The lactation consultant told me that I should let the baby nurse as long as he wants on one breast but that leaves the other one feeling really engorged.  Should I be feeding from both for a certain amount of time or just one breast and manually express enough for relief on the other breast until the next feeding? 

Really it is whatever works for you and baby.  My little one would only nurse from one side at a time--if I became too uncomfortable then I would pump the side that she did not nurse on.  As she got older she took to nursing on both sides at each session. HTH!

Joe~Ann~Mae:

Really it is whatever works for you and baby.  My little one would only nurse from one side at a time--if I became too uncomfortable then I would pump the side that she did not nurse on.

Ditto to that.  All 3 of mine were the same way and would only nurse one side per session.  It took a little while but eventually my breasts adjusted to that and I didn't end up being constantly lop-sided, lol.

Love your pics!  He is so cute.  As far as nursing goes I was always told to try both sides at each feeding.  And then at the next feeding to start on the opposite side then I had started with before.  Usually they would feed about the same amount on both sides, because they would either get a gas bubble or start to fall asleep so I would burp them and switch. 

Thanks, I have been trying to feed him from both but usually he nurses longer on one side.  I think he will be able to feed from both pretty soon though cause he's a really good eater and a big boy.  I just didn't want to ruin my milk supply if he sometimes only nurses 5 minutes on the last breast.  All of your comments help!!

 I think whatever works best for you and baby is fine.  When mine would only feed one side I would just be real careful to start feeding on other breast the next time.  Some women have a clip or pin that they move from side to side on their bra to help them remember.  I just used the squeeze test if I couldn't remember.  Kinda embarrassing to do in public though.  LOL

I would always try both (usually stop the first one after about 10 min--more like 15 with a newborn).  If he wouldn't nurse on that side, it usually wasn't an issue since he'd be hungry again soon, and then I'd start out with that side.  But if it ever was an issue, I would just pump on the other side. 

ready4pink:

I just used the squeeze test if I couldn't remember.  Kinda embarrassing to do in public though.  LOL

Dh is always laughing at me b/c that's how I tell, too. He thinks it's funny that I can't remember which side I finished on....and thinks people think it's weird that I "feeling myself up" in public. Lol- I've been a buffet for so long that I couldn't care less what people think.

I agree with pp's...it's whatever works best for you. Your body will adjust and as he gets bigger he'll eat more. Dd didn't nurse on both sides in one feeding until she was almost 3 months old.

Was there a particular reason that your LC told you to do that? If you're having fast milk flow then that can be a VERY important technique to stabilize the milk flow and being gently engorged (full, not painful) on the other side is part of the treatment for the fast flow. It also helps a baby nurse longer if their just nursing 5 minutes and then getting so full on the early milk.

If that sounds like the case there's more info on Overabundant milk and Overactive letdown on the web. Or I'd be happy to help you with it. I've dealt with it with all my kids. I had to use this technique. It's nice that others have had success without using it, but for some women it's ABSOLUTELY necessary.