[Missa]

hi there,
from what i have read and heard they say to feed bubs from one breast until they pull themselves off and always offer the other breast..otherwise u can get breast problems (mastitis etc...)
i do this but sometimes find that ds stays on the first breast forever sucking.....do u keep them going? or do u take them off? and if so how long until they say a breast is fully drained?
thanx
mel

[tinyweehen]

For me, I find DD will actually pull off herself when the milk slows down to the point where one side is 'empty' (it never really actually empties - just gets a lot slower and less full - you can still squeeze some out at the end, and that is normal)

If she starts to fuss because the milk slows and I think she needs more I will put her on the other side.

I guess what they mean when they warn about it causing mastitis is leaving a lot of milk in there to the point where it is engorged (full, and with hard, lumpy bits that will become sore if you don't lose some milk by feeding or expressing). If you don't relieve it when it is like that you can get blocked ducts that are like hard, sore lumps.

At least, that is how I ended up getting it both times.

HTH

[nicola13]

My DS also would stay on one boob and keep sucking if I just left him. I too don't know if I should let him keep going on that boob or swap. I'm interested to see what others say..

Nicholas - born 10 wks prem but doing great!

[TheFruitcake]

Hey there, my dd is now eleven months old and she has only ever fed one side at a time. She would be so full after the first side there is no way she could have fit any more milk in LOL! We have never had any problems with mastitis, and my health nurse is more than happy with her growth etc etc. So I suppose it is whatever works for you.

[gumnut]

Later it becomes obvious when the breast is empty (it just feels 'floppy'); but earlier I would feed until I thought it was empty (I don't know...five or ten minutes of good strong feeding? must be different for everyone/every baby!) and then swap. Baby will stay on sucking empty breasts, you are right. Then you start from the second breast next time and empty that one first and swap again. Some people keep a safety pin in their bra on the side they last fed on to remind them (amazing how you forget!).
HTH
cheers,
Michele

[gilmop]

Hi Missa,

I have been wondering the exact same things that you have asked about. Been winging it so far! lol

Anyway, to start with I was feeding DS2 half a feed on each, until someone said that he could have been waking lots due to not getting enough hindmilk to fill him up, so I went to feeding just one side per feed. The last couple of days he has actually been staying awake longer during a feed and just keeps sucking and sucking and eventually starts to get sh*tty with it (growls and tries to pull off without actually letting go of the nipple - ouch!) So I am guessing that means that that side is empty and put him on the other one.

Hope this helps


Gillian<BR>DH Nigel<BR>DS Cameron Andrew born 01/02/02<BR>DS Matthew Ellis born 29/05/05
<a href="http://lilypie.com"><img src="http://lilypie.com/baby1/060529/0/15/4/+12" alt="Lilypie Baby Ticker" border="0" /></a>

[tinyweehen]

I was told another sign you are getting 'empty' can be when they do those little 'feathery' sucks - you can tell they are not really getting milk, they are just tickling your nipple really!

I offer the other side when she starts doing this and if she wants more she will gulp away, otherwise it's end of feed time

HTH

[Missa]

thanx for all your responses....its great hearing what other mums do...its just confusing at times as u hear u should do different things and u dont know what is best....i guess thats what being a new mum is all about....a learning experience...lol

[miss_moe]

I am another 'just winging it mum'. My DD is nearly 7weeks and 90% of the time I have been feeding off one breast. There was a while were in the afternoon and early evenings I had to put her on the other boob as the original was very floppy and her sucking had become shallow and light (geez does that make sense). But its back onto one at the moment ... supply and demand caught up.

Renee.

[TigerLilly]

My little one feeds on both at every feed. About 15 mins on one, burp, change nappy then she's has the other side and she pulls off when she's had enough, usually after about 10 mins.