brestfeeding methos- question

[annap]

In her book, the baby w syas it is best to brestfeed each time from only one brest and not to switch brests... reason being that the baby should get to the "fat" that is in the last of the 3 layes of the mild we produce..
BUT she also says, to always stars feeding the baby with the last brest we fed him last... so how does that make sence? we will always feed him from the same brest??
can someone clarify this for me please?? I am not that stupid.... but got confused by those 2 tips...

Thnkas!! 

[Harvey and Theos Mam]

Hi, you should start off with the previous breast that your baby fed from if your baby doesn't empty your breast of milk. They need get the hind milk they may not have had. If you have an efficient eater who drains your breast rather quickly and can go 2.5-3 hours between feeds then i think you need not worry about this.
You should make sure that your one breast is emptied before offering the other or you could end up with blocked ducts or mastitus.

If my breast felt full after already feeding from it, then i used to put my ds back on that breast to start his next feed so it was emptied. He was an efficient eater though, and had off days when he just didn't eat as fast as he normally would and i would be feeding him more often than usual.

Making sure that your baby gets to the hindmilk helps prevent having a baby who snacks and wants to feed for smaller amounts more regular than they should.

HTH

[deenz]

Annap - I agree that does not make sense if that's what Tracy says (I can't recall, and don't have the first book).  If you are single-sided feeding (as Tracy suggests) then you alternate breasts per feeding.  However if there is only a short time between feedings (say less than 2hrs) then you might start on the same breast again (for the reasons the PP has said).

If you are feeding off both breasts (letting baby drain the first breast, then have more on the second breast if they want it), then you start the next feeding on the breast that was fed off last.

[CJF]

HI
If your baby is having any tummy issues (gas, etc) my lactation consul. said  to feed on one side so the baby gets the fatty milk (just like you said--fatty milk helps settle tummies) and do that for a 6 hour stretch and then switch sides for another 6 hours.  Pump the other side for relief. (If babies get too much fore milk then they get gassy and have upset tummies, I guess it has to do with too much lactose.)  I have been doing this sort of...I feed my baby on one side for 2 feeds and then switch which, turns out to be about 4 hours or so.  So if your baby is doing fine with switching sides at one feeding then go with that, just make sure that your first breast is drained (which I think is hard to determine sometimes).  My baby was having some tummy issues with gas and possible reflux so I am following the one side feed deal.

[annap]

Thank you all for your answers.. I got the idea and understand the mixup that let me to this Q. guess all I need to wait for is for the baby to come out in about 6 weeks!!
Have a great week!
AnnaP

[Harvey and Theos Mam]

Those 6 weeks will go fast and you will soon have your baby to nurture.

Congrats on your pregnancy BTW.