When is the first breast empty ????

**Heids** · 22-10-2005 08:08

Hi,

All I hear is everyone say make sure you finish off the first breast before you begin on the second........ well how do you know if its empty or not ????

My son gets wind quiet a lot of it due to oversupply so he is offered gagging or choking in the first few mins, so is on off on off the boob quiet frequently...... he then takes the first boob for 10/12mins some feeds; and then is quiet content so I give him burps and a nappy change and then on to the next boob for about the same time.

I find when my boobs aren't as full he will stay on the first boob for about 20/25mins and then I follow the same procedure and onto the next boob for about 5/10 mins.

I can't find anything on the web so any advice would be great.

Heids

**Funkychicken** · 22-10-2005 08:40

Hi Heids,
I always found it depended on how big of a feeder the baby is. If baby is a big feeder it might take longer to empty the first one as the amount you produce is high and vice versa for a smaller feeder. This may be TMI but I used to kind of pick up my boob and drop it to see how full it was feeling. If it felt floppy I would swap sides. Generally when baby stopped pigging out and seemed ready for burping etc... I would switch sides. This time varied. The younger the baby the less time it seemed to be at the boob. I also had one 'piggy' feeder and one that nibbled and was never exceptionally hungry so I produced two differnet amounts of milk. Hope this isn't too confusing,
Sal-counting down in single weeks now!

**Heids** · 22-10-2005 08:44

Originally Posted by SalOO8

Hi Heids,
I always found it depended on how big of a feeder the baby is. If baby is a big feeder it might take longer to empty the first one as the amount you produce is high and vice versa for a smaller feeder. This may be TMI but I used to kind of pick up my boob and drop it to see how full it was feeling. If it felt floppy I would swap sides. Generally when baby stopped pigging out and seemed ready for burping etc... I would switch sides. This time varied. The younger the baby the less time it seemed to be at the boob. I also had one 'piggy' feeder and one that nibbled and was never exceptionally hungry so I produced two differnet amounts of milk. Hope this isn't too confusing,
Sal-counting down in single weeks now!

Thx Sal... My bub is six weeks old !

**nemosmum** · 22-10-2005 10:38

Yeah Im with Sal, I would usually go by how full my breast felt also I found DS wouldnt take it if it was empty, he'd start crying and refuse to latch on.

Its tricky to get the hang of it but you just have to trial things and see how they go. It sounds like your doing an excellent job of bf so far so congratulations

**Aprilsmum** · 22-10-2005 11:10

Hi,

"All I hear is everyone say make sure you finish off the first breast before you begin on the second........ well how do you know if its empty or not ????"

My Lactation consultant taught me to watch while my DD was feeding. I learnt to watch the way she sucked and swallowed when she first latched on. Then after a while (the time varies depending on what time of day it is) she would have one swallow per six sucks as opposed to when she first latches on and takes one swallow per one suck (I hope this is making sense!). When she is doing this (one swallow per six sucks) then that breast is empty and so I take her off and put her onto the other side .

"I find when my boobs aren't as full he will stay on the first boob for about 20/25mins and then I follow the same procedure and onto the next boob for about 5/10 mins."

Your bub could be trying to build up your supply or when my DD does this I always enjoy it because we have some more "relax" time together

.

Just some suggestions. Hope you both work things out soon.

**charlyrose** · 23-10-2005 13:20

thanks for the thread! as i have been trying to gather some BF info before bub gets here!

but to aprilsmum : thats some pretty neat advice!, and i will definately have to remember that one!!

Charlize

**Heids** · 24-10-2005 07:36

Thankyou ever so much AprilsMum ( lovely name

)..... your information is so informative and helpful !

How long does it take you to feed your bub on either side... I got some Infacol yesterday as his wind was just out of control from Mon to Fri and on Sat the Infantsfriend was not working as he was acting a very colicky - I was feeding maybe 10 mins on the first boob with breaks for burps/coughing/choking; then about a half an hour burping session before he took the next boob for about 5 mins. Since starting Infacol his feeds have been around the same amount of time with little burping time as they come straight up with no squirming or crying at all. Do you think he would be getting enough milk ???? This is such a quick and delightful feed

I can tell you the difference between Sat and Sun are unbelievable he was smiling and playing all night last thanks to no wind or tummy pains.

I still haven't got the knack of counting his sucks but today I'm going to give it another go today

Hugs Heids

**Aprilsmum** · 24-10-2005 15:54

Hi Heids,

I glad to hear that you've found my experience to be helpful. I'm just passing on advice that was given to me - and that actually worked.

When April was 6 weeks old she would feed any where from 10 - 20 mins on each side. Or sometimes she would just take 20 mins on one side and that was all she wanted. Looking back now I can see that she usually took one side only in the mornings, and then by late afternoon and evening, she would need both sides. This was probably because my supply was a little lower.

I suppose the only way to know if your bub is getting enough is to make sure that you are getting enough wet nappies and poos throughout the day, and that he is putting on weight.

I found the first 12 weeks to be the hardest so don't worry, it gets sooo much easier. I really feel for you "colicy mums". April never suffered reflux or colic but my friends baby did, and I just don't know how she ever coped. If you would like the name of my Lactation consultant, just let me know. She worked wonders for me and she will travel all around Brisbane to her clients.

I really hope that the two of you find some relief in the very near future.

Happy counting,
Bess

**mimi** · 27-10-2005 06:42

It seems you have been given some good advice here already and won't need my input BUT ...

I have just got to say here, that suckled breasts are NEVER 'empty'! Milk is constantly being made by the body. The breast may not seem 'full' and tight as it does at the beginning of a feed [this is in the early weeks of feeding - everything settles down after a few months and the breasts don't feel quite so 'full' then] but there is milk being made - throughout a feed we have many 'let downs' and as I say a steady flow of milk being made.

As someone once said to me, 'Well, it's a bit like spit then isn't it? there is always some there!?'

Perhaps not the nicest of analogies, but I think it explains it perfectly.