it up. We had a sicky baby and it took a while to realise that we were in a cycle with taking on too much at a time. I don’t have a particularly fast let down but one boob and frequently (around every two hours when he was a bit older than yours) was the way to go for us. He’s on the 96th centile for weight so no problems gaining.

I didn't start offering second breast until after 4 months as I think this was when my baby's intake increased.