How long on each breast ?

[Firstbump]

Hi my dd is 6 weeks. I try to put her on each breast for 15mins. However,she is a strong sucker and usually drops of the breast in 7-10mins. Then she does the same on the other breast. She is feeding 3-4 hourly is this OK?

[pupuce]

If she doesn't appear hungry in between, is putting on weight, pooing and peeing well... than it should be fine. Some babies feed 1 side, others 2 sides, some 30 mins, some 5.,... they are all different. Do make sure she feeds well from first side before switching her.
I would make sure she appears happy with the amount of feed she is getting.

[pidge]

Firstbump - I agree with pupuce, my dd also used to feed for a very short time by about the age of your dd and with about the same interval between feeds. She was always done in about 7 minutes. I had a policy that when she came off I would wind her, put her back on the same side to make sure she'd finished it, and usually she was off again within a couple of minutes, at which point I'd give her the second side.

Don't believe anyone who tells you there's a recommended length of time a baby should be at the breast. Some babies get very good at getting that milk out fast! If she's happy, healthy, wet nappies etc then you're doing brilliantly.

[mears]

Fisrtbump - I have copied and pasted something I posted before about feeding. It is not so much the length of time on the breast that dictates how long a feed should be, but how well the baby feeds. Babies are all different and take varying lengths of time to feed.


Watch the way that he sucks and listen. When he first goes on he will suck rapidly waiting for the let down of milk. When that happens he will slow down and take deep rhyhmical sucks where you will be able to hear him swallowing the milk. He will pause every so often because the milk comes down in jets with spaces in between. Towards the end of the feed, he will start to make 'flutter' sucks which are not deep and are a faster than the ones before. He will keep stopping and starting. He will be getting small amounts of hind milk at this stage and is stimluating the breast to produce more milk at future feeds. However, you can take him off at this point if you feel he has been on for ages, because he has probably had enough. Babies should spit the nipple out when they have had enough, but some just like to suck. My ds 1 hardly ever detached himself.
When you have the time you can sit and feed for long periods. However, by watching how they feed you get to know when they are just 'flutter 'sucking rather than feeding.

[Firstbump]

Mears,just wanted to say that has been the most helpful description of breast feeding I have read and believe me I have read a lot! Thanks to you all I now feel much more in control and chilled. Breast feeding going well and dd now 11lbs 10oz at 6 weeks!

[codswallop]

mears have you ever thougth about writing a book? seriously..

[mears]

You are too kind I was onlt repeating what some other clever persom wrote. Glad it helped.

[Firstbump]

I agree Mears these bits of info are extremely valuble to the first time mother. I have used lots of advise from this site and have passed it on to my friends (esp 'what to have in a hospital bag' There is not one book that covers real practical tips on babies. There is just vague advice!

Thanks again