Trish queried:
I'm wondering what everyone thinks about this advice - offer both breasts
at each feeding? I think this may be outdated information knowing what we
know about hindmilk now.
But I frequently encounter women given this advice. Am I wrong? I just
tell them to put the baby on their breast and let it nurse as long as it wants
to. When he comes off on his own, burp him and if he's done it's fine. If
the baby seems to want more, put him on the other side. Opinions?
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Good question, Trish. The number of babies that have come into my office
with low weight gain and mom's low supply is legion -- and the advice many
have been given (starting with The Baby Whisperer) is to nurse on one side
only per feeding. And, by the way, this is the advice that my mother was
given in 1946 -- one side only, preferably on a 4 hour schedule.
A couple of things to think about: Breast stimulation -- breasts NEED
that stimulation -- in Chicago we vote early and vote often. We need to be
telling moms to breastfeed early and breastfeed often -- both for stimulation
for adequate milk production as well as baby getting enough.
I was able to explain to my own mom why she didn't have enough milk. It
was the schedule AND the advice to nurse only on one side. Not enough
breast stimulation.
The hind milk issue will take care of itself. Let babies do what they
normally do. Breastfeed using breast compressions to stimulate him to
continue nutritive sucking. When he is done breastFEEDING on that side, not
responding to compressions, take him off and offer the second side. If he
doesn't want it -- then don't worry about it. A lot of babies stop FEEDING and
close their eyes, but will continue "nursing" but not transferring any
milk. Always offer the second side. Teach the mothers the difference between
FEEDING (or drinking, as Jack N refers to it) and just hanging out.
If a mom has oversupply, one breast per feeding is good. If she has
undersupply, then do switch nursing -- right, left, right, left. Sometimes
babies will do right, left, right -- and then are satiated. That's how we get
one breast, two breasts, three breasts, four....
Jan Barger, RN, MA, IBCLC, FILCA
_www.lactationeducationconsultants.com_
(http://www.lactationeducationconsultants.com)
Wheaton IL
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