How do I know when BF baby has 'finished' a feed?

[Daffodilly]

DS is a week old today. BF seems to be going OK, he feeds 6 times in 24 hours for 30-60 mins each time. Midwife has suggested I try and up this to 7-8 times as he is still a little jaundiced.

But my real question is how do I know when he is finished? Usually he dozes off during the feed, I wind him, tickle his feet, etc and get him to take some more. But he will reach a floppy out for the count stage - after about 30 mins usually. I just want to be sure he is getting enough.

Other times (usually at night when I just want to go back to bed) he will go and go. Seems to be sleeping on the job, then if I try to detach him, he does another couple of sucks. Not sure if this is just comfort sucking though?

I should know all this - he's my second - but DD's newborn phases is just a blur in my memory!

Daffo, sometimes there is indeed no clear 'finishing'point with a breastfeed, you are right

Even 7-8 times in 24 hours is not very long for most newborns and 6 times is definitely not enough for most, esp if there is jaundice.

Frequent feeding can be supported by having him skin to skin with you and sleeping that way, too...you will prob find you end up feeding more often without really worrying about 'the end' if you respond to his feeding cues.

Thanks tiktok. I will try to increase his feeds then - easier said than done with a 2 year old to look after too! I have done some skin to skin - but don't seem to be able to master the feeding lying down which would be a great help for the night feeds (I just end up with very sore nipples!)

The midwife mentioned that babies start the feed with rapid sucking, then it goes rhythmic and then finishes with a faster pace and a kind of chin "wobble". I know what she means as I've seen him do this - but only once or twice.

I guess the real test will be when he is weighed again next week....

At 4 months my DD either falls asleep - and does the stop sucking but suck frantically thing if you try and take your nipple out (note - do not attempt just to pull out anyway without breaking a seal although you will be amazed at just how far a nipple can stretch).

Or she does a clear head shake to get away from the nipple - usually remembering to let go first lol

When she was little she did tend to just fall asleep though and when they are that small I really just let her do what she wanted. With jaundice though I think feeds need to be more frequent.

I think with jaundice my midwife told me to feed every 2 hours if possible, although you cant really make a bf feed if they dont want to. Many BF babies feed this often anwyay -although there is always variation.

I have a toddler as well and sympathise with the juggling act - it does get easier (or maybe just different!) I promise!

Congratulation, Daffodilly!

Yes, the juggling act of toddler and new baby not easy!

Just to add to all the above sound advice: if you are trying to encourage the sleepy baby to do more drinking on the breast (nutritive vs non-nutritive sucking), in particular to help with jaundice, try breast compressions. They are really well explained and shown by video on www.drjacknewman.com/video-clips.asp - be warned: lots of rather impressive boobage on show . I found compressions worked v well for me and DS3 to help fill him up, resolve jaundice v quickly and aid wt gain. Personally, I think it also helped establish my supply quicker.

Best of luck!

DS2 had breastfeeding jaundice and I was told to feed as much as possible. DS2 was quite sleepy and we had problems finding a position where he could latch on comfortably and feed. i ended up taking him in the bath every day and feeding him there. Once we'd been having a bath for a couple of days, he seemed to get the hang of feeding and his feeds seem to be more purposeful and his jaundice cleared.

Thanks for the extra ideas. I actually did a search last night and found the Jack Newman videos which are really helpful. I can also see him doing plenty of that "chin pause" so know he is getting milk.

Good idea about the bath - I forgot I did that with DD. Can I start even before his umbilical cord has fallen off??

I've tried waking him to feed every 2.5 hours this morning (after reading on Kellymom that it should be at least every 2 in day and every 4 at night). However he only fed for about 15 mins and wasn't interested in any more. Is little and often better than a longer feed every 3 hours?

He's upstairs lounging in the (weak) sunshine now in the hopes that will help with the jaundice too.

daffodilly - i cant remember whether DS2 still had his cord on (presume he did as i think he was about 8 days at the time)

also (have just remembered )he also only fed for about 5 mins at a time and MWs were saying he should be feeding for 20mins. I posted on here and, iirc, was told not to worry too much as long as he was feeding and was producing 6+ nappies a day. he's always been a quick feeder during the day and now just snacks during the day with 5-10min feeds and makes up for it in the evenings.

My DS has never really fallen asleep while feeding - well, maybe twice in his 15 weeks. He tends to pull off when he's done, or stretch and twist his body and arms (sometimes while still latched which is painful!).

Sometimes he's obviously very happy with his feeding and starts smiling at my breast, which breaks the latch. It's lovely to see him so happy with my milk but a bit frustrating when he's only been going a couple of minutes, so I'm trying to get the nipple back in his mouth and telling him to start sucking again!