Dear Lactnetters

Two recent clients have been told to one side breastfeed.

One sided breastfeeding became a fad around l989 but was found to be
responsible for an increase in mastitis.

 The advice allow the baby to drain one side first and let the baby lead to
the second side to prevent 'colic ' and 'overfeeding'  (if that is what a
baby can do?) was well intentioned and does work.  I am sure Woolridge and
Fisher (l988) when they described their strategy to overcome colic never
intended that this method was a "forever" method.

However, women were not told to revert to two sided breastfeeding after the
baby settled during that day.  Many women were only feeding from one side.

Simply starting that the woman should allow the baby to finish the first
side before starting the second is probably not enough advice.

TWO USEFUL ARTICLES

Woolridge, M and Fisher C l988. Colic 'overfeeding' and symptoms of lactase
malabsorption in the breastfed baby: a possible artefact of feed
management.
LANCET l996.  382-384

Wooldridge M and Ingram J and Baum J l991.  Do changes in pattern of breast
usage alter the baby's nutrient intake?  LANCET 335 395-397