Why it’s crucial to offer your baby both breasts at each feed

by Cordelia Uys, NCT Breastfeeding Counsellor

January 2022

I’ve been known to joke that I might need to get the phrase “Offer your baby both breasts at each feed” tattooed on my forehead.

Misinformation based on a misunderstanding

One of the most common pieces of misinformation given to new mothers is that they must only offer their baby one breast per feed (or keep their baby on the breast for X amount of minutes), so that the baby receives the richer ‘hindmilk’.

But this is based on a misunderstanding of how breastmilk production works. What makes babies gain weight is the volume of milk they drink, not the type of milk. There is some fat even at the beginning of a feed; the more frequently a baby feeds, the more fat the baby will get, and in any case, babies know if they need a drink, a drink and a snack, or a three course meal.

The human race has survived and thrived for hundreds of thousands of years without mothers knowing anything about foremilk and hindmilk. Instead, they simply fed their babies responsively, ie whenever their nursling showed hunger cues.

Here is the guidance

  • Once your baby has come off the first breast of their own accord, offer them the second breast.

  • If your baby has fallen asleep while feeding on the first breast, which is very common, you can wake them up either by changing their nappy, or just taking off some of their clothes.

  • Whether your baby takes a little, a lot, or none of the second breast, go back to that second breast at the next feed.

P.S. If your baby is still showing hunger cues after the 2nd breast, you can provide them with a 3rd course by offering the first breast again.

Risks of only offering one breast

If a mother only offers one breast per feed in the early weeks, it could hinder her ability to establish a good milk supply. The baby will potentially be getting half as much milk as they could be getting, and the mother’s milk supply will potentially be getting half as much stimulation.

Night time feeds

Once your baby is a few weeks old, if they're gaining weight as expected, and they fall asleep after the first breast in the middle of the night, in most cases, it will be fine to wait until the next feed to offer the second breast.