Breast Feeding Question re: how long?

The lactation consultant never said, but it was suggested by a neighbor who was a NICU nurse that DS should not BF more the 15 minutes each side.

The reason she suggested this to me was because I had mentioned to her last week he would nurse almost 25 minutes on one side then fall asleep maybe 5-10 minutes later on the other.

So the 15 minutes seems fine at night......he goes right back down to sleep.

But during the day ESPECIALLY, he is always still fussy afterwards.

Do you limit time? I t makes sense to feed the same amount of time on each side..........but not sure on how much time?

Re: Breast Feeding Question re: how long?

I actually always did one side per feeding. I remember reading in one of my LLL books that this is OK. I really don't think it matters much as long as you DC is happy and making enough wet and dry diapers. For me this worked and my DS has always been above average in height and was actually off the charts as far as weight went from the time he was 3 months old. (He's back on the charts now that he's walking.)

Re: Breast Feeding Question re: how long?

I wouldn't limit the time unless it seemed excessive and the baby is just using you as a pacifier, but 15 minutes is not long at all. I only feed 1 side per session, usually it's about 20-30 minutes. If she's still hungry after that I would offer the other side, but 95% of the time 1 side is enough.

Re: Breast Feeding Question re: how long?

For the first 8 weeks, I left ds nurse for as long as he wanted to. Some sessions ran about an hour and a half. I would let him nurse for 20 minutes on one side and then switch sides and then let your dc nurse for as long as he wants to.

Re: Breast Feeding Question re: how long?

My son's ped recommended I limit my son to 15 mins on each breast. Our bfing sessions were lasting an hour plus before that. So the ped said he was using me as a pacifier at that point and to limit him.

Re: Breast Feeding Question re: how long?

I never limited the time for her. She either pulled off herself or fell asleep. If she pulled off herself, I always offered the other breast. Sometimes she took it, sometimes she didn't.

Re: Breast Feeding Question re: how long?

I always did 10-15 minutes per side and that was it, if he fell asleep I'd tickle his chin to get him to suck and that would usually work.

I only gave him more time if I was feeling patient! He was always a good eater though so I think I got lucky, 20 mins total was usually enough. Luckily, he never just hung out there for half hour increments like I've heard about other babies doing.

Message edited 7/4/2008 6:13:22 PM.

Re: Breast Feeding Question re: how long?

Thanks girls!

I never thought or heard to offer only one side...........though I think I personally feel better offering both sides.....I feel like when he falls asleep & won't nurse on one side I fill up too much & it hurts little!!

Maybe I will try 20 minutes a side later in the day......it's when he seems hungrier!!

And I will call the ped. and the lactation consultant on Monday & see what they say.........

Re: Breast Feeding Question re: how long?

I understood, in the beginning, it's best to let DC empty one breast - however long it may take and that this alongs them to get the hind milk. In the beginning it's very hard to limit the baby to one breast b/c it takes them so much longer than it does once they get nursing down pat. Now that Ryan is older (15wks) I find I am better limiting him b/c he doesn't seem to know when to cut himself off and will go until he spits up.

I found this online:
However, some lactation specialists are now recommending just nursing on one breast per feeding and switching breasts from one feed to the next. This allows the baby to get more of the hind-milk, which is fattier. (Containing protein, vitamins, and water, foremilk comes at a feeding's beginning. Hind-milk comes later and has higher fat levels, which aids in an infant's weight gain.)

Some recent information also suggests that timed feedings can sometimes create difficulties early on. Why? Because if you take your baby off the first breast after 10 minutes, he or she may not latch onto the other breast as well and, subsequently, won't get what he or she needs.

Message edited 7/5/2008 5:49:42 AM.

Re: Breast Feeding Question re: how long?

I let them eat as long as they wanted to. I never worried aboutthe time on each side. I kind of did one, tried the other-if it was less time, I would start there next time.

Re: Breast Feeding Question re: how long?