one sided eater only

[besjoux]

DS eats FAST and he only eats on one side. He is 5 weeks old. He probably only spends 5 minutes eating. When done I offer the other side and he won't take it. Even try a diaper change and try to offer the other side again...nothing. Will he take the other side after his 6 week GS? Should I pump the other side?

[Peek-a-boo]

I feed one sided (DS is 2.5 months) and pretty much always have.  Once in a while he'll have a growth spurt and eat from both sides for a day or two, but that increases my supply and he goes back to one sided feeding.  Sounds like you have an abundant supply and milk that flows quickly, so he gets all that he needs quickly.  In this case, single sided feeding--even the same side several feeds in a row--can help to reduce your oversupply so it matches baby's needs better. 

[anielasmommy]

i would start by offering one side for 5 mins then switching sides so he starts to take in more milk and nursing on both. just gradually increase the time and he should adjust.

[Martina Rae]

DS2 is exactly the same.  Don't worry, these babies know what they're doing.    I think I mentioned this on the BC thread, but I don't bother with pumping.  I would actually be worried that pumping would lead to oversupply with me.

[A pair of Charlies]

Single sided feeding is really common at this age. Some Mamas start off their nursing relationship by offering both sides at each feed from day 1. Lots don't. And that is completely normal.

What to focus on: plenty of wet and pooey nappies, happy content baby that is growing well. That will tell you whether she's taking enough.

Feeding 5 mins, offering the other side and pumping: right now, it sounds like your supply is great and is in sync with your baby's demand. Best to keep it that way. Feed on demand, single sided and if seems unsettled or still hungry after the feed, test your breast to check that it's finished (at this age you can 'feel' empty a bit more accurately) - if not empty, relatch on first breast; if empty, offer second breast.

Switching sides and pumping will increase your supply and I don't think you need to do that right now! It's a fine body balance between your body and his - and right now, it sounds bang on. Switching sides / pumping stimulates your body to produce more by mimicing the behaviour of a super hungry unsatisfied baby. As a pps noted, in this instance, it's more likely to lead to a milk inbalance: the watery milk runs faster / easier through the ducts than the fattier molecules so switching would give too much foremilk in comparison to hindmilk. And that can lead to a windy, gassy, unsettled baby unncessarily.

So when to start nursing from both sides? Leave that decision to you and your baby. As pps, some babes demand both breasts during GS in the early months and some babes just demand more frequent feeding. Typically, around the 4m GS the majority of babes (that we see on the boards here) move to double side feeding. Once their tummies are larger, they can take on more at each nursing session AND go longer between feeds - this seems the common time that they do both sides at each nursing session. Typically, babes who can't do 4h between feeds until closer to 6m don't move to double side until then too (perfectly normal - all tummies are different, and we Mamas produce difff amounts of milk too!). So take it at you and your LO's pace, following demand right now is the best thing for your babe and your supply.

Oh, and if it helps in a few months time when 4 EASY comes into play - I didn't move straight to both sides per feed, one after the other. DS took a break between breasts - about 15 / 20mins initially before I offered (and he wanted) the second breast. Probably lasted like that a week or so, then he took both (well 1 1/2 breast) at each nursing session. I always started the next feed on the last breast if unfinished to make sure he got the fattier milk - keeping the balance right.

HTH

Charlotte

[timmysmommy]

My lo is content after 1 side, but he would empty both if I offered.  Should I be offering both at this point?  He has enough wet and dirty dipes.  Maybe my nap troubles are related to eating???  He has been taking 45 min naps since he was 8 weeks.  I try to extend every day, but I am running out of patience!

[anielasmommy]

i would offer both at that age...although i dont think his wakings are from hunger. ((hugs))

[besjoux]

Charlotte, thank you so much for the information! Wow, I learned a ton. I had no idea that the fattier milk had larger molecules. I do tend to alternate breasts too though my right has more milk and he definetly likes the right better.

[shivi]

Oscar fed single sided till the 4 mth GS and then at the 6 mth GS he started looking for the third side LOL so I intro'd solids!!!

Emma was a double sided much hungrier but also lazier feeder from day one and regularly had three sides IYKWIM from around the 3 mth GS.....

S x