Breastfeeding moms, Do you switch sides every time you breastfeed?

Question

My daughter usually only takes one breast and then is done. The next time I go to feed her, I sometimes forget which side to give her. Could this be a problem? She's 8 months.

Answer 1

There's really no reason to switch sides.  In fact, it's better if you don't.  That way the baby gets as much of the fatty hind milk as possible.

You're not going to cause a problem at all.

Answer 2

I like the wristband idea to remember which breast is next ... then you won't have to worry about being 'lopsided' as someone else mentioned. I just wanted to add that the longer a baby spends on each side, the better nutrients she's getting. Usually the milk she drinks during the first few minutes is lower in nutrients, until she settles into the feeding and regulates, at which point she's getting milk from deeper within and therefore with more nutrients.

I mention this just so you don't decide to try cutting her off one breast half-way through and switching to the other. The way you're doing it now is fine!

Answer 3

it is wonderful you can breast feeding her!!!! Great, I congrats!

About Your question: I don't think so... I guess It's not problem. (my daughter is 29yrs)

Answer 4

i try to, but i forget most of the time.

No problem.

God Bless

Answer 5

at 8 months I wouldn't worry too bad, your milk supply should be established.  Try and remember so you still get equal milk to each side so your b***s stay about the same size!  That would be your only real concern at this stage of the game!  

Answer 6

well after you ween her you might end up being a bit lopsided.. its what happens to me. my son favored one breast over the other and now my right one hangs a bit lower..... haha

Answer 7

I rarely switch sides. If it is a long time before the next feeding, I can usually tell which breast I should use because it is fuller, but I am not too concerned about making sure I rotate back-and-forth.

I suppose you could run into a problem where the baby has a foremilk/hindmilk imbalance, but I personally think that is probably unlikely. At any rate, it has never been an issue with any of my babies.

On a sidenote, in the first few weeks after my first baby was born, I was so obsessed with making sure that the baby nursed from "this side" for "this long" etc.... But I eventually relaxed about it. Now, I just figure that as long as baby is growing properly and acting content, we are doing fine.

Answer 8

It poses a problem because your milk starts to build up on one side. I try to keep up with which I gave first, because if you don't, the other breast gets built up and it starts to hurt. You have to hurry and express your milk before it starts to voluntarily leak out. Then we've got another mess. So if you can start putting post it notes on which one you did, or maybe set up a chart and mark it so you can easily switch up without forgetting. It's not a big deal, but it will be once that breast starts to get to full.

Answer 9

If it's a problem, your b*****s will let you know.

I could never remember what side I was on.  I used to switch my wedding ring from hand to hand to help me remember.

Answer 10

Doesn't sound like a problem to me.  I only use one breast a feed too, sometimes I forget which side is next and just feel to see which is fuller.  Or you could wear a hair tie on your wrist to remember to use that side next - I used to do this but would forget to switch the hair tie to my other wrist anyways, defeating the purpose.

Answer 11

If she's just nursing on one side, the next time she needs to nurse, one side should feel fuller. If you have a hard time remembering, I like to switch my bracelet from one wrist to the other. I switch it before nursing, and then I don't have to think about it.

Answer 12

if she is gaining well and happy and you aren't uncomfortable, it doesn't matter at all.  your body will make what it needs to make and it will adjust to her habits.

Answer 13

You should feed her both the sides otherwise you may develop lumps. Even I had the same problem so I started wearing a wrist band and would wear it on the side where I need to nurse the baby next time. Good luck

Answer 14

It's only a real problem if it causes engorgement of your b*****s and clogged ducts.  It's actually good for the baby to completely empty one breast at a time, this way she gets the hind milk.  

A trick I used to do:  I would wear a band around my wrist.  Every time I would finish a feeding, I would put the band on the wrist on the side I just finsihed.  This way I knew to use the other side next time.  This came in handy for those middle-of-the-night feedings.