One Breast or Two

Should I use both breasts at each feed?

Clare Byam-Cook says

Generally, yes.  Although some mothers have so much milk that their baby only needs one breast, the majority of mothers will find that they can feed their babies more quickly and efficiently if they use both.

Using only one breast (because you have been told that your baby will only get the hind milk if he completely empties the breast) usually results in the baby taking much longer to feed than he would if you use both.

The best thing to do is to allow him to feed on the first breast for as long as he is sucking properly (long, slow, deep rhythmic sucks) and then offer him the second once his sucking becomes shallow and ineffective. If he is full he will reject it, but if he is still hungry he should settle back down to ‘proper’ sucking once he is offered a new supply of milk.