breast feeding question

[mum4boys]

Okay maybe I should have read up on breast feeding but hey I successfully breast fed 4 children and the last for 2 1/2 years so I thought I had it down.
I always breast fed on one side then switched to the other and then when the baby needed to eat again start with the breast that was last used (does that makes sense). Now I have always always have produced way to much milk (not that I am complaining). Anyway Maggie absolutely refuses to nurse on the second breast in fact she will go back to the first breast and nurse more but will not have anything to do with the other breast until the next feeding. Is this going to cause me problems only using one breast per feeding?

[amyleigh33]

That's funny I just posted in Synchro's book thread that I was reading Dr. Sears' breastfeeding book. Umm, he says something to the effect of if the baby prefers one breast, you should trust it and let it eat only from that breast if that is what it comes down to. He adds, "The lopsidedness will go away once you stop breastfeeding..." (Thanks, Doc). But since it sounds like you're only having trouble getting her switch during one feeding, you won't even have it that bad. I bet the exact info is on his website, askdrsears.com somewhere... my summation skills are somewhat lacking, I know.

[Doula Gina]

I see this behavior often in clients who breastfeed in the same location for each feeding. Is this what's typical for you? Like there's the nursing chair? If so, try switching locations or see if there is too much sunlight/heat/noise/AC blowing/ any kind of disturbance in the area. The wee wee ones can be very sensitive to this kind of thing.

As far as a baby getting what he/she needs from one side, yes it is possible. The only obstacle is supply in the other breast - it can become very uncomfortable and you may not adapt to it well. So, if baby just doesn't want one side, that's OK, but be sure you're taking care of yourself and avoid an infection in the other breast.

ETA: I just re-read your post and saw that she won't go to the other breast until the next feeding. Actually, that's great - she's getting great hind milk from the side she nurses on, and should be satiated more by that than by being 'topped off' on the other side. This is also excellent for supply. If the other side gets uncomfortable during the feeding, you can express a bit till it gets soft. If it doesn't bother you, though, don't worry about it.

[mum4boys]

I am sleep deprived I should have finished my thoughts (the only reason I am up now is I am waiting for 10:30 so I can take some medication). I should have added, I have always had a huge supply of milk and this time around same thing happen. In fact I got compliments (if you will) from nurses that they could not believe how much Collustrom I had. In fact her second time nursing she nursed for over 30 minutes and we have never looked backed. Anyway this is the first child that I have not chocked with my over abduance of milk and I am wondering if it is not because of how she is eating prefering one side each time. I am really not worried about not having enough milk. Its not even an issue. I am more worried about infection.


I have not changed positions with her at all. I do nurse in different places but almost always the classic hold. Occassionally I will lay down and have her nurse.

Maggie just finished off a massive nurse spree. She nursed for about 5 hours tonight. She would nurse for about 30 minutes or so, fall asleep or I would change her etc and then she would get fussy and it was cries of hunger, so I would change breast and she would take it nurse again and repeat the whole cycle so I guess we are on some kind of growth spurt.

[kdtmom2be]

Originally Posted by Doula Gina

ETA: I just re-read your post and saw that she won't go to the other breast until the next feeding. Actually, that's great - she's getting great hind milk from the side she nurses on, and should be satiated more by that than by being 'topped off' on the other side. This is also excellent for supply. If the other side gets uncomfortable during the feeding, you can express a bit till it gets soft. If it doesn't bother you, though, don't worry about it.

That's what I was thinking, thanks for confirming Gina! I have been letting Kayleigh feed on one side per feeding until she is done with it, then move her over if she needs more. The next feeding we start on the opposite side from the side that we started on the last feeding.

[koru]

i only nursed one side at a time with dd1 because she had projectile vomitting & i thought she was getting too much foremilk. never had a problem with milk supply. i learned to put pressure on the opposite breast to prevent a large let down & soon my breasts adapted and i had no issues with engorgement either. dd1 was a chunker, too, so she definitely was getting enough to eat!

[MommyTeesa]

I ended up doing one-sided with DD - it was always easy to tell which side to start with at the next feeding! A couple of my friends were telling me that they started one sided then went to two after the babe was a few months old. *shrug* Is block feeding is supposed to even out/decrease your supply? One sided is kinda like that, so maybe that's why you aren't overwhelming her like with the other kids?

[Synchro246]

It's totally fine. Lots of babies only want one breast per feeding.

[LoveBaby]

Maya only nurses on one side per feeding as well. I just switch sides each time we nurse so I'm not getting engorged on one side. It took my breasts a couple of days to figure out that this is the pattern and now I don't have letdown on the opposite side or any leaking problems.

She's also a spree nurser...nursing for several hours every 30min. or so. She'll cry like she's starving, nurse for about 10min. on one side and crash out for a good 30-45min. then wake starving again. It's so cute!

[kittn]

i have always had an oversupply and my babies always choke. i block feed one side 2 feedings switch,next side 2 feedings switch. so based on that theory i would say if shes getting enough then your good. your body will figure out which one makes what eventually

[VOBetz]

After my milk came in with my son, I basically just decided to one side nurse. I read that my breasts would figure it out (as would a momma's breasts with twins, etc). We nursed on one side until he was like a year old. I did have overactive letdown and oversupply problems (choking and spitting up a lot) and sometimes we did the block nursing thing.

[momto l&a]

I feed my babies one side per feeding. They will also get the same breast for the next feeding if I feel they haven't gotten enough hind milk.

I make too much milk and have overactive let down. Makes for the first few months of breastfeeding interesting till the baby can handle all the milk interesting.

Its so much easier to do one siding per feeding IMO

[crysmomofthree]

Originally Posted by kittn

i have always had an oversupply and my babies always choke. i block feed one side 2 feedings switch,next side 2 feedings switch. so based on that theory i would say if shes getting enough then your good. your body will figure out which one makes what eventually

this is what i'm doing

[turnipmama]

My babe is the same way, she will start off on either breast but she won't switch during the same feeding. At 2 weeks I have yet to be lopsided though

[mum4boys]

thanks everyone.

I am so glad to see so many people wuth an over abundance of milk. It seems like people claim they do not have enough. I wonder if its a lifestyle thing why we make more milk.

[NaturalMommaof3+1]

I don't have an over abundance of milk, I wish I did. I'm actually wondering why I don't have more this time! But, I do nurse on one side per feed as well. Baby girl falls asleep after suckling for 1/2-40 mons so we get to the other side at the next feed. My left breast/nipple is sooo sore though the last few days and I almost dread when I have to go to that side! It's excuiating! I guess i have to give it more time, it's only been 9 days.

Thank you for starting this thread!

[Synchro246]

Originally Posted by NaturalMommaof3+1

I don't have an over abundance of milk, I wish I did. I'm actually wondering why I don't have more this time! But, I do nurse on one side per feed as well. Baby girl falls asleep after suckling for 1/2-40 mons so we get to the other side at the next feed. My left breast/nipple is sooo sore though the last few days and I almost dread when I have to go to that side! It's excuiating! I guess i have to give it more time, it's only been 9 days.

Thank you for starting this thread!

An overabundance is not all it's cracked up to be. As long as the baby is gaining weight you should be happy. Everytime a woman has a baby (and everything is otherwise normal) her body regulates more. Those who tend toward an overabundance will see less production after each birth, those who either make "not enough" or just enough probably will find an increase in production each time around.