Newborn, one or both sides?

[atlantamomofthree]

I am VERY pregnant right now ( ) and have a question.
I read through the FAQ's, but didn't see anything relating to this exactly. I know Tracy recommends one-sided nursing (and I fully agree!), but I'm wondering how soon you start that. It would seem that you would need to nurse both sides at the beginning to establish your supply. Is that right? A few weeks (or days even?) I have done BW'ing techniques (including one-sided feedings) with my ds (and it was WONDERFUL) but he is now 7 1/2 years old and I can't for the life of me remember certain things from his newborn stage! 

Thanks

[~inbalance~]

I think whether you do one or both from the start will depend on many things.  The most important thing is that the first breast is getting emptied before moving to the second one.  Then offer the second one and even if your baby suckles for a few minutes he's still stimulating the breast.  Also if you have an abundant milk supply or strong letdown, you may find it easier to feed just from one side even in the early days.  Again, just make sure the breasts are being adequately emptied so that it signals to your body to make more milk. 

I found that with my boys, my supply was always abundant so single sided feeding worked best at first.  I would always offer the second side but usually unless they were having a GS they wouldn't be too interested.

[Erin (redstarfalling)]

What she said!

Seriously, though - it tends to be a personal preference sort of thing for most people.  I had a great supply with a fast letdown, but I still preferred to use both breasts.  I don't think it really matters one way or the other as long as you stay consistent. It also depends where you live, I think - most lactation consultants and nurses in my area promoted double side feeding to encourage and maintain supply.  Good luck with whatever you choose to do!

[amayzie]

most of the Lactation consultants and nurses where i am said one side at a time to start. I think as long as you feed on demand to start you should maintain supply. They say that way that the baby will get all of the different milks, the watery formilk and the fattier hind milk- otherwise you can get too much foremilk and green poos! I think though that my mum, and many many others in the past and today did 10 mins each side or similar and it seems fine!

[atlantamomofthree]

Ok, thanks. So, what were your personal experiences at the beginning? You emptied one side and then offered the other? I mean, that makes sense. I also can see the benefit of feeding for a set amount of time from each (like 20 min or so), though. 

[~inbalance~]

I also can see the benefit of feeding for a set amount of time from each (like 20 min or so), though.

You do not want to limit the feeding from the first side, that is a good way to negatively affect your supply.  Always let baby finish the first breast.  There is no benefit to switching before baby has emptied the breast.

[londonlady]

My midwife said that you let them feed as long as they want and as often as they want to start with to establish the supply. When you're just producing the colostrum, I think my DD fell asleep on the breast each time to start with so I just swapped to the other one when she woke up and nursed again.
Once you're up and running and your milk has come in, I was advised that if they are on one breast for over 45 mins they are probably done feeding and just nursing for comfort. You'll notice the difference between them really feeding and just comfort sucking. You could at that point offer the other breast to see if they are still hungry.  Someone told me to think of it as starter and main course on the 1st breast and dessert on the 2nd!!
They do get quicker - 20 mins is more than enough for my DD (10 weeks) she has always been a pretty efficient eater and is often done in 10 mins or less.
Good luck for the new baby. xxx

[atlantamomofthree]

Thanks so much!

[amayzie]

I often will offer my little guy the other side when either he comes off or is just comfort sucking- you can tell because as well as the sucking being different (a little hard to pick at times), you stop hearing them swallow (athough i'm a speech pathologist and my job is hearing people swallow- so i'm not sure if everyone else can hear the swallows as easily!!)- I'll often say: 'would you like the other side? It's just as comforting but has more milk!" (he sometimes disagrees as he finds it not quite as comfortable if the milk is squirting directly down his throat!). He sometimes takes the other side and sometimes not!

[oneplusone]

I only fed from 1 side at a time when my baby was brand new and only recently started doing both sides based on his hunger cues. It's definitely important to drain the breast so they get the hind milk.