Page 2 | Never thought I'd be starting a thread on this board!!! 45 mins each breast???!!!

JoolsToo · 2006-02-03T18:43:33+00:00

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?

nowanearlyNicemum · 03/02/2006 18:56

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

mummygow · 03/02/2006 18:57

I remember with dd in hospital everyone told me that I was doing great and dd had latched on brilliant but on the 3rd night she was there for about 3 hours and I asked the midwife what I should do, so she came and took her and later on told me that she had not been taking anything just comforting, I broke down in tears (obviously tired) and never did it again as she had been loosing weight when I thought I had been doing great!!

mummygow · 03/02/2006 18:57

I remember with dd in hospital everyone told me that I was doing great and dd had latched on brilliant but on the 3rd night she was there for about 3 hours and I asked the midwife what I should do, so she came and took her and later on told me that she had not been taking anything just comforting, I broke down in tears (obviously tired) and never did it again as she had been loosing weight when I thought I had been doing great!!

mummygow · 03/02/2006 18:57

oops sorry!!

Original poster

JoolsToo · 03/02/2006 18:58

Mars - I'm having trouble with my pc too

OP posts:

MarsOnLife · 03/02/2006 18:59

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.

nanneh · 03/02/2006 18:59

JT - did you say the baby is a new born ? How old exactly ?

45 minutes sounds like a very long time on EACH breast for a new born, but then I only have one child, so no expert !

According to the books I have read, 15 - 20 minutes on each boob as a new born is the average, that is because if they are demand fed (feed whenever he roots before he starts to cry)
40 mins. in total should be long enough to get enough bm at each feed.

I remember my DS doing 45 mins - 1 hour (on each boob) but only when he was a bit older and when he was having a growth spurt.

As for the pain, she should not have any pain while feeding or after a feed. Sounds like a bad latch. Also 45 min. thing might be due to bad latch too.

If she is dead determined to bf I suggest being seen by bf adviser, NCT, LLL anyone she can get hold of who knows how to bf.

Good luck to her : )

gomez · 03/02/2006 18:59

Jools they are all different, there really is no right or wrong answer. If her latch is okay then and the pain is caused by engorgement as long as she feeds often enough and keeps the milk moving it will clear in a day or two and settle down. She should feed for as long as she and her baby want. If he was born on 29th her milk has likely just come in hence why she is drowning in the stuff.

MarsOnLife · 03/02/2006 19:01

lost you there for a minute jools lol

nowanearlyNicemum · 03/02/2006 19:02

errr, sorry, I think I made my point! - bloody slow to post this evening!
I agree that the little blighter can't be latching on properly. I seemed to feed dd forever at the very beginning but I never once got sore.

nulnulcat · 03/02/2006 19:03

i know a lot of people are anti gina ford but i was doing 45 minutes each breast until i read her book cut feeding times down to about 40 mins altogether i was being used as a dummy and she actually caused a blister on my nipple which burst and was even more painful than the mastitus!! raw skin!!!

nanneh · 03/02/2006 19:04

JT - just seen your post that he was born on 29th - so only 6 days old. May be a growth spurt. Some babies have a growth spurt at 6 days old and feed for longer and more frequently. If that's what it is, then may gradually in a few days settle to slightly shorter feeds at each boob.

But as I say each baby is different. She should see a bf adviser.

nanneh · 03/02/2006 19:15

JT - PLEASE tell your friend to ignore Gina Ford.

Sorry, no offence, but the woman knows NOTHING about bf.

She 1)never breastfed as she has no children and 2)never qualified as a bf adviser, therefore IMO the wrong sort of person to go to for bf advice.

Babies root for a feed and if the latch and everything is correct should be allowed to feed as long as he requires it.

A very good way to spot a good latch: baby's cheeks should be very round and puffed up as he is sucking and usually you can see his chin and even his ears move as he swallows. Sometimes you can also hear the baby swallowing. If cheeks are sunken inwards usually not latched well.

It is normal for nipples to feel a bit raw when you have a newborn, but if there is a good latch there should be no severe pain.

A tube of "Lansinoh" ointment rubbed into nipples after each feed did amazing things for me. You can buy it in boots or mothercare.

nanneh · 03/02/2006 19:20

Sorry, also entire nipple and as much as aerola as poss. should be covered by baby's mouth.

popsycalindisguise · 03/02/2006 19:42

there is a video online somewhere - tiktok or mears posted about it a while ago - if she has access to a pc, might be worth watchng
in additon to nanneh signs for correct latch, i found looking for the temples moving/pulsating a useful one....I could never see ears wiggling

mears · 03/02/2006 19:50

jools - if baby took to breast like a duck to water why does she need nipple shields? I would imagine she is using them because of painful nipples? If nipples are painful, most likely baby is noy latching properly. If baby not latched properly, feeds go on for a long time. Nipple shields slow feeds down too. They can also reduce milk production by 40%. Needs to see breast feeding advisor.

nanneh · 03/02/2006 19:51

popsy - my son't ears always wiggle when he feeds - it's so cute !

oops · 03/02/2006 19:52

Message withdrawn

popsycalindisguise · 03/02/2006 19:53

ears wggle now..but never as a newborn....

nipple shields - does she mean breast shells (you mentioned catching milk...)

expatinscotland · 03/02/2006 19:54

Wow! DD2 never longer than 15 mins./boob. Mostly 10 mins/boob and then wriggling for a windypop.

LIZS · 03/02/2006 19:56

As a newborn, ds could well feed for up to 45 minutes, perhaps nodding off for a bit in the middle, initially one side only. Suggest your friend asks the question again to clarify (a different mw may well give a different answer!) and see a BFC to check her latch and positioning. Where does it hurt ? Kamillosan helped soreness for me, but it could just be that the fullness of her milk coming in (green cabbage leaves, chilled help!) plus sensitive nipples and tiredness are making it painful generally.

expatinscotland · 03/02/2006 19:57

Lansinoh rules, but she needs to remember to put it on! I expressed on one boob for about a week b/c DD2 gnawed it and it had painful blisters.

nulnulcat · 03/02/2006 20:01

couldnt express for some reason so mw told me to ignore the blister and carry on feeding the pain!!! actually after about 5 mins it wore off a bit but i did literally grit my teeth through the tears,

LIZS · 03/02/2006 20:02

Does she mean nipple shields or shells - the latter can be used to collect milk , the former protect sore nipples and can help encorage a baby to latch but not very effectively.

bourneville · 03/02/2006 21:09

Timings went in one ear and out the other for me tbh, took no notice so never timed her (I think i was told to feed about 20 mins per side) - dd bf for AGES. In first few weeks she seemed to be feeding on & off for 2-3 hours at a time solid, then sleep for 2-2 hours. Sleepy feeder too. Even later on, I remember her starting to doze off on one boob and then let down would happen and she would wake up all startled having to suck & drink again! (down to my laziness i'm afraid, dozing off myself )