BF question: one side vs. both sides

[rbp]

I've gone back and forth on feeding from one breast each feeding vs. the "entree/dessert" method. I've read suggestions and heard from LCs who come down on either side.

From what I can tell, the one side method ensures that the baby gets hindmilk. The two side method, I guess, ensures that the baby gets enough to eat (assuming that he pretty much empties the first breast). FWIW, when I feed from both sides I make sure to keep him on the first breast for 15+ minutes in an effort to get him to the hindmilk.

So, what's better? What do/did you do?

[smock]

I usually do both sides, but typically one side MOTN because she falls asleep. She's a pokey eater these days and is averaging 30 min. per session.

[Deleted]

I did one side when he woke up in the morning, and two sides the rest of the day. I had TONS of milk in the morning, so one boob was plenty. The rest of the day he drained both boobs. I never timed how long DS ate. I just left him on boob 1 until he popped off, then switched him to boob 2.

[lo]

The first feed of the day she usually takes both sides, and sometimes right before bed. All other times I do one side (unless she seems hungry still and then I would offer the other).

[ssmjlm]

Around 6w I only did one side except for before bed. E started that on her own though. She just started refusing the 2nd side.

I dropped down to 1 side before bed around 6m maybe? Again baby led.

[anna7602]

I've only done one side with both of my kids. They seem(ed) satisfied and gained lots of weight, so it works for us. 

[sjh722]

Almost always one side.

[kategm]

I've only ever fed DD one side at a time. I think at the beginning (like first week or two) I offered the second side, but she never took it so I stopped trying. I had oversupply though, so I was never concerned with her not getting enough.

[redheadk]

I did both sides but she normally only took the second side for a few minutes after draining the first side. At the next during session, I'd offer her the side we finished on previously, ensuring she got both all of the hind milk and plenty to eat. I never cut her off after a certain amount of time, she was finished with a side when she unmatched and pulled back.

[sh10]

I always do both, because in the beginning (and until six months), he would never pop off when he was done. He more often than not fell asleep while eating and I had to keep him awake. Now he's not as interested in the second side, but he still eats a little.

[MamaMaui24]

One side. Easier for me to keep track of which side to feed. And I like that they get all the hind milk.

[scsarah]

Oct 26, 2014 14:19:12 GMT -5 @starry said:

I always did both sides.

ETA: She rarely refused the other side. Also, she was the type of a child who would have lived with a nipple in her mouth if I had let her.

This is us. If DS could, he'd just hang out all day on the boob. At first it was hard for me to tell when he was done, but recently, he's started trying to sit up and switch when he is, so that helps.

sent from the app

[mae141]

I've always done both sides. She's never been satisfied after one side. Sometimes MOTN she wouldn't eat much on the second side, but she'd fuss if I didn't offer.

[missbella]

I always feed one side. In the beginning I think I would wait until he pulled off one side then offer the second but he usually fell asleep on the first side so I stopped offering both. If he still seems hungry or fussy I will offer the other side to see if that solves his problem.

[VillainV]

I only ever do one side at a time. But I think he ends up eating a little more often.

[halfpint]

For most of the time we nursed, he did one side. If he came off, I'd try to re-latch on the same side. I only offered the second side if he seemed like he was still fussy, or overnight if I was having trouble getting back down. I just alternated each feeding.

Since about 11 months, I've been offering both sides. He's so fast now, it doesn't take much time at all. In the morning, I actually double back - right, left, then right and left again. I want to make sure he's getting as much as possible, especially on days I work out of the home since I don't pump at all, and on those days he won't nurse again for 8+ hours.

[rbp]

Oct 26, 2014 14:19:12 GMT -5 @starry said:

I always did both sides.

ETA: She rarely refused the other side. Also, she was the type of a child who would have lived with a nipple in her mouth if I had let her.

This sounds a lot like M. He's a boob man.

[curbsideprophet]

DD had latch issues. Once she was on I was not taking her off. She could nurse one side for 45 minutes if she wanted to. She was gaining well so we end up nursing just one side. At some point when she was much older, maybe around two, she would ask for the other side. I would nurse both sides if she asked.

With DS I basically only nurse one side and it seems to be working so far.

[Deleted]

I did both because she would keep eating, but then she always favored one side... I then did both so that I didn't have one breast freakishly larger than the other!

[smm5623]

I always did one side with M but I was an overproducer for the entire duration. She rarely emptied one side.

[winemaker06]

I'm jealous of all the one-side people! When DS was really little he only wanted one side, but since 2-3 months it's always both sides. And even them, I have to stop him because he really will eat forever most of the time. I usually cut him off at 30 minutes or after waking him up a few times.

[Deleted]

With J I fed him on one side until he was finished and then I offered the other side. I switched which side I started with at each feeding. He usually ate from both though.

With the girls since there are two they each eat off of one side per feeding. I keep them on the same side for 24 hrs then switch.

I am pretty sure my supply adjusted with J to where he ate both sides per feeding. Whereas with the girls they each eat from one side and are content. So I think either way your body will adjust.

[gibbinator]

Ds1 always wanted both sides and spent 45mins feeding every 3-3.5 hours.
Ds2 only wants one side and finishes quickly (<10mins) but wants to eat more frequently (1.5-2hrs).

Both gain(ed) weight well and sttn early as infants.

[ringstrue]

I offer one side twice and then the other side if I think he wants more. Often times it's only one side.

[marie3246]

At first I just did one side. I had so much milk, she would never take the 2nd breast no matter how much I tried. Then when my supply regulated around 12 weeks, I would do 1 side in the am, and then both sides throughout the day.

[ngdgtco]

I go back and forth depending on the time of day and his frequency of nursing. The last three nights he has been sleeping a long stretch at the beginning of the night and I wake up super engorged. Then he only wants one side and I am stuck with another rock hard boob. Is there anything I can do about this? I've been hand pumping a couple ounces from the other side, which is a pain.

[zarapipe]

I've always done one side but I have an overactive letdown and a large supply.

[bunch]

one side. i had oversupply issues if i used both.

[greycat]

Either is fine.

I always did both because DS didn't seem satisfied with only 1 side. He also ate a ton and often every 2-2.5 hrs and 25+ oz while I was away from him for 10-11 hrs. He loved the boob. Lol

[deo]

Most of the time I just did one side. Sometimes at bedtime they would take both sides and I remember the first week I would try both sides.