How long on each side?

[Frog]

How long does your baby nurse on each side and do you nurse on both sides each time?? My sister (who has 3 kids) said that she always did 20 min. on each side...every time. However, I am lucky if I can get Owen to nurse on each side for 10 min. I'm wondering if she is remembering when her kids got bigger (they're much older now so it's been awhile). Owen is always satisfied after nursing, but it has made me wonder if he's not completely emptying the breast and that's the reason for this mastitis???

 

[marley2580]

I only ever feed on one side per feed. In the early days, Kaya would feed often so I would feed for about 30 mins and then an hour or two later I would feed the other side. If Kaya came off the breast during a feed, I would offer her the same side again before offering her the other side. Kaya can now take a full feed from one breast.

You should only offer the other side if you are sure that the first side is empty.

 

[Holldoll]

How do you know that they are empty?

 

[Samantha675]

I do each side, or try to each time Bren is feeding. Though today, I swear it feels like he has been on for hours!!! I would try to do 10-20 minutes per side each time, to keep production more even. If you do one side, then wait 2-3 hours, and do the other, then go back 2-3 hours to the first side, then that breast has been filling for 4-6 hours. So if you switch sides, you are less likely to become engorged. Also be sure to switch the baby's position for feeding. I try to switch from the classic hold to what I call the football, kinds imagine the baby is a football, and your LO's head is on the outside of the breast, and body is under the arm.

 

[marley2580]

Because babies empty the breast at different rates you shouldn't really time your feeds, my sister's son only ever fed for a max of 20 mins whereas Kaya would feed for 40-60 mins at a time. You can tell if your breast is empty if the baby starts fussing after feeding for a while, and still seems hungry.

 

[luckyme225]

Until Connor was about two weeks I only offered one breast per feed because whenever I tried to change him to the other side he would fall asleep. Once he started getting more alert I started feeding 10 minutes per side. He eats normally 15-20 minutes, but my milk lets down immediately and I have a fast flow so he gets what he needs pretty quickly.

 

[goldlion]

My lactation nurse actually told me not to time the feeds per side and that it's best to feed on one breast until it's empty, then switch to the other.

Years ago women were told to do 15 min on each side but now studies show that it's best for the baby to completely finish a breast before moving to the next one because he/she is getting all of the nice fatty acids that come when the breast is almost empty.

She described it to me as it being like milk--- at the beginning it's 1% fat.. then 2%... then cream.

Plus, the fatty acids they get at the end will keep them satisfied longer-- better for baby AND you!

 

[JennyLynn512]

I'm with HollDoll, how exactly do you know when you've emptied your breast?

 

[marley2580]

Feed on one side until they seem like they are finished and then offer them the other breast, if they take it and eat, its because the first breast had been emptied, if they don't its because they got enough from one side. The next time you feed start them on the breast you offered last - so if you fed mainly on your right then offered your left, start next time on your left, even if the baby fed from it.

 

[Holldoll]

Also be sure to switch the baby's position for feeding. I try to switch from the classic hold to what I call the football, kinds imagine the baby is a football, and your LO's head is on the outside of the breast, and body is under the arm.

Why do you switch positions?

 

[Margerle]

Yah, I only feed one breast at a time - till empty.

How do you know empty?
When baby detatches, breast tissue is limp, there are no pockets of milk in your upper chest or under your arm- btw you should be gently massaging these areas so the milk lets down from there, and you can't really express much - and what comes is rich and white looking, then you know it's probably pretty empty.

Goldlion was right on the money. Give that baby some cream! They will sleep a little longer .

 

[Mango]

Because babies empty the breast at different rates you shouldn't really time your feeds, my sister's son only ever fed for a max of 20 mins whereas Kaya would feed for 40-60 mins at a time. You can tell if your breast is empty if the baby starts fussing after feeding for a while, and still seems hungry.

I think Marley gave some great advice! If your lil one was hungry you'd get a big fuss!!! Some times babies like to comfort suck for long periods after feeding when we still think they are hungry. Other times they are done in 10min and not interested in comfort sucking. Just follow your baby's cues

 

[mickey]

you only should nurse your baby on one side until it's empty, like the others said already!

this is important 'cos your baby needs the hindmilk, which will be released not straight at the beginning of a feed!

 

[Linzi]

I usually just uise one breast per feed.. and he's usually on between 10-20 minutes.

xxx