In a message dated 4/13/01 10:23:33 PM Central Daylight Time, [log in to unmask] writes: > Is the recommendation to feed on one side for twelve hours? > I am working with a mother with a week-old baby who has been told to > pump (not hand-express) first, every feed, and then feed on one side for > twelve hours because of suspected foremilk / hindmilk imbalance and > overactive letdown. Weight is o.k. Her baby is, as you might expect, > colicky and not sleeping a lot, and she is getting tired. I would have > said hand-expression and then four or five hours per side so as not to > endanger supply. Any thoughts? Is a pump really necessary? > Jo-Anne > In all my years I've seen three hours on a side straighten out true hindmilk/foremilk imbalance typically within 24 - 48 hrs.......often closer to 24. Keeping a Mom to 12 hrs. on a side has the potential of dramatically limiting supply. Even with using a pump on the other side it would not be adequate stimulation like the suckling babe. With overactive letdown in the picture I "might" consider a pump, but prefer letting the baby get the letdown and having Mom leak initially or assist slightly with hand expression into a cloth diaper and then relatch baby when it slows a bit. That alone may be enough to balance out the hindmilk/foremilk.....which I consider to be almost overdiagnosed. Adding a pump into the mix this early and along with everything else could create as many problems as it might potentially help. Cheryl Taylor White *********************************************** The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM) mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html