I just had my second child, with my first I nursed him on both sides at each feeding without any problem. With my second I did the same at first but now she seems to fill up with just one side, leaving the other full (and painful!) I've tried taking her off the first side and putting her to the other but it seems once she is done with the first side she doesn't want the second, even when I cut her off about halfway through a normal feeding time. I've heard of people only nursing on one side and switching to the other with each feeding, which is what I've been doing the past couple days. Has anyone else successfully done this without one side constantly letting down at each nursing? I feel like I am sooo full on one side by the time a feeding comes, will my body adjust to this? Any advice? Thoughts? Thanks!
It's better to drain one breast completely rather than switching half way through. You want the baby to get the hind milk, the milk in the back with the higher fat content and the stuff she needs to grow and be healthy. If your switching to often she won't receive that and she'll also have frothy watery stools. Congrats!
It will take a little bit of time for your body to adjust, and don't pump to relief yourself or it will just take longer for the adjustment.
I nursed my first that way and I nurse my second one this way as well. In the morning I'm full on one side because he sleeps through the night so I pump one side in the morning but other than that it's not bad to adjust to.
Yup it will adjust! My kids did the same thing. Most of the time I only nursed one side, then the next feeding I did the other side. Eventaully he or she will probably want both sides.
Good Luck!
M.
Working From home and loving it!
My daughter only took one side at a time (unless she was in a growth spurt). You body will adjust in a few days...then you just have to be able to remember in the middle of the night which side is next :)
By my third it didn't even bother with the 2nd side, i only nursed on 1 side. i did however manually express (or pump a little) the 2nd side to not get engorged and shortly it quits producing much as your body senses that it doesn't need much on that side. It is great to have spare milk in the freezer though because there does come a time that you need it, if not for a bottle, to use to mix rice cereal or oatmeal with.
Your body will adjust. Until then, wear nursing pads in your bra to prevent having a wet shirt. Both my girls would only nurse on one side at a time. Sometimes I would pump the full breast if it got too uncomfortable.
My son only nursed one side at a time (from day one I think!) When I tried to do it the way "they" said it was "supposed" to be done, it never worked. 5 mins, one side, was his limit, seems like.
Anyway, to help with the letdown on the other side, take your arm and squeeze it over your other breast until it is "turned off" so to speak. I often did the "nursing mom hug" (also done when the AC is on full blast and your bra's too thin!)
Yes, your body will adjust. My kids always did like one side more then the other. I felt lop-sided most of the time, actually close to the end of feeding my now 4 1/2 yr old he would only nurse on the right side - would have nothing to do with the left at all. But he got enough out of the right, so it really didn't matter other then that side being bigger then the other all the time.
If you are in pain - you can pump or discharge some of the milk to make you more comfertable. But it shouldn't take that long for your body to readjust to your baby's needs.
Good luck & congratz on the baby!
Your "ladies" should adjust to this soon. My son was primarily a "one boob man", occasionally eating from both but usually just a sip or two from the second.
It took awhile for my breasts to figure out, hey we don't need to let down on both sides and spurt like leaky faucets! :)
Until your body gets used to it, make sure you have a washcloth or something to soak up the milk if you leak from the side that isn't being used.
Congrats! :)
I nursed my first 2 on both sides at every feeding but this 3rd baby didnt want to do it that way. He still only nurses on one side at a time, the milk on the other side still lets down but thats what the nursing pad is for. My boobs adjusted to only one side at a time.
