Val writes:

>I am wanting to clarify some infomation.  Have a mum who has been told by an
>LC to feed her baby on one breast, empty that completely and then offer the
>other. This I am OK with of course.


Except you can't 'completely' empty the breast...it's another case of
watch the baby and gradually learn to respond to when it feels right
to both of you to offer the other side. Some babies don't want it all
the time. That's ok.

>  BUT, she was then told that should the
>baby want a feed say an hour later, to feed the baby from the breast that
>was initially offered if the baby had not taken the other side that was
>offered.  (sounds very complicated but I am sure you know what I am on
>about).


Er, I don't!  You mean baby feeds from breast A, offered breast B,
refuses breast B, wants to feed an hour later, offered breast A again?


If this is what is being said, then it could mean that breast B
remains' untouched' for a while, and this might mean unequal supply
and discomfort for the mother. So it's a good, practical notion to
offer side B which was refused before.  But it could be no big deal,
if the mother goes with the flow - ie if she does what the baby seems
to want. What I really dislike are these *rules* about bf.....

However, I can't see the rationale for *not* offering breast B, as if
it was a bad thing to do.

I don't think it matters if it was an hour or two hours or half an
hour or whatever - that's just that pesky clock watching again.

Heather Welford Neil
NCT bfc Newcastle upon Tyne UK

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