Breastfeeding help please

[Lorrymac]

Hi,

My baby is a week old today and i'm breastfeeding. I've had a lot of help from my mum which has enabled me to be quite successful so far. However her advice conflicts with the advice from my midwife and I could do with some other opinions.... My midwife says to feed from a breast each feed, however my mum said that she fed from each breast at each feed. My midwife has said that the reason you keep to the same breast is because for the 1st few minutes of a feed the baby is just getting a milky drink and she needs to stay on to get the hind milk. However, my mum said that she used to feed from one for 5 minutes, then onto the other. I guess there are multiple opinions on this but I thought it was worth an ask. Thanks in advance, Lorraine

[Psychick]

Hi lorry, how are things going with the little one?

When I was breastfeeding, I would feed from one side and the next feed, feed from the other side. I did end up feeding from both sides each feed and I would start from a different side each feed. So I would start on the left and finish on the right with one feed, and alternate it the next feed.

There is probably a conflict in their advise is because things are changing all the time and so much would have changed since your mum had you. But that doesnt mean you shouldnt take note of any advice your mum offers. I like take on board as many opinions and tips as I can get and take what I need from them.

[annie0000]

I always fed on one side until it was "empty" and then swapped to the other if the baby was still hungry, then at the next feed start on the opposite side. Once breastfeeding is established, you can pretty much tell by the feeling of your breast whether it has been emptied.

Hope it all goes well for you.

[daffy654]

I breast fed my son for 2 years.I fed him from both breasts at each feed.That was the advice I was given at the time by my midwife who was also a family friend.

[natalie_1982]

Hey Lorry, hope you're getting on ok.

I went to a breastfeeding clinic a few weeks ago and they advised to feed from one breast until "empty" so as to get the hindmilk, the lasy there said that baby would begin suckling differently then too so you might think that she is losing interest but the sucks are shorter and more "butterfly" like than when she intially starts feeding. If she is still hungry then put her to the other breast, otherwise use the other breast at the next feed.

Obviously, I'm not breastfeeding yet so am only passing on what I've been told and not personal experience! Well done though for managing it so far x

[yogasun]

It was a long time ago but I used to do as daffy did for both my boys. I had lots of milk and once tried doing it on one side for one feed and ended up with one floppy boob and one big, heavily engorged, veiny leaky boob, so soon abandoned that lark and swopped about a bit.!!

[mrs_overall]

When I breastfed my babies I used one breast at each feed. Babies need the foremilk as a thirst quencher and the hindmilk as a food.
My other breast used to leak like mad when I was feeding, so I would have a baby on one breast and the other breast dangled over a sterilised bowl. I would then transfer the leaked milk into a bag and freeze it.

Congratulations on your baby and well done for persevering with breast feeding!

[poohshunny]

I fed from one side per feed. A tip I was given was to put a safety pin on your bra strap and when finished feeding swap it to the other side so you know which side is next. Might sound a bit silly, but I was forever forgetting what side I had used! Congrats on you bundle of joy and well done for breastfeeding.

[banjosister]

Hey Lorrymac,

I did as psychick did. Both sides each feed. My children both seemed to dislike the left breast so I would lay them on the opposite side and curl them around my back - it worked!

As Psychick says things change all the time. There are seven years between my two and things had changed so much between the two. I would suggest asking another proffesional for advice and ask why views seem to have changed.

Enjoy your baby and I hope all goes well for you.

BB xx

[meltoadhall]

in a few days you will change to your health visitor, they are usually pretty good with breast advice, personally with all mine i would start with one boob and then move to the other when it felt empty, otherwise i was very lopsided and desperate for babe to feed again lol

i used a saftey pin too to to remind me if i forgot which side to use.

good luck and well done.

[warpig3]

Hi lorrymac hope all is well.

Sorry dont have time to read everyones replies but one midwife told me to alternate breast at each feed and another told me to use both at a feed (5-10 mins on each breast), both midwifes worked at the same hospital so take your pick. So long as baby is fed and happy that is what is important.

[mycats]

I just fed from one breast at one feed, then the other next time