Does she want the other side?

[mommynow]

For a while now my daughter has been eating on one side and then after about 10 minutes she will bob off and open her mouth wide.  I put her back on and she eats some more but pulls and bobs off again.  If I put her on the other side she will eat better but I am worried that she isn't emptying the other breast because everytime I put her back on she will swallow more.  I don't know if it is just getting slower and she is impatient or if she has pretty much emptied it and wants more.  She used to eat for 15-20 minutes straight on one side and sometimes she will still do this but since she turned 3 months she is doing this more and more.  She is waking up more in the night also so I am wondering if she needs more to eat.

Thank you.

[Erin (redstarfalling)]

Sounds like she's still hungry.  Do you do breast compression? That can really help empty the first side.

[CaedensMama]

Sounds like what Caeden has starting doing. I usually let him go till he starts coming off and on and then switch sides and he typically nurses twice as long there and then when he is done I will offer the first side again. He often takes it and nurses anothre 5 minutes or so.
I also switch which side I start with so at least every other feeding I know it is getting completely emptied!
So far this is working for us, he is going longer between feeds too - I can get 3 hours easier now and before I was struggling to get 2 - 2 1/2.
I would go ahead and switch sides and see how she does!

Also - at night he only takes one side at a time unless he poops and I have to change him and start over. But then he is like half asleep anyway and so he nurses well and doesn't get frustrated when it slows down!

[mommynow]

Thank you!  At night she only takes one side as well.