I am breast feeding my newborn. What i do is I usually do one breast each feeding switching each time. Like left then right...duh. Well should I be doing each breast in one feeding like 15 one side and 15 on the other or what
2007-03-07 06:59:53 · 10 answers · asked by Shawny J 1 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
do one breast till the baby is done. Offer the other breast. Then the next feeding, start with the second breast. You might think the baby is "done" but she/he may have emptied one breast, so always offer the other breast even if you think he/she is done.
2007-03-07 07:09:29 · answer #1 · answered by happymommy 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I did exactly as you're describing, left breast one feeding, right breast the next. That is the best way to ensure your baby is getting all the good milk. The first milk, foremilk, is watery. The hindmilk comes in after the letdown and is much richer, has more of the nutrients your baby needs to thrive. By letting your baby spend an entire nursing session on one breast, you're ensuring that your newborn gets a good mixture of both the foremilk and the hindmilk.
If my daughter seemed like she was "done" or my breast seemed like it was "empty", then I would offer her the other side. I would still start with that other side first the next feeding.
If you were to nurse 15 minutes on one side and 15 on the other, your baby would just be filling up on the watery foremilk.
Just make sure you remember which side you nursed from last.
If you find that you are getting "too full" in the side you did not nurse from, you could pump your milk to freeze it to start up a supply in case you may need a supply of expressed milk for future use.
The best piece of advice I got when I started breastfeeding my daugher, was "Don't watch the clock!!!"
A great website for breastfeeding mothers is: http://www.kellymom.com/
Good luck and Congratulations on your decision to breastfeed!!!
2007-03-07 07:15:53 · answer #2 · answered by CPS Fanatic 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes you need to do both at one feeding time. You need to do about 10 minutes on the first breast then switch him to the 2nd breast. Next feeding time start him off with the 2nd breast and let him nurse from it first and then go back to the 1st one that you started with. HINT: IF you have a hard time remembering which one was last (it gets a little confusing when you have so much going on with a new baby!) you can take a small safety pin and pin it to your bra strap of the last side you were feeding on.
Hope this helps!
2007-03-07 07:08:33 · answer #3 · answered by Kimnkicks mommy 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes, you should start on one breast and feed for about 10 minutes and then switch to the other breast until the baby is done. It might be 5 minutes or 10, it doesn't matter. At the next feeding start with the breast you finished with at the last feeding. By feeding with both breasts at each feeding and alternating the starting breast (left or right) at each feeding will help keep your milk production established and keep you from engorging your breasts.
If you ever have any questions, you should contact the hospital where you delivered to see if they have a lactation specialist on staff. I took a breastfeeding class at my hospital and they were there to answer any questions I had about it. Also, it might be a good idea to take a class. I took one before I delivered which helped me, but I had more questions when the time came to actually do it.
2007-03-07 07:11:22 · answer #4 · answered by Melissa B 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Depends on how much your baby wants. I usually do 15 min on one side and then offer the other side. Sometimes she takes it sometimes she won't. If is your baby properly latched on she/he should get the most milk in first 10 min (on each side). I write a journal where I write every feeding, at what time how many minutes on which side etc I also keep track of when I change her diapers and what color was the stool and so on .. that way I know if she is getting enough food and sleep and I can also show my pediatrician what I was doing in case she won't gain enough weight.
Just trust your instincts and if you're not sure call the doc.
2007-03-07 07:09:46 · answer #5 · answered by Confused 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree with mommy2ja...feed on one side completely and then offer side two. If you don't fully empty your breasts you run a higher risk for plugged ducts and mastitis (a breast infection). I also believe that watching the clock is not the best way to go. If you nurse for 15 minutes on one side, and your baby is still happily eating, do you really want to pull them off? Let the baby nurse on side 1 until they are finished, burp them, and offer side 2. Next feeding switch-side 2, burp, side 1.
2007-03-07 07:48:11 · answer #6 · answered by n2mama 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like you're doing it right! I never watched the clock, I waited until my milk had stopped flowing (when your breast goes from full to soft and squishy), then I'd switch if he was still hungry, then I'd nurse on that side until the same thing happened or he stopped nursing. If he was still hungry, then I'd nurse on the other side again.
Kudos to you for nursing! It's such a wonderful experiance. It's hard at first, but it gets easier I promise!
2007-03-07 08:54:25 · answer #7 · answered by April 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Do what comes natural to you. I swicthed to doing both breasts per feeding and i ended up with an over supply and over active letdown by 6 weeks. (whats the cure for that? nursing only one side per feed!)
If its not broke, dont fix it!
2007-03-07 07:31:06 · answer #8 · answered by Mommy to David 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
u r doing the correct procedure one left and one right at a time
2007-03-08 18:13:48 · answer #9 · answered by jags 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
i think you should give your baby both that can really help you stablish a good milk supply especially the first six week
2007-03-07 07:06:01 · answer #10 · answered by user 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋