Switch Breasts or Not to Switch Breasts?

[Fujiko]

Ok, I've look at 15 pages of threads and I couldn't find any that addressed this question.

When breastfeeding (esp when exclusively bfing), is it ok to feed your baby from only one breast for the feeding, assuming the baby is satisfied before he/she drains the breast? And then switch to the other breast for the next feeding, and go back and forth but usually not both breasts at one feeding?

That's what I did with dd. She was a quick nurser as an infant, usually 10 minutes or less. I let down enough that she swallowed for every suck through much of the feeding. While she was (and still is) small, genetics accounted for her size and docs were never concerned about her weight, so I never thought that she wasn't getting enough, nor do I think that was ever the case now, but...

I was reading the breastfeeding article on Wikipedia and it said to offer both breasts at every feeding. Did I miss an important breastfeeding tidbit? Or is it horse hockey? I always thought that it was more important to do just one breast to ensure baby gets lots of hindmilk, unless baby was still hungry after the first...thoughts?

[Gentle~Mommy :)]

Let down comes in on both sides for me, so if my son only nurses on one side I get uncomfortable on the other.

[Fujiko]

Hmm. I can see why you would want to switch then.

I did let down on both sides too, but after letting all the milk spray into flannel cloths, the other breast didn't become "engorged" to me.

I guess what I meant to ask in the OP was, is there a benefit to offering both breasts, or a detriment to NOT offering both breasts, that isn't obvious? Like, can it lead to issues further down the line...

...it's late and I don't know if I'm making any sense or thinking clearly at this point.

[stormborn]

I usually just use one, unless I've been away long enough that both are too full. I really never thought it mattered.

[avalonfaith]

i think you are just fine. switching breasts to early can be a problem as the baby doesn't get that nutritious hindmilk. baby gives signs if you need to switch due to there not being enough and some women can feel it also. usually (in my expierience) it is not needed though.

[Heba]

Both breasts should be *offered* - but it is important to let the babe finish one side first. When s/he comes off the breast naturally, offer the other - which may or may not be taken.

Some babies just don't want any more - no problem. However, the reason it's stressed to offer both is that some babies *do* need more, but may not be given the opportunity to take more. (As you say...one breast is fine unless baby is still hungry.)

[mrskingred]

I don't know if the OP has a specific reason for asking this. I nursed from one side only for 2-3 feedings in a row (on the advice of a lactation consultant), because I had over-abundant let down and supply. (Think fire-hydrant from both sides and choking babe). As my supply regulated itself I would offer both sides.
My now 3 year old asks for both sides, sometimes switching between them.

[SeekingJoy]

I nursed solely from one side at each feeding with DS and DD. Only around 18 months did she start asking or seeming interested in the other side, too.

I haven't read of any benefit from offering the other side to a non-hungry baby.

[katelove]

To the best of my knowledge the only reason to offer the second side is if the baby is still hungry.

[mamadelbosque]

I nursed soley from one side at each feeding with DS (it was my joke with him that he was suppose to remember which side we were on I'm doing the same with DS2 - it seems to keep the green poo in check

[Fujiko]

Thanks for the replies. This was the passage in the Wikipedia article that made me wonder:

While most women breastfeed their child in the cradling position, there are many ways to hold the feeding baby. It depends on the mother and child's comfort and the feeding preference of the baby. Some babies prefer one breast to the other, but the mother should offer both breasts at every nursing with her newborn.

But then I went back and looked, and this was the paragraph immediately previous to the one above:

The baby may pull away from the nipple after a few minutes or after a much longer period of time. Normal feeds at the breast can last a few sucks (newborns), from 10 to 20 minutes or even longer (on demand). Sometimes, after the finishing of a breast, the mother may offer the other breast.

Yay for contradiction.

[SeekingJoy]

I, personally, would reference a more authoritative source: kelly.mom, LLL, etc.

[lifeguard]

I have only ever fed from one breast per feeding with the exception of maybe 6 times. Those times it was because ds came off the breast & still seemed to want more or because I was super engorged on the other side & needed to relieve the pressure a little.

[Louisep]

Until six months I breastfed only on one side per feeding and he was a fast nurser - 10 mins or less. At 6 months he seemed to want more so I offered both. Now he prefers one side and only really nurses on that side.