This certainly is happening quite a lot around here also.   Sometimes it's
just because a mother with a big natural supply is still faithfully
switching sides at every nursing as she learned to do in the hospital,
unaware that this could cause any problems.  The "both sides" rule is great
for women with small supplies and was probably really crucial when feedings
were scheduled at 3-4 hour intervals, but how necessary is it as a rule for
all mothers, now that they're trying to nurse on cue?  I know they don't
actually do so (around here, "cue" still means "howl") but they are
definitely nursing a lot more often than 6-8 times in 24 hours.
I want to improve breastfeeding persistence around here and right now I
feel as if teaching moms to be flexible about what breast they offer when,
and making sure they understand the notion and signs of oversupply as well
as undersupply, would be a huge step.  When your baby fusses and does
"diarrhea" 12x/day on your milk, while your friend's baby on formula sleeps
all night and is quiet and happy, what's a mom to think?
Sometimes I have to wonder if it's also because so many moms think that
pumping is a necessary part of breastfeeding even in the first month, often
weeks before they return to work.  I think they're boosting their supply
too far, just as with nursing both sides all the time.  I'd sort of like to
say that the pump is to the breast as bottles are to the baby: can be
confusing, best to avoid it till breastfeeding is well established and has
been on an even keel for at least a few weeks.
Elise

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