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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

Breastfeeding - how to know when you've finished a feed?

27 replies

MabelFox · 21/05/2025 20:38

I've had some conflicting advice. My baby feeds for around 5-10 mins per breast. I was told that my baby must be efficient at getting my milk in this short time as he pulls away hinself. But my HV came and observed me feeding and said I need to keep putting him onto the breast over and over for around 15 - 20 mins a side to get the hind milk and to get longer stretches between feeds. (Baby is nearly 8 weeks)
She advised that once the flutter sucking starts to switch over to then other side, or finish feeding if I've fed from both.

Which is the best advice? I just want to know when a feed is classed as finished so my baby is getting enough. TY in advance x

OP posts:
Mulledjuice · 21/05/2025 20:41

I would have said the feed is over whne you or the baby have had enough. There are caveats if a young baby is regularly falling asleep on the breast after a short time especially if not producing enough wet/dirty nappies or gaining weight.

How long are you currently getting between feeds? Does baby seem content during and after feeds?

I refer to Emma Pickett, Kathryn Stagg and Olivia Hinge on Instagram for all things breastfeeding.

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 21/05/2025 20:42

It really depends on the baby. There's no hard and fast rule. My DS used to feed for 30-40 minutes. My DD was done in 5-10 minutes as a newborn.

CelticPromise · 21/05/2025 20:43

If your baby is peeing, pooing and growing steadily- it ain't broke don't fix it. Is there an issue with growth? Sounds like you're doing just fine.

Kauaio · 21/05/2025 20:46

My baby is nearly 8 weeks old. Feeds for 5-10 minutes at a time, sometimes from one breast and sometimes (mainly in the evening) from both. I know he’s done because he pulls away - and often spits up a bit. I don’t think I could force him to eat more!

Agree with PP that it depends very much on the baby. My eldest was nothing like this - each feed lasted up to an hour. Middle child was very similar.

CheeseWisely · 21/05/2025 20:46

Totally depends on the baby! Mine never managed switching to the other boob, he’d lose interest after one so I just alternated them for each feed. Sometimes he fed for 40 minutes, sometimes for 5 minutes. As PPs have said if he’s producing wet and dirty nappies and growing on track then don’t worry about it!

DaveWatts · 21/05/2025 20:46

Look, if your baby's putting on weight and you're both happy then I'd just ignore the HV and keep on doing what you're doing. I always assumed the feed was over when they stopped drinking!

fashionqueen0123 · 21/05/2025 20:47

The flutter sucking can be at the end of the feed- so don’t take him off then, that’s a sign to let him stay on for a little longer.
Always offer both sides every feed as a newborn, and if they fall asleep try to wake them to take the second. Hind milk is a bit of a myth so don’t worry about that. The volume of milk is what’s important.
You also shouldn’t be encouraging longer stretches between feeds…unless he’s feeding every half an hour all day or something.
Is baby making lots of wet and dirty nappies and gaining weight? Is feeding comfortable for you? Those are signs things are going well. I agree check out Emma Pickett

BethDuttonYeHaw · 21/05/2025 20:53

CelticPromise · 21/05/2025 20:43

If your baby is peeing, pooing and growing steadily- it ain't broke don't fix it. Is there an issue with growth? Sounds like you're doing just fine.

Absolutely this.

these are the only measures that are important.

JaninaDuszejko · 21/05/2025 20:54

Depends on the child. My eldest would fall asleep on the breast but if I pulled away she'd want more. Feeds would take ages and she put on weight very slowly. DD2 was the most efficient feeder, she was finished in less than 10 minutes, and that would include 2 nappy changes because she'd poo twice during a feed and always empty both breasts. Then I'd put her down awake, she'd happily gurgle to herself for a few minutes then go to sleep. DS was premature so started off like his biggest sister but was more efficient by 8 weeks.

Whyx · 21/05/2025 20:58

No one knows when the fattier hind milk joins the lighter milk. It's different for every woman, every baby every feed. So it is out dated advice to mention that. Unfortunately health visitor training does take a long while to catch up.

Second the advice to look at Olivia Hinge on Instagram etc. she has a book too. Very informative. She's an iblcc (or whatever it is!) and a midwife.

Original poster
MabelFox · 21/05/2025 21:27

No issue with growth, he's putting on weight brilliantly. A good amount of wet and dirty nappies everyday.
His feeding seems to be little and often. So up to 10 mins every hour to hour and a half. I'm not getting much sleep because of this, hence why HV was trying to help me get longer stretches.
Feeding is comfortable and no issues with latch.
He does seem to fall asleep on the boob and it can be hard to wake him. So if he falls asleep I don't offer the same side? I try and switch him over? Sorry to sound stupid, I'm a complete newbie at this!

OP posts:
Arcticlife · 21/05/2025 22:13

Whyx · 21/05/2025 20:58

No one knows when the fattier hind milk joins the lighter milk. It's different for every woman, every baby every feed. So it is out dated advice to mention that. Unfortunately health visitor training does take a long while to catch up.

Second the advice to look at Olivia Hinge on Instagram etc. she has a book too. Very informative. She's an iblcc (or whatever it is!) and a midwife.

Came here to say the same. I also don't think you can really follow hard and fast routine for this, as the baby's needs change so fast. One day they'll not be so bothered and the next it'll be a marathon. Sounds like you're doing a great job!

fashionqueen0123 · 21/05/2025 22:18

MabelFox · 21/05/2025 21:27

No issue with growth, he's putting on weight brilliantly. A good amount of wet and dirty nappies everyday.
His feeding seems to be little and often. So up to 10 mins every hour to hour and a half. I'm not getting much sleep because of this, hence why HV was trying to help me get longer stretches.
Feeding is comfortable and no issues with latch.
He does seem to fall asleep on the boob and it can be hard to wake him. So if he falls asleep I don't offer the same side? I try and switch him over? Sorry to sound stupid, I'm a complete newbie at this!

If he falls asleep after one side, try changing his nappy to wake him up and then offer the second side.

legoplaybook · 21/05/2025 22:18

I'd offer at least both sides per feed.
Once the baby has slowed/lost interest/dozed off on one side switch to the other. You can switch back again and offer more than 2 sides per feed.
You don't need to actively think about 'getting the hind milk' - if your baby is feeding frequently from both breasts they will be getting hind milk so don't worry. All milk is good milk.

Fantasticfrollics · 21/05/2025 22:35

My baby was a very efficient feeder by 8 weeks and didn't feed for long. As others have said if baby is happy, wet and dirty nappies then I'd follow his lead. I found that my boy changed his feeding habits fairly often. When he was about 12 weeks he went through a phase of only wanting to feed from one side, I think the flow was too fast on one side. Even now (at 14 months) he prefers the left boob. When he was about 16 weeks, he would feed for 2-3 minutes at a time, I couldn't get him to go any longer. I knew he wasn't getting to the hind milk as his nappies were green and frothy, but this stage didn't last long. I had conflicting advice off different health visitors and midwives in the early days. Many of them aren't feeding experts. I'd trust your instincts, follow your son's lead and remember there will be lots of different phases and stages to breastfeeding. You're doing a great job!

SunshineIdiot789 · 21/05/2025 23:06

Feeding every hour -1.5 hours all day every day is not normal at 8 weeks so that does suggest he's not getting enough. Strip him and feed him while only wearing a nappy or do a nappy change after one breast.

My baby did sometimes feed every hour or 1.5 hours but that was evening cluster feeding, not the norm. Otherwise feeding every 2-2.5 hours is more usual.

My baby did also often only need one breast but I always offer the second one.

Superscientist · 22/05/2025 09:19

At 8 weeks my daughter fed for 3-7 minutes usually under 5 and flat out refused the second side. I had a fast letdown so the infant feeding team said she was getting all she needed quite quickly. She went on to develop a feeding aversions due to allergies and reflux and dropped to second length feeds but still managed to gain weight ok

She was about 6-7 months before she did longer feeds.

dairydebris · 22/05/2025 09:28

SunshineIdiot789 · 21/05/2025 23:06

Feeding every hour -1.5 hours all day every day is not normal at 8 weeks so that does suggest he's not getting enough. Strip him and feed him while only wearing a nappy or do a nappy change after one breast.

My baby did sometimes feed every hour or 1.5 hours but that was evening cluster feeding, not the norm. Otherwise feeding every 2-2.5 hours is more usual.

My baby did also often only need one breast but I always offer the second one.

Baby is growing well, pooping and peeing, so there is absolutely nothing to suggest baby isn't getting enough.

All humans are different all babies are different. Watch the baby not the clock.

Sounds like you're both doing brilliantly OP.

dairydebris · 22/05/2025 09:28

SunshineIdiot789 · 21/05/2025 23:06

Feeding every hour -1.5 hours all day every day is not normal at 8 weeks so that does suggest he's not getting enough. Strip him and feed him while only wearing a nappy or do a nappy change after one breast.

My baby did sometimes feed every hour or 1.5 hours but that was evening cluster feeding, not the norm. Otherwise feeding every 2-2.5 hours is more usual.

My baby did also often only need one breast but I always offer the second one.

Baby is growing well, pooping and peeing, so there is absolutely nothing to suggest baby isn't getting enough.

All humans are different all babies are different. Watch the baby not the clock.

Sounds like you're both doing brilliantly OP.

Paaseitjes · 22/05/2025 10:41

There's a really good LL article about fore and hind milk in my language but it doesn't seem to exist in English. Basically, it doesn't matter because either the baby drinks long in one go and gets the hind milk, or it drinks twice in a shorter period and gets the hind milk second time.

Mine's done when he lets go or when he starts chewing without swallowing, which is uncomfortable so I throw him off. 5-10 minutes per breast is normal for us, unless he's using me as a dummy/chew toy in which case he can keep it up for hours without actually drinking.

Edit: mine definitely feeds every hour or more during the day some days if it's hot or he's unsettled or he just fancies it. It's natural and fine so long as they're growing and making you change nappies regularly. The idea that they should only do every 3 hours is based on formula practice.

gamerchick · 22/05/2025 10:45

Some babies are just more efficient. If your baby is getting plenty of wet/dirty nappies and is alert then they're getting enough.

If they're not and losing weight then look at interventions. You know your own baby. I've never met a health visitor totally comfortable with breastfeeding anyway. Are they still using those growth charts meant for formula fed?

Original poster
MabelFox · 22/05/2025 11:42

Thank you (most of) the replies have been very reassuring. It's difficult to know what's right when you receive such different advice.
I'm not sure if the growth chart is based on ff, she just showed me the trajectory curve of where his growth was.
I've been told feeds are finished when baby falls asleep. But also told to wake him up to finish feeding. When he pulls off, but also told to put him back on. And when the flutter feeds start, but one of you has replied to leave him there during this. So it all confuses me. He's doing really well! Never lost any weight after birth. I'm really wanting to do everything I can for him. I just wish I was confident to know what I was doing was right.😌

OP posts:
legoplaybook · 22/05/2025 13:50

The growth charts the NHS use have always been based on breast fed babies.

legoplaybook · 22/05/2025 13:51

If you want him to take more milk per feed, then try switching more frequently.
If you are happy with lots of smaller feeds, keep doing what you're doing.
If your baby is growing and gaining then he's fine either way!

SunshineIdiot789 · 22/05/2025 16:01

dairydebris · 22/05/2025 09:28

Baby is growing well, pooping and peeing, so there is absolutely nothing to suggest baby isn't getting enough.

All humans are different all babies are different. Watch the baby not the clock.

Sounds like you're both doing brilliantly OP.

Show quote history

Yeah but that level of frequency won't be great for OP, which is why the HV was probably trying to help.