Nursing on one side

[hannahhall]

Hi,

My eight-week-old typically only nurses 5 to 10 minutes on one side during each feeding. Often, I will pump the other breast afterwards, but I wonder if this is necessary. I don't seem to have any trouble with my milk supply but I worry that not pumping the other breast will mess that up. At what point, if any, will my supply be established well enough to not have to worry about this?

Thank you,
*Hannah

[lolabear]

my ds is 4 months old and has never nursed both sides and i make enough milk to have twins! you shouldnt have to worry that your supply will go down. are you stashing the milk? or is he eating it now? but if you are going back to work someday its not a bad idea to have a stash built up and know your body responds well to the pump and you are comfortable pumping. even if not, you have some milk so you can go somewhere without your baby someday if you need to :)

[Luvmyfam]

Hi- my daughter did the same thing. She would nurse on one side for about 5 minutes and be done. I found that when she got a little older (6 months) she began to nurse on both sides during each feeding, I think because she was nursing a little less often. I never had a problem with supply. I don't think you need to pump the other side unless you need the milk for going back to work or for some other reason. The woman's body is so dang smart and it will regulate itself :) Good luck!

[rrupp76]

My 9 week old does the same-he nurses on one side only usually for no more than 5-10 minutes. At his 2 month appt he was 13.5lbs and in the 75th percentile for weight so he is growing well. He also gives me two long stretches at night. My first little boy used to nurse for 45 minutes and on both sides every 2 hrs and never slept at night. I have relied much moreon baby cues and instinct this time around and rarely watch the clock and its amazing how my body just knows how to adjust based upon the babies needs. Trust your body,no need to pump unless you need a supply stashed :)

[Stephanie]

I would stop worrying about it now. If you are uncomfortable, pump just enough to feel comfortable again.

I will add, if you are returning to work, pumping the other side a few times a day isn't a bad idea. It will help you put some milk in the freezer.

[Nipple_nectar]

I agree with the others: in 1985 when I BF my firstborn, they instructed you from the hospital to only use one breast per session and I never had supply problems:)

[KatieLou]

Ds nursed on one side only from about 3 months on. I have never had any supply issues with him at all. Every once and a while now (at 21 months) he will nurse on both sides, but never as a young babe.

I did pump the other side for a couple months, but then I ended up with a frezzer full of EBM that nver got used.