One breast or both?? Advice needed

[Logiebear]

When you feed your lo do you use one breast per feed or do you let them feed off one until they nod off, disturb them and then swap to another?

I have been told both ways and I'm getting so confused, I don't know want to do for the best and am terrified of my milk reducing because she is not feeding right!

My little one feeds for 10 mins and then falls asleep. No matter how hard I try I cannot wake her up but then when I put her down she wakes and it can over an hour and half of this for her to stop and finally sleep!!

I have been advised to do 15 mins each breast and then top up with expressed breast milkto ensure she is getting enough.

BUT

I have also been advised to feed her for 20 mins off one then top her up and then express the other breast too!

What would you do please???????

 

[XKatX]

Sorry hun, but I'm a bit confused as to why you need to give expressed milk every feed? Your body will regulate to give what baby needs. Personally, I feed one breast per feed and he can feed for up to 30 minutes. If he goes longer han this and he is still hungry, then I offer the other breast. My hv told me to feed for a good 30 minutes, to ensure they get the hind milk.
As you said though, it's constantly different advice. A friend of mines little one feeds for just 10 minutes and always has.
You just need to listen to baby and go with the flow. You will soon find your own way. Sorry not much help!

 

[Pyrrhic]

Nodding off is totally normal for a newborn. Change her nappy in the middle of a feed to wake her up again. Also try stripping her down to her vest. If she is too cosy, she'll fall asleep.

I'm not sure why you've been told to feed EBM?

I only ever feed from one side during a feed so that my LO gets all the fatty hind milk as well as the fore milk. If you switch too often then they won't drain the breast properly and will only get the fore milk, which can turn their poo green.

 

[Serene123]

I don't switch because the little mare will only drink the foremilk if I do. She knows!!

 

[Logiebear]

I have to give EBM to top her up as her jaundice is still present and she was not getting enough fluids. We have been in and out of hosp with it. She managed to gain half an ounce from Thurs to today!

So the poo turns green if they get too much foremilk and not enough hind milk! That is fab as that happened last week, now I know why!

You lot are great. I have been told by a friend to try a different position and see if it helps with latching on too. Will keep you updated, thanks again xxx

 

[princessellie]

i didnt know that about the poo and the foremilk, that happened to leyley the other week and i was scared she was ill but its good to know

i always give one boob until its empty to make sure she gets the hindmilk as thats where the calories, when she starts freaking out on my boob i know its empty haha, she gets really frustrated when she cant get no milk out, its cute as hell haha, then put her on the other one if shes still hungry

x

 

[hypnorm]

i thought green poo was a sign of infection as Robyn has a cold and her poo has gone green.
i feed 20 mins from one side and then if she is still hungry i will offer the other side.

 

[Whisper]

I was told by my midwife that i should think of feeding her as a 3course meal, so i should offer her the same breast 3 times and try getting her to feed from it all 3 times. If she is still acting hungry to offer the other breast as she might want to finish on a drink....(This was just when she was really little, now she is big (7mnths) she has both boobies every feed. )

Its tough feeding them in those early weeks when they fall asleep so easily, and other times when they want to feed from you pretty much constantly.

 

[princessellie]

three times as in one boob, then same boob 3hrs later, and same again another 3hrs later? or three times in one feed?

 

[Whisper]

three times as in one boob, then same boob 3hrs later, and same again another 3hrs later? or three times in one feed?

lol sorry i wasn't very clear, 3 times in one feed from the same boob.

So for instance give her the starter, then if she falls asleep go change her bum and back on for the main and then wake her up again and give pudding...lol sounds weird but it did work.

 

[Logiebear]

I just hope it gets better than this. I had a really bad night with her and I don't know how much I can cope with!

 

[marley2580]

You're doing so well. Remember that when they're young they often cluster feed in the evenings but they do grow out of it. Stick to one breast at a time and you'll find that your milk will increase to accommodate, I only offered the other one during growth spurts. How old is she now? Is she still jaundiced? If not then I would ditch the EBM as it sounds like a hassle that you just don't need right now. And remember the first weeks are the hardest and it does get better.

 

[Blob]

I use the same one, she falls asleep when feeding i'd feel really mean moving her. If she's reaaallly hungry she sometimes has both

Tabitha often fed loooaads at night time is just cos they know that they get better milk at night cos you've just had a big meal etc and have more milk.

 

[Blah11]

Amelie is really good at draining one side so she never needs the other breast. i was told to always offer both breasts but tbh i dont. I just feel which one is harder and let her feed on that side rofl.