how do you know if your breasts are empty?

[olivo]

i dont really understand this one. how do i know if my breasts are empty and if i should offer my dd the other side? she takes a lot but i'm never sure if she is getting enough. should i only offer one breast each time?
help!!

[Twiglett]

they are never empty

but you do feel them getting looser

I never fed from both sides (BF 2 different kids) I just alternated for each feed and they seemed to unlatch / or stop sucking when satisfied so I'd ease them off and put them down

[sorrell]

Have you been reading a certain baby guru? Offer and see what your baby wants. a/breasts are never empty, though the rate of flow may get a lot slower, and b/it doesn't matter about 'emptying' them. That's a lot of rubbish.

[spagbol]

They are never empty, that's all nonsense. If she gets bored on one side then try offering the other. Swap the one you start with each feed or when you remember. If she's tiny then one side is prob enough each feed. If you're worried about whether she's getting enough just weigh her once a week to see whether she's gaining (150 - 200g pw at the beginning).

[LIZS]

When they seemed tired of first I'd offer the other but if they didn't seemed fussed for more I'd just feed from that one first next time, if I remembered. They don't become "empty" per se.

[eenywifemum]

Olivo I have wondered the same thing.

I have the book 'What to expect in the first year' and it says feed for at least 10 mins and then if you want switch to the other breast and let them feed there for as long as they like. I have been trying that with Alex in an attempt to get his feeding under control as (especially in the evening) he is feeding VERY frequently and I want to space his feeds out. I am also worried he is TOO fat as he gains more than a pound every week for 3 weeks running - he feeds almost constantly. Watching the thread with interest!

[SoupDragon]

Watch and listen to her very carefully as she feeds.

At the start, shell suck and not swallow.
Then the milk lets down and she'll suck and gulp.
Then she'll settle into a suck-swallow rhythm.
Then you get more sucks til a swallow until you end up with loads of sucks with few swallows.
This is when they're "empty" (which they're not really but you know what I mean ) and I'd swap to the other breast.

It's not an exact science though.

[olivo]

thanks. can feel when they are fuller and harder but didnt want the poor mite to be aimlessly sucking and getting nothing! she is only 3 weeks old and weight gain is good so far!
thanks for your advice!

[3andnomore]

eenywifemum ,
actually doing it the way you discribe might even be the course of your lil ones frequent feeding....it's best to basically let them have one breast until they stop feeding it, and if they seem to be hungry or want more after they unlatched and maybe done their burp, THEN maybe it's time to offer the next breast...the longer they suckle on one breast the more fattier and higher calorific "hindmilk" they are getting, which usually satisfys them for longer....if you do 10 minutes on one breast then unlatch and then put on the other breast your lil one is getting 2 lots of "foremilk" whihc tends to be more of a thirst quencher and is also blamed for colic!