My LO is 5 almost 6 weeks old. So since I was in the hospital the lactation nurse recommended one breast per feeding, alternating each time I nurse. The pediatrician just said regardless of one side per feeding or both, don’t exceed 30-40 minutes total (I’m guessing because of his stomach size?) and that me nursing him an average of 20-30 minutes a feeding is perfect.

Usually he is falling asleep around the 15-20 minute time and the back half the feeding is me constantly waking him to keep going, sometimes I’m not even sure he’s swallowing anything or just pacifying. Unless I can tell he’s still eating I take him off and put him down by 30 minutes. But I’ve only ever really done one breast per feeding and he usually makes it 2+ hours before needing to feed again.

I feel like my breasts are rarely “full” too, so doing one at a time gives an average of 3-4 hours for each side to refill. I feel like if I try to do both every time there will never be anything in either one because there’s not enough time for the milk to come back in. I’m just worried he’s not getting enough with just one at a time... and I need to start my pumping stash to go back to work.

The doctor didn’t seem “concerned” with his eating at the 1 month check this week but indicated that he gained just UNDER 1 pound since birth and she prefers to see them gain between 1-2 pounds in that time. He was born in the 97th percentile in weight, and is now in the 54th percentile (according to glow). While 54th is clearly average it’s a HUGE drop off from where he was. Just trying to get an idea of what other moms are doing with feeding, to see if what I’m doing is normal or how I can improve to he doesn’t drop more. Thanks for reading all of this, voting, and commenting!