BF Moms - What do you do if your DC only nurses from one side each time he eats?

Do you pump the other side? This is a problem I have been having lately with DS. Whether I let him stay on until he is done or even if I take him off after 10 minutes he is dead to the world or totally not interested in the other side at all. If I wait an hour he will take the other side but I don't want to start having to feed him every hour! If not, he will make it 3 hrs usually b/f being hungry again. But, b/c I am pumping and nursing and worried about my supply do I have to pump the side he doesn't nurse off of?

Re: BF Moms - What do you do if your DC only nurses from one side each time he eats?

My DD only nursed from one side at a time. BF'ing is supply and demand, so you will adjust to baby's eating habits. In the beginning though when you get engorged easily, i did hand express the other side to get it a bit softer so I'd be comfy. But around 6 weeks old, my boobs became equally comfy before and after feedings.

I hated to pump, never did it and didn't lose supply until i started weaning.

I wouldn't pull him off though, he needs the hind milk from that boob-the fatty stuff. It's totally okay to just eat from one boob my LC told me, cause like you i was concerned.

You're doing a great job!

Re: BF Moms - What do you do if your DC only nurses from one side each time he eats?

Im in the same boat as you... during the day ill pump the other breast.. but at night im just way to tired to get up, especially now with the gas dd is having. alot of times she wakes up an hour later and i give her the other breast.. which i think might also be giving her gas.. too much eating. shes only going to be 3 weeks, so im still trying to figure this bf thing out.

Re: BF Moms - What do you do if your DC only nurses from one side each time he eats?

Are you feeding on demand? His demand could be low right now. To even out the take from each breast, try switching sides after 5 minutes. Maybe the switching will wake him up a little bit too.

When DD would BF more from one side than the other, I would start with the breast that had the least take first for the next feeding to even out the demand on both sides.

I had heard a wives' tale that when they are sleepy and their appetite decreases, their brains are growing. When their appetite increases, their bodies are growing. He could be going through a brain growth spurt.

Message edited 10/11/2007 11:48:33 AM.

Re: BF Moms - What do you do if your DC only nurses from one side each time he eats?

Re: BF Moms - What do you do if your DC only nurses from one side each time he eats?

From the time my DS was born, he has been feeding from one side. I just alternate feedings. The only time that he would feed from both breasts was in the early evening. I have a very good supply and my body could handle this.

If your worried about your supply, I would pump the other side. One thing you could do is pump while he's eating. Even if he still wants to go to the second breast, that will be fine. Your pump will never take all the milk out; there will be some there for him. (I learned this from my birth instructor.) This will also help you build up a freezer stash.

Re: BF Moms - What do you do if your DC only nurses from one side each time he eats?

Re: BF Moms - What do you do if your DC only nurses from one side each time he eats?

DD always nursed on one side at a time and for only about 5minutes on the one breast. It didn't make any sense but she consistantly gained weight and was always in the 75-90% percentile so it was plenty for her. In the beginning it was tough because I got engorged often. I occasionally pumped for maybe 2-3minutes just to get relief. Eventually my supply adjusted to her wacky eating habits.