Can I ask a few (probably very simple - sorry!) bf questions?

[cat811]

People on here seem to know so much more than all the mw/hv/gps etc around me!

1. How do I know when one breast is 'empty' and I can swap over? Is it when dd comes off (usually after 15 mins or so)? She always seems to empty both sides in a feed, but how do I know that each side is being emptied, and that I'm not swapping he rover before she's had all of one side? (nb I usually do this either when she stops naturally and has a doze for a few mins, or when she's become a bit frantic for more than 3-4mins on 1 side)

1. Should it be painful for the first 5 seconds or so when she starts feeding? Feels like that 'glass through nipple' description I've seen on here, but only lasts initially, then pain stops - this doesn't mean bad latch or anything does it?

1. Does the length between feeds count from the beginning to beginning, or from when you finish? (ie if feeding at 10, then at 1, is that 3 hours between feeds even if the feed at 10 lasts an hour, or is it then 2 hours between feeds?)

Thank you - apologies if these are v basic or if answers are elsewhere!

1. Probably when your baby comes off one side. But I wouldn't worry too much about whether the breast is empty or not as long as the baby is draining it well.
2. I wouldn't think this indicates a problem. Possibly you have a painful feeling on let down?
3. You count from the beginning of the feed.

How old is your baby?

hi there

1. there's no such thing as an 'empty breast' (they are like rivers rather than buckets) but you are right to offer one breast and then the offer the other once she has a natural break.
2. This pain sounds like the let-down and should get better.
3. Don't know the answer to this one as I don't tend to worry about timings too much! Sometimes they are hungry after an hour of feeding, sometimes two (especially in the early days or during a growth spurt).

Don't worry about asking questions- that's what we're here for.

Hi cat,
I was never sure when mine were empty either and carried on until DS started getting frustrated, he would go on sucking for up to an hour on one boob which I merrily went along with assuming he knew what he was doing. Turns out he was comfort sucking after they were empty and when he wasn't gaining weight I was told to swap over after half an hour as, regardless of flow, even the slowest flowing will have emptied after half an hour. It worked for me and DS started gaining more weight. I remember having tingles at first in the early days (first 6-8 weeks (how old is your DC?) And point 3 I'm pretty sure its beginning of feed to beginning of feed, so feed at 10 and then at 1 is 3 hours between feeds.
Hope this helps.

1. Sounds like what you're doing is fine.

1. Yes, totally normal. Latch sounds fine too. If the latch was bad the pain wouldn't go away.

1. I think it's from the start of a feed, but I never took any notice of timings - I just fed dd when she 'asked' to be fed.

Sorry my answers a v. basic, I'm no expert. Just a happily bfing mum. No doubt someone more knowledgeable will have either beaten me to it or be hot on my heels

just my own experience to talk about. I've also been MN/Kellymom educated so hope this is correct...

1. breasts are never 100% empty. As far as I understand, volume of milk is what matters for baby's growth etc. If baby has come off after 15 minutes of good sucking activity then I would swop over. You can swop back to that side if they then come off the other side...i.e. you can offer more than two sides at a feed if this is what baby wants.

1. sorry don't know about pain-I never had any.

1. I think feed count from the beginning, so if baby starts feed at 9pm for an hour (I remember it well!!) and then wakes at 11pm it's been three hours since the last feed.

Am sure someone will come along who has more formal and sciencey stuff to throw at you.

Thank you all very much! She's 3 weeks old - is 15mins quite a short amount of time to be on one side for? (or is that a 'how long is a piece of string' question?!)

yeah, don't worry about timings-follow her lead-she sounds like she is an expert at it (at three weeks DS fell asleep every five minutes or so so well done to her!)

cat, does she seems contented after 15 minutes on the breast? If so, then that's fine, if she seems hungry still, then pop her over to the other one.

Don't get too worried about timings.

I never bothered looking at the clock. Just sat down and fed till they had finished. Then fed them again when they wanted it.

It worked fine as managed to bf three children; 9 months, 15 months and currently on 16 months with DC3.

The pain thing. I seem to remember that in the first few weeks. But it did go away after a while.