Breastfeeding: Can you use one breast per feed?
I'm a first time mom, nursing my six-week-old daughter and have found your columns very helpful in dealing with an oversupply problem. My baby is gaining weight well and seems very happy since we began staying with one breast for each feeding. I'm assuming I should stick with the one breast pattern. Is there any reason to resume using both at each feeding?
Question:Debbi Donovan
Debbi Donovan is a Board Certified Lactation Consultant, as well as a retired La Leche League Leader. For more than a decade, Debbi... Read more
It's great to hear that your baby is gaining weight normally and is happy now that you are offering one breast per feed.
Many moms with a very abundant milk supply have great success with this feeding method. (Using one breast per feed or per two to three hour period.) They often report seeing a decrease in fussiness, colic, gassiness, green stools and find their baby is once again happy at the breast.
When using one breast per feed, allow your baby to come off your breast on her own, relaxed and satisfied. Allowing your little one to control her feed will help to assure that she is getting just what she needs.
As long as breastfeeding is going well, there is no reason at all to return to nursing from both breasts at one feed. In fact, as babies get older they often begin nursing from one breast per feed all on their own.
My best wishes in mothering!
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