https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 18 May 2026 09:39:39 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-offer-both-breasts-each-feeding#post-1349914 Wed, 15 Jan 2014 13:29:27 +0000 MoonMoon 1349914@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Pirouette: that's too bad about all the different LCs with different info-frustrating!</p> <p>As PP have mentioned, you'd know if your baby was getting too much foremilk, because her poops would be green and frothy and she'd have noticeable gastrointestinal distress.</p> <p>Sounds like you're doing the right thing! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-offer-both-breasts-each-feeding#post-1348529 Wed, 15 Jan 2014 08:44:04 +0000 Pirouette 1348529@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JessKas: that's a relief!! Thanks :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-offer-both-breasts-each-feeding#post-1348258 Wed, 15 Jan 2014 01:58:42 +0000 lamariniere 1348258@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>With both of my babies I have only ever offered one breast per feeding. Your DD sounds like how my DS was, feeding every hour to 90 minutes. It sounds normal to me (if exhausting!). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-offer-both-breasts-each-feeding#post-1348061 Tue, 14 Jan 2014 23:00:51 +0000 sarac 1348061@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I offered one side from the start! If it works, do it, and don't worry about what people think. It sounds like your baby is nursing totally normally. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-offer-both-breasts-each-feeding#post-1348005 Tue, 14 Jan 2014 22:22:23 +0000 JessKas 1348005@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Pirouette: I went back to school when LO was 2.5 weeks and just could pump in longer intervals. I think as long as you pump every three-ish hours you will maintain your supply. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-offer-both-breasts-each-feeding#post-1347937 Tue, 14 Jan 2014 21:52:48 +0000 Pirouette 1347937@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Purpledaisy: thanks, this totally confirms how I feel about it! Sometimes even the doctor doesn't know best. I tried the past two days to mix in a few feedings where I offered both and she's been fussier and I think I'm getting a plugged duct! Back to my methods tomorrow!</p> <p>@PurplePeony: exactly! She's starting to do a 4+ hr stretch at night with 3-4 hr stretches mixed in, which is way more important to me than having longer stretches during the day! And if there's one thing I've learned so far, it's that there is no consensus among lcs haha!</p> <p>@JessKas: this makes me feel better! I do the exact same thing. Do you know around when she started to go a little longer? I'm just nervous about going back to work - I can't pump all day long! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-offer-both-breasts-each-feeding#post-1347310 Tue, 14 Jan 2014 18:01:56 +0000 JessKas 1347310@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When LO was 4 weeks she are every 1-2.5 hours. I also had (have) oversupply and a super strong let down and have only given her one side per feeding. Sometimes for two feedings in a row if she doesn't drain one. When I offered both it just led to a fore/hind milk imbalance. My mom would always comment about how I just gave her one side but I trusted my instincts and ignores her. LO now eats every 2.5-4 hours at 5 months. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-offer-both-breasts-each-feeding#post-1347249 Tue, 14 Jan 2014 17:37:42 +0000 Running Elley 1347249@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DD is almost 8 weeks old and I've always offered both! If she's too full to eat much from the second side she'll just unlatch! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-offer-both-breasts-each-feeding#post-1346998 Tue, 14 Jan 2014 16:28:21 +0000 PurplePeony 1346998@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>With the exception of my LO being almost 6 weeks and not IUGR, I could have written your post word-for-word. The LCs I've seen have all told me to switch breasts halfway through, but it doesn't work for us -- if I disrupt her while she's in the zone, she'll clam up and refuse to nurse any more, period. So I can't pop her off and put her on the other side like they recommend. Added to the oversupply issues, I've just taken to letting her nurse as much as she wants from one side, burping her, and then switching sides if she still seems to want more. Sometimes she refuses, sometimes she'll take a couple sips and be done, and a rarely she'll nurse the second side for awhile. My LO also spends most of the daylight hours attached to the boob, though fortunately she spaces her night feedings better. I also worry that I'm doing it wrong, but this is what she wants and she seems like a happy, thriving baby, so it can't be too bad, right? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-offer-both-breasts-each-feeding#post-1346964 Tue, 14 Jan 2014 16:17:17 +0000 mjane 1346964@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not that you are planning to deprive her--I just meant that it's an annoying critique and just power through! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-offer-both-breasts-each-feeding#post-1346958 Tue, 14 Jan 2014 16:16:17 +0000 mjane 1346958@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I did what you are doing exactly for the first few months. She ate all the time, but it made us both happier when I just relaxed about it, so I wouldn't worry. Now at almost 8 months she nurses from both sides, but she does still take a short break in between. She only got into that rhythm a couple of months ago. Trust yourself--sounds like you are doing great! Some babies just need to be on the boob all the time and people always give you crap for it, but it won't make anyone happier to deprive them! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-offer-both-breasts-each-feeding#post-1346256 Tue, 14 Jan 2014 13:46:04 +0000 Purpledaisy 1346256@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've block fed from the beginning due to over supply. I tried to start offering both around a month at the recommendation of our pediatrician but it just resulted in more oversupply discomfort and her having green frothy poop from having too much fore milk. Do what works for you. You know your body and baby best! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-offer-both-breasts-each-feeding#post-1346252 Tue, 14 Jan 2014 13:45:26 +0000 Greentea 1346252@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I always offer and she takes both! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-offer-both-breasts-each-feeding#post-1346155 Tue, 14 Jan 2014 13:19:44 +0000 Kemma 1346155@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Still a single boob feeder at fifteen months! LO was a major comfort nurser and happy chucker so I'd feed her one side then only feed her the other if she was still hungry 15-20 minutes later.</p> <p>And some babies are just frequent feeders and my LO still has 6-8 feeds a day at 15 months!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-offer-both-breasts-each-feeding#post-1346048 Tue, 14 Jan 2014 12:53:19 +0000 cyan 1346048@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My LO is 6 months old, and she has only ever eaten on one side (short of the rare growth spurt when she really seemed upset). She has always been a quick eater, too, so I used to worry that she wasn't getting enough. But she has gained just fine and she is thriving, so now I don't worry about it. One side is easier for me anyway (not having to worry about the logistics of switching!), so I roll with it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-offer-both-breasts-each-feeding#post-1345832 Tue, 14 Jan 2014 12:12:27 +0000 Pirouette 1345832@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MoonMoon: thank you! This is me exactly! And I totally agree, even experts don't agree though! I saw 4 different lcs in the hospital and got 4 conflicting opinions on my breastfeeding! </p> <p>@jetsa: this makes me feel a lot better! Also she's so small that I think she just needs to eat more often (same way they say smaller babies take longer to sttn because their stomachs are so small). So even though she's gaining almost 2 oz a day right now, it will still be a while before she catches up I think. </p> <p>I agree that I need to do what's best for me and not what others say...it's just frustrating when people keep telling me I'm wasting my days away feeding and it doesn't have to be that way... Like I'm doing something wrong. But everything ive ever read said you can't overfeed a bf baby, and she's definitely getting milk in every feeding! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-offer-both-breasts-each-feeding#post-1345814 Tue, 14 Jan 2014 12:09:02 +0000 lilteacherbee 1345814@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have an over active letdown as well and I usually just offer one. He seems to be healthy and satisfied. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-offer-both-breasts-each-feeding#post-1345742 Tue, 14 Jan 2014 11:55:12 +0000 BabyBoecksMom 1345742@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I only offered one at each feeding, and she got plenty of milk. She would cluster feed when she was going through a growth spurt, so I would switch to the other side each time she wanted to eat. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-offer-both-breasts-each-feeding#post-1345696 Tue, 14 Jan 2014 11:48:03 +0000 Mrs. Sunshine 1345696@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DD is 4 months &amp; I only offer one breast every feeding. She still eats every 2 to 3 hours...I'm not sure if that's normal but she seems satisfied after just one side. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-offer-both-breasts-each-feeding#post-1345682 Tue, 14 Jan 2014 11:45:15 +0000 yin 1345682@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I started out offering both but after two or three weeks switched to just one boob. I think it's more of an instinctual motherly decision, and it works for my LO. If he doesn't get enough, he will unlatch and show frustration. Then I will offer him both to satisfy his hunger. Half the times I offer both boobs, he will spit up a lot, indicating that he ate too much. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-offer-both-breasts-each-feeding#post-1345633 Tue, 14 Jan 2014 11:37:58 +0000 cmomma17 1345633@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I do offer both, and always have since day 1 (and that's because the LC in the hospital told me to). But I know plenty of moms who only offer one per feeding. </p> <p>Whatever works for you and your LO is fine! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-offer-both-breasts-each-feeding#post-1345515 Tue, 14 Jan 2014 11:16:48 +0000 Rockies11 1345515@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have only ever offered one, and LO is EBF at 6 months and it's been just fine. I had oversupply issues and a fast letdown too. I was worried that you're "supposed to" offer both and tried too, but it was horrible to watch, and I was getting plugged ducts etc., so I decided to just go with one and I haven't looked back since. She's also been a crazy milk fueled cluster feeder/slow/comfort nurser, and still is to some extent - and the paci never really worked to head that off either. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-offer-both-breasts-each-feeding#post-1345512 Tue, 14 Jan 2014 11:16:28 +0000 MrsA 1345512@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I still offer both and LO takes both. That said, I've never dealt with oversupply. To echo a pp, I read block feeding is good for oversupply to help even things out. Do what works for you and your LO! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-offer-both-breasts-each-feeding#post-1345487 Tue, 14 Jan 2014 11:12:39 +0000 jetsa 1345487@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Pirouette: I only offered one unless he seemed hungry after 15-20 minutes. As long as she seems content and has enough diapers it is fine. Jack ate every 60-90 minutes until he was 13/14 weeks. There isn't normal for a breastfed baby, it took me a long long time to realize this and it caused me a lot of anxiety. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-offer-both-breasts-each-feeding#post-1345459 Tue, 14 Jan 2014 11:05:59 +0000 MoonMoon 1345459@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would just add, when it comes to breastfeeding, go with your gut and expert opinions only! If I'd listened to people like my mom or tried to do what seemed to work for other people or the ”right” way to do it, I might have seriously threatened my milk supply or our nursing relationship! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-offer-both-breasts-each-feeding#post-1345447 Tue, 14 Jan 2014 11:03:08 +0000 MoonMoon 1345447@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think you're doing the right thing. I had major oversupply and the concept of block feeding saved my sanity! Not only did I only offer 1 side, sometimes I did the same side 2 or 3 feedings in a row. This helped even out my supply. I only started offering both sides recently, when baby was about 6 months old because he's bigger and drains the breasts much more effectively. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-offer-both-breasts-each-feeding#post-1345426 Tue, 14 Jan 2014 10:58:10 +0000 Pirouette 1345426@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MamaBehr: yea logistically it's so much easier to offer one! Unless she's burping during the feeding, I don't want to delatch her to switch!</p> <p>@Dandelion: yea that's my concern - I don't want to mess with my supply and we've gotten used to the one per feeding schedule!</p> <p>@erwoo: we've tried a pacifier on a few occasions and she'll take it for a few minutes but then gets upset because she seems to actually be hungry. So I'm not so sure it's comfort nursing. And she pulls off as soon as she's done eating - she's all business haha! I'm thinking her frequent eating is mostly due to her not wanting to nap during the day - if she naps, she will go 2-3 hrs but when she's awake she's always hungry! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-offer-both-breasts-each-feeding#post-1345314 Tue, 14 Jan 2014 10:31:40 +0000 lemondrop 1345314@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I did 15 minutes on each side in the early days then pumped for 15 min, tedious but it worked great for its. He ate every 2.5 hours or so. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-offer-both-breasts-each-feeding#post-1345302 Tue, 14 Jan 2014 10:29:03 +0000 mrsjyw 1345302@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DS always nursed on both sides aside from the first few weeks when he was a nb! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-you-offer-both-breasts-each-feeding#post-1345297 Tue, 14 Jan 2014 10:28:09 +0000 Smurfette 1345297@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I always offered both and she would nurse on both. I am not sure how much she was getting on both cause I never felt my letdown or heard her swallowing. I think R was a big comfort nursing. I always had to take her off or she would nurse all day. </p>