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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

Never thought I'd be starting a thread on this board!!! 45 mins each breast???!!!

56 replies

JoolsToo · 03/02/2006 18:43

best friends dd1 has just had first baby (boy and although not breastfed herself has decided that's what she wants to do . Apparently he went straight on to her breast and sucked away merrily. Now she's home and in agony the midwife has told her to feed him 45 minutes on each side - that sounds excessive to me but I never breastfed so thought I'd ask the founts of all knowledge

is that a lot?

OP posts:
hercules · 03/02/2006 18:44

45 minutes on each side? Why??

gomez · 03/02/2006 18:45

For a newborn not really - but why is she in agony?

stitch · 03/02/2006 18:45

well, it depends. if he is just sucking for comnfort, then its no good.
basically, all she need s to do is ensure she is hearing swallowing sounds. if he isnt swallowing, then he's not drinking, so doesnt need to be on the breast.
but 45 minutes for a feed doesnt sound too much. though 1.5 hours per feed definitly is.

MarsOnLife · 03/02/2006 18:46

is the baby latched on properly?

I bet he's just attached to the nipple. OUCH

Original poster
JoolsToo · 03/02/2006 18:46

dunno - that's why I'm asking! It is a lot isn't it?

OP posts:
gomez · 03/02/2006 18:47

Is she engorged - hence long feed to relive this? Or in pain because nipples are sore?

MarsOnLife · 03/02/2006 18:48

are you sure she didn't mishear....

maybe the mw said you need to feed for about 45, each breast.... meaning make sure you feed from both breasts

gomez · 03/02/2006 18:48

Not that a long feed it needed to relieve engorgement, just enough to relieved the pressure.

If baby is still tiny she might find hand expressing some off will help with latch if nipples sore.

Original poster
JoolsToo · 03/02/2006 18:49

I presume he's latched properly from what they tell me he took to it like a duck to water!

she's been crying a lot but I guess that could be the blues.

OP posts:
Twiglett · 03/02/2006 18:49

neither of mine fed for longer than 10 mins but I think the average is about 40 minutes total per feed

if she's in agony she needs to get a bf counsellor to show her the correct position .. it does knack a little to begin with but you should be able to count slowly to 10 and the pain dissipates .. if it doesn't then I think she's got to have her position corrected

tummy to mummy nipple to nose (that's what the posters say IIRC)

Aloha · 03/02/2006 18:50

I would say the baby isn't sucking properly - not her fault, or his - they've neither of them done it properly. HOnestly, if the latch is right most women can feed for hours and not get sore. I remember when I did get it right with dd, I was watching telly and thinking, 'Aaargh! Where is my baby???' and looking down and there she was
A trip to a baby cafe or to her hospital's breastfeeding workshop seems in order to me. Made a HUGE difference to me - and I'd done it before.
BTw newborns do sometimes feed forever, but after an hour you can happily detach him with no guilt.

Original poster
JoolsToo · 03/02/2006 18:51

while she's feeding one side its coming out the other - I suppose that's normal, she's wearing nipple shields but says they fill up!

that's a point Marsy maybe she meant 45 mins total but using both breasts - I'll mention that!

OP posts:
gomez · 03/02/2006 18:51

Mine were exact opposite Twiglett andI remember really long sessions with DD1 in particular > 1.5 hours sometimes.

DD2 just got popped of when I was bored however .

Aloha · 03/02/2006 18:51

And just because the baby thinks he's doing it properly doesn't mean he is. Some babies are crap at breastfeeding

SoupDragon · 03/02/2006 18:52

45 or 4 to 5 ?

Neither or which sound quite right.

nowanearlyNicemum · 03/02/2006 18:53

dd went through a phase early on when it was 45 mins each side but that was more because she was a VERY sleeper feeder

SoupDragon · 03/02/2006 18:55

Must say, I thought you fed until the baby had enough (within reason). Feed on one and then offer the other one but not to worry if they don't take anything from it.

gomez · 03/02/2006 18:55

She sounds engorged then Jools if second boob is dripping so much. Feed or express enough to relieve the pressure, get her some savoy cabbage - pop into fridge then onto boob helps loads.

nowanearlyNicemum · 03/02/2006 18:55

dd went through a phase early on when it was 45 mins each side but that was more because she was a VERY sleeper feeder

Original poster
JoolsToo · 03/02/2006 18:55

now you're confusing me - if some say 45 total and one of you is saying you did it for 1½ hours - which should it be - he was born on 29th so very new baby

OP posts:
MarsOnLife · 03/02/2006 18:56

I was a moo cow as well. If I fed on one side the other just poured out. She could tip that milk into a bottle and freeze it for later use.

MarsOnLife · 03/02/2006 18:56

I was a moo cow as well. If I fed on one side the other just poured out. She could tip that milk into a bottle and freeze it for later use.

MarsOnLife · 03/02/2006 18:56

I was a moo cow as well. If I fed on one side the other just poured out. She could tip that milk into a bottle and freeze it for later use.

Lonelymum · 03/02/2006 18:56

I had it countless times from paediatricians that they need between 5 - 10 minutes each side. nything else is comfort sucking. I must admit, when on number four and with time being very limited (eg having to get others to school) I used to find that baby was quite happy with 5-10 minutes either side.

But I expect there are some who would argue otherwise. If you did 45 mins either side, you would have precsiely 30 minutes between feeds! (assuming 2 hourly feeds)

MarsOnLife · 03/02/2006 18:56

I was a moo cow as well. If I fed on one side the other just poured out. She could tip that milk into a bottle and freeze it for later use.

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