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Author Topic: One side feeding vs. both side feeding  (Read 1656 times)

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Offline Messa

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One side feeding vs. both side feeding
« on: February 10, 2011, 00:52:57 am »
My ds is 2 weeks old and at his dr appt today the dr suggested moving from one sided feeds to 2 sided feeds.  He suggested 15 mins on one side switching and doing 15 mins on the other.  What is the general opinion on this?  I was wanting to go to both side feeding but wasn't sure when to switch or how to go about it really. 
If I do switch what is the best way to do it and how long should I offer I was under the impression that he should lead how long but...?  He is a very effecient eater...he has a great suck if that makes any difference...
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Melissa

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Re: One side feeding vs. both side feeding
« Reply #1 on: February 10, 2011, 00:57:30 am »
No advice just following along.  I too do one sided feedings (mostly because it's easier to remember but I also make a ton of milk and one side is usually enough).

Why did you start with one sided feeding?  Why were you thinking of two sided? (Don't know if that'll help with the decision)
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Offline Messa

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Re: One side feeding vs. both side feeding
« Reply #2 on: February 10, 2011, 01:01:10 am »
I don't know why I started single sideded feeding lol...thats what was suggested to me when I was BF my daughter 5 years ago and that is just what I started doing this time.  (I had tons of problems with her and just stuck with one sided feedings until I quit at 3 months)
  I too make a lot of milk and one side is enough.  I wanted to switch to 2 sided eventually because I thought that was what was normal lol...and I don't want to be lopsided all the time :)
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Melissa

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Re: One side feeding vs. both side feeding
« Reply #3 on: February 10, 2011, 01:05:00 am »
I did single sided to start with both my boys.  I would offer the second but they weren't interested.  They were both really efficient eaters right from the start.  Also, I think it kinda depends on your supply as well.  I always had a lot of milk, so single sided worked better because if I did both sides they I would produce too much and it would lead to oversupply issues.  But I suppose if you had a lower supply you'd want to encourage both sides to help up milk production.

I think it's important to not watch the clock, rather let your baby suck on one side until he is finished and it is emptied.  Then it's ok to offer the second, but it's ok if he doesn't take it either.  I do think babies have a wonderful instinct for regulating what they need.  ;)

At some point with both of them (I can't remember when) I switched to double sided, but it was baby-led really.  Just when I noticed they needed more I would offer, and they would take the second side.  Usually during growth spurts, and then more consistently as they got older.
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Offline ~*~Little Miss Sunshine~*~

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Re: One side feeding vs. both side feeding
« Reply #4 on: February 10, 2011, 01:07:18 am »
LOL on being lopsided :)  It really is up to you especially if you make enough milk with one side.  

If you really would like to switch, I'd just slowly decrease the amount of time you nurse on one side and slowly increase the 2nd side.  For example, if you LO usually nurses a total of 15 minutes, I'd start with nursing for 12 minutes on one side then 3 minutes on the other.  Try that for several feeds then increase the amount of the 2nd side while decreasing the 1st side until they are fairly even.  Make sense?
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tigerlilly905

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Re: One side feeding vs. both side feeding
« Reply #5 on: February 10, 2011, 01:20:55 am »
I was always told to do double side the first 2 days to help your supply come in, then to stick with single sided at least for the first few months to be sure baby gets right to the hind milk.

That being said, we switched to double sided feeding once DS was on the 4 hour EASY (around 3 months).  Because he was going longer between feeds he needed more milk, so I had to offer the other breast to be sure he was full. We still do double sided feeding.

I do agree with Martina though, I think it also depends on your supply.  I had an over supply, especially when DS was first born, so one side was more than enough.
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Offline Icedlemonade

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Re: One side feeding vs. both side feeding
« Reply #6 on: February 12, 2011, 15:09:56 pm »
For my DS1, I was taught to feed both sides at the beginning.
But there was problems (I've forgotten what problems),
and a nurse told me to feed single side.
Then problems gone. I kept feeding single side.

For my DS2, I thought single side is the correct way.
But soon, it's clear that single side is not enough for him,
so I offer both sides for him.

I think my overall supply dropped.
Maybe because I have to take care 2 sons and I'm always tired now.
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Offline firsttimemummy

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Re: One side feeding vs. both side feeding
« Reply #7 on: February 12, 2011, 19:49:38 pm »
I fed DS both sides - the midwife said to feed him from one side, then change his nappy and give him the other one for "pudding"!  We never had issues with this.  He never took as much on the 2nd side but I would start on that side the next side.  I used a bracelet on the side that DS was to start feeding on so I could remember which to feed from (just had to remember to swap bracelet during feed!!!)

Just reading what others are saying in preparation for LO2 when he/she arrives!
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Offline Messa

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Re: One side feeding vs. both side feeding
« Reply #8 on: February 13, 2011, 01:52:21 am »
Well I am offering both sides now and it seems to be going well.  I am not timing just letting him empty one side and offering the other as a top off.

Lucy
I have a bracelet that I use for feeding too lol...
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Melissa
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