How long should I breast feed my baby in one feeding? - Newborn & Baby Forums

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Author	Message
DownUnder Members 1592 posts Location: Oman Occupation: Operator Age:	#158036 2007-10-28 14:40 GMT
	I feed on one breast at a time because he wont latch on to the other if I try and switch. He is 5 weeks old. If I let him he will feed for over an hour at a time and then he spits up several times because he eats too much. I have just been feeding him for 20-30 min. and delatch him myself. Is that enough time? He eats every 2-3 hours. He is growing and getting all chubby but I am not sure I am feeding him long enough but at the same time I dont want him to get a tummy ache and spit up all the time. I switch breasts every feeding. When I burp him and then try and offer him my breast again he wont take it, he falls asleep.


Skatergod Members 1588 posts Location: Mexico Occupation: Innkeeper Age:	#158037 2007-10-28 14:44 GMT
	He will feed until he is full. Babies dont know how to be greedy. They just feed enough to satisfy themselves.

BlueButterFly Members 1610 posts Location: Central African Republic Occupation: Turner Age:	#158038 2007-10-28 14:44 GMT
	15-30min per breast is recommended. Stop him to burp if he is spitting up often.

SplitDog Members 1656 posts Location: San Marino Occupation: Extra Age:	#158039 2007-10-28 14:45 GMT
	I would let him eat for about 30 minutes if you are using only one breast at a time. Burp him halfway through. You may find you can get him to latch onto the other breast now that he is a little older too.

MyGrassIsGreener Members 1684 posts Location: Falkland Islands Occupation: Harper Age:	#158040 2007-10-28 14:45 GMT
	20-30 min. is more than enough. I've fend mine app. 15 minutes and it was enough for him.

WinterWonderland Members 1532 posts Location: Poland Occupation: Numismatist Age:	#158041 2007-10-28 14:46 GMT
	with a breastfed baby, you really should let him eat as much and as often as he wants. as he gets older he'll get better at figuring out how much he needs and how much is too much. in the meantime, let him nurse if he wants to. you can try breaking the latch after 20 mins to burp him and see if he wants to go back on, but you should offer it to him until he decides its enough.

Musicmaker Members 1640 posts Location: Senegal Occupation: Historiographer Age:	#158042 2007-10-28 14:54 GMT
	I will let him eat for as long as he needs. Often the spit ups are due to an immature stomach (all babies are born with immature systems) and it will improve as he gets older. Since when we breast feed there is no way to measure intake it is best and safe to allow the child to unlatch when he is ready to do so. I nursed mine on demand and she used to take very long, but the sessions got shorter and shorter as she got better at it. Now at 9 1/2 moths we have a schedule that includes solids and breast milk and she takes about 20 minutes nursing, although sometimes she wants to linger for other reasons -needy, sleepy, tooth pain, etc.

Beanie Members 1617 posts Location: Bahamas Occupation: Mortician Age:	#158043 2007-10-28 14:54 GMT
	Do you hear him swallowing the whole time? There is a point in their nursing when it stops being suck-swallow and it's a lighter suck with only occassional swallowing, and that is comfort nursing. When the swallowing slows down significantly you can safely remove him from the breast. Some babies will comfort nurse all day if you let them. A lactation consultant gave me guidelines for what frequency of swallowing meant my daughter was done feeding, but I don't remember the exact guidelines. I strongly encourage you to contact a lactation consultant (your hospital may provide one for free) and/or La Leche League for further help if you have questions. LLL can be a great source of support as you continue nursing your son, in addition to being a great information resource.