Glossary

Term · Feeding Your Baby

block feeding

Also: block feed, single-side feeding

A feeding pattern in which a baby nurses on one breast for a set period before switching. It is used with caution when milk supply is high.

In plain words

Block feeding is a pattern in which a baby nurses on one breast for a set stretch of time, then on the other, in a repeated cycle. It is used with the aim of lowering a high milk supply, because a breast that is emptied less often tends to make less milk over time. Feeding from one side for a block of time changes how full the breasts become. Some lactation consultants use it when has been confirmed, and they may combine it with other steps. It is not a general feeding plan. Used without a clear reason, it can leave one breast very full and can lower how much milk the baby takes. Clinicians usually track weight gain and diaper output when the method is used.

The deeper version

Block feeding is a management strategy in which the infant nurses from one breast for a defined block of time or number of feeds before switching sides. It is intended to reduce milk production by lowering milk removal from one breast. Its rationale draws on local of secretion, in which a accumulates when milk is not removed. Evidence is primarily clinical and observational, drawn from lactation practice rather than controlled trials. It is generally reserved for confirmed hyperlactation after other measures have been tried. Risks include , , and reduced infant intake if used without monitoring. Weight gain, diaper output, and feeding behavior are the usual monitoring markers. The main controversy concerns how to separate true oversupply from normal supply and how to avoid overcorrection.

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Sources

  • La Leche League International — Oversupply and forceful letdown: informational resources
  • Lawrence RA, Lawrence RM — Breastfeeding: A Guide for the Medical Profession, 8th edition, 2016

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