How long should a feeding last?

Amy - posted on 12/30/2008

There is no "set" time for a nursing session. Babies nurse for many reasons: food, comfort, thirst. If your worried about how much she is getting keep track of wet/soiled diapers. If there is plenty going in then there will be plenty coming out. It can be tough to read what exactly a baby needs (at least for me). The beauty of breastfeeding is that it often takes care of whatever need the baby has whether it be gas, hunger, loneliness, sleepiness etc. If it doesn't take care of the babies need, I found that it at least gave me a few minutes to regroup. I would often sit down to nurse my crying baby and realize after a few minutes that she needed a diaper change. Hope that answers your question.

Nicole - posted on 12/30/2008

Thanks for all the suggestions. I'm going to give them a try and see what helps. I do give her a pacifier when she wants it, but I think she knows the difference so it doesn't soothe her for too long. Also, I try to watch and listen to her sucking but I'm still a little confused on it; I think that will just take time to get to know what she's doing.

On another note, Ashley is that a baby k'tan that you're wearing in your picture? I have one and she screams everytime I try to put her in it. I'm wondering if I'm doing it wrong or if she just really doesn't like it. Who knows!?

Ashley - posted on 12/29/2008

Note that I don't think there's anything wrong with letting baby use you as a pacifier--when you have the time and when it's going to be a good bonding moment and not when you're going to resent her for it. I know I usually don't have time to serve as a pacifier unless it's bedtime, in which case we both just fall asleep together after she nurses (we cosleep though, so I'm not sitting up waiting for her to be "done" to go to bed).
If you aren't sure whether or not you hear your baby swallowing (sometimes they can be really quiet), watch her jaw to see if it's moving or if she's just sucking with the front of her mouth, sometimes that helps me.
In the end...thank goodness for pacifiers! They can be a real life saver.

Cindy - posted on 12/29/2008

My sister n law, my friend & I had that same problem. My daughter wanted to nurse on each breast for like 40 min. My nurse practitioner & lactation consultant told to listen to her swallowing. If she is swallowing constantly then 10 min on each breast if slowly then maybe 15... When your child is nursing (swallowing steady) it only takes 10 min to empty your breast. If she is sucking but not swallowing she is using you as a pacifier. I would nurse no more than every 3 hrs I think nursing more than that is allowing her to use you as a pacifier. You will eventually be able to tell when your breast is empty & when it is time to switch.

Nicole - posted on 12/29/2008

When I had my daughter I was unsure myself. I ended up seeing a lactation consultant in a children's hospital and she told me if I wanted my baby to be an efficiant eater, to put her on each breat for 10 min. That way she learns that she is not there to play around. So that is what I did and she would eat and still eats every 3-4 hours accept at night she will go 6-7 hours between feed. Now that she is 4 months old I have bumped it up to 12-15 min per breast. She eats great and has always gained weight so it must be working.

Ashley - posted on 12/29/2008

It won't last forever! My baby was the same way. My very first night in the hospital I had to page my nurse at 3am to bring me a pacifier, in tears, because she hadn't stopped nursing for three hours straight. (I'd been awake for almost 48 hours at that point and was starting to get cracked out.) Are you using a pacifier? I know a lot of people tell you not to in the first 4 weeks because of nipple confusion, but if you're breastfeeding pretty solidly (sounds like you are) you might give it a go. She may just really want to suck on something!
And think about it this way too--if she stops fussing every time you offer her the breast, just think about how at least you've found a way to comfort her. (You'll appreciate it later when it's a bit trickier to calm her down!) I feed my 3 month old a lot less frequently now than I did when she was 3-4 weeks old and I thought I would live the rest of my life on my couch.

Melissa - posted on 12/29/2008

I would suggest having her nurse with clothes off if you are on a tight schedule and don't have an hour to nurse. But to keep your milk up I would let her nurse as long as she wants, at least for a few months when she is so small.

Debbie - posted on 12/29/2008

I had the same issues, believe it does get better. I was nursing for up to an hour every two hours, now my 5 month old will nurse every 2.5 - 3 hours during the day for 25 min. In the evenings she seems to cluster feed (I nurse one and off for 3 hours) then she sleeps for 8-9 hours.