Much greater supply on one side - how do I fix this?

[Mariek]

Hi Ladies

So, here I am with my first Breastfeeding question. Considering I was so terrified about breastfeeding this time round it's going surprisingly well but I have got one issue and a couple of questions if you lovely ladies could give me some advice.

Ewan is 8 days old today (how quickly has that gone!). He's latching okay, feeding well, pooping and weeing okay and seems really content. The problem I've got is that when my milk first started to come in he took a dislike to feeding on the right side (in fact I couldn't get him to latch that side at all). I continued feeding him on the left side and was pumping from the right (so DH can give a bottle of EBM overnight) but obivously the pump isn't as effective at stimulating milk supply as him feeding so as a result I've got a much greater supply on the left side than the right (I swear if you set me off running I'd go around in circles because I'm lobsided from the left boobie being heavier!! ).

Anyway, I've been trying to make sure I start feeding him on the right side each time so he's emptying that side and I've been pumping from that side inbetween too but I was wondering if thats the right way to go about upping the supply on that side or if there's something else I should do - or if I shouldn't even worry about trying to "even them out" so to speak?

The other question is about length of feeds (how longs a piece of string, I know!). Sometimes he seems to be done in about 10 minutes - is it possible he could get a full feed so quick when he's so little?

and also, today he seems to want to feed every 2 hours again, even though he'd been going more like 3. Surely we can't be on a growth spurt already? I've just been going with his cues and feeding him when he's making his hungry cry (he's got a typical Waaa Waaaa cry) but I'm worried that maybe I'm not eating enough or something so he's not getting as much goodness as he needs.

Many thanks in advance for any input ladies.

love

[Samuel's mum]

It all sounds great. You sound so in control! yay!

Oh yes, he could be on a growth spurt. Bang on target!!!

From kellymom.com

Common times for growth spurts are during the first few days at home and around 7-10 days, 2-3 weeks, 4-6 weeks, 3 months, 4 months, 6 months and 9 months (more or less). Babies don't read calendars, however, so your baby may do things differently.

You are doing the absolute right things with balancing out boobs:

Anyway, I've been trying to make sure I start feeding him on the right side each time so he's emptying that side and I've been pumping from that side inbetween too but I was wondering if thats the right way to go about upping the supply on that side or if there's something else I should do - or if I shouldn't even worry about trying to "even them out" so to speak?

All exactly right (eventually you can hopefully go back to starting on alternate sides)
You probably will find your supply always varies a little - very very common to have slightly different supplies in each boob.

If he is feeding efficiently with a great latch he could be feeding in that time. Try not to count minutes but instead go by wet nappies (@6 in 24 hours), for the next 2 weeks or so he should still be pooing 2+ times a day (then it can change quite dramatically and slow down). If he is finishing a feed and seeming satisfied and you've had some good swallowing then all sounds fine.

Marie - it all sounds fab - really.

Hopefully this growth spurt will be the 2- 3 day variety not the 5-6 day version (both possible). Good Luck.

[RachelC]

Marie - Just so you know, my Paige was an efficient eater from the beginning (less than 10 minutes) and I was panicked.... but found she gained 3 lbs in one month!

Jalyn isn't fond of my right side either.  I did find in the beginning if I used the football hold on the right, she latched and fed better (so she was in the same position on both sides, cradle on left, football on right, she just "slid" across me.... make sense at all?).  As she has grown, football got too hard and I just accepted that she fed better from the left.  We did really good single side feedings, except for growth spurts.  Then around 4/6 months, we could do single left, but if we started right, we had to finish left.... and at 12.5 months, it hasn't changed.

You sound like you are doing great! 

[Mariek]

Thanks Ladies.

I guess I just need someone to tell me I'm doing okay. No one in my family breastfed so I haven't really got anyone round close by to ask - I'm just sort of winging it with bits that I've picked up from here and from reading Kellymom and the La Leche book.

Rachel - I have found that he's better in the football hold when feeding on the right side. I wondered if it was to do with facing the same direction aswell. I guess they just like pointing one way!

I haven't had Ewan weighed yet but I'm hoping the midwife will weigh him when she comes on Wednesday so I'll at least know if he's gained some weigh (that will probably put my mind at rest some). He's certainly filling his nappy quotient - I think he's managed to put me off grain mustard for life (I'm only used to formula-fed poopies!!).

Thanks again ladies.

love

[RachelC]

 I think he's managed to put me off grain mustard for life

LOL!  Keep up the great work 

[Samuel's mum]

LOL mustard comment!
He may not have regained birth weight yet and that would be perfectly normal so don't put too much emphasis on the weight thing.

[yaya]

oohhh maire, ur doing so well! Congrats to you! Your making me VERY broody, enjoy it hun!

[kgmf123]

I guess I just need someone to tell me I'm doing okay. No one in my family breastfed so I haven't really got anyone round close by to ask - I'm just sort of winging it

He's certainly filling his nappy quotient - I think he's managed to put me off grain mustard for life (I'm only used to formula-fed poopies!!).

Marie - your post made me smile! I was exactly like you. FF my first LO, no one in my family bf and I decided to bf my dd. How hard could it be, I thought.  Geez I never realised how difficult it would be and boy how many growth spurts that they have. I never noticed them with my ff ds. How different are ff nappies to bf nappies       

Sounds like you are doing a teriffic job! I'm still bf my dd a year later so I guess it is possible to muddle through 

Kat x 

[rooby-rooby-roo]

You are ding a FAB job Marie...keep it up!!

[clh]

Terrific job, Marie!    So happy for you & lo!

[N Lou]

Marie, you're doing wonderful! I'm proud of you!

Don'tcha just love them nappies??  But the plus side is, though they look ooky, they don't smell as bad and may only get one every couple of days!! Bonus!
As you know, Amy-Lou has been a 10 minute feeder and she's on the 50th percentile now (she's 11lb 5oz ) and just this past few days she's started to take longer feeds, about 20 minutes.
She also was going 3 hours between feeds and then changed to 2 hourly after a week or so, i think its normal and at the end of the day you can't force them to eat more than there tummies can hold so just go with the flow, keep following his cues and you'll be fine!!
Well done Baby!!!