In a message dated Sat, 14 Apr 2001 20:10:14 EDT, Lynn Shea <[log in to unmask]>
writes:
> recent posts have discussed the advisement
> of one sided feeds for suspected fore/hind milk imbalance but few have
> mentioned milk supply amts in the equation and this confuses me. I can't
>

The other time you might see it is in a mother who "switches sides" after
some prescribed length of time on the first side, rather than following
baby's cues.  At one point in recent history, the advice was to nurse a
certain number of minutes on the first side, then switch to the other side so
baby would get both at each feeding.  I think this method of breastfeeding
can lead to imbalance -- or baby being fussy -- or other various problems
whatever you want to call it.  I don't think that the mother would
necessarily have oversupply to have this cause difficulties for her baby.  I
even wonder if always trying to nurse both sides could contribute to
oversupply for some mothers.
It surprises me that I still hear some mothers say "everything I read says
you have to make sure to nurse both sides each feeding."  I'm not sure what
they're reading, but what I usually say is that the current thinking is that
baby knows when he/she's had enough -- let him/her nurse until done on the
first side -- then if he/she wants more it's fine to offer the other side.  I
think that in typical situations, there's no harm in offering the second side
if baby is hungry after the first side.
Lori Salisbury, RN, IBCLC
hospital based LC in Washington State

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