How long does breastfeeding session take?

ldmw

i know everyone is different, but how long do your breastfeeding sessions last? I'm working through low supply issues so I nurse first then supplement and pump. My LO nurses about 10 minutes per side, so 20 minutes total. But I still have milk when I pump. Should I let her keep nursing longer?

jennygirlmt

Are you pulling her off after 10 minutes? Or is she ending it? You should let her nurse as long as she wants, especially on one side since that will both up your supply and make sure she gets all the fatty milk at the end.

And I'd say 25 minutes was average for my newborns, but often on just one side.

mnbando

I average 15-20 minutes on each side, but sometimes up to 30 minutes on the first side. My pediatrician suggested 45 minutes a feeding in the beginning

CordeliaD87

I nurse my LO until he pulls himself off and doesn't act hungry anymore. Sometimes it's 10-15 min, but mostly around 30-40 min. In the beginning, I was mainly on one side during each feeding, but now when he pulls off, I switch sides before letting him relatch.
If you are supplementing for a low supply, I'd assume you wouldn't have much to pump after LO eats. How do you know you have a low supply?

cassietegtmeier

I think it depends on the person. My LO feeds for about 10-15mins and when I pump for 10-15mins I fill over half the bottles I'm pumping into. Everyone's different.

ldmw

I am pulling her off, as that's what lactation consultant said. I'm thinking I can stop doing that since my nipples are now healing.

I know I have low supply due to baby's weight loss and I had to exclusively pump in the beginning and my supply was only 5ml-10ml between both breasts.

My little one also falls asleep a lot when she's breastfeeding, so sometimes it's hard to tell whether she still needs to eat or needs pulled off because she's just pacifying vs. eating.

CordeliaD87

If you're still in touch with your LC, then speak to her about how your situation has changed. Like pp said, everyone is different. Good luck tho!

cece3d

Little Miss will stay stuck to my left side for at least 30 to 40 minutes before I have to pull her off, but will willingly let go of my right side after 10. Not sure why. And she will usually always fall asleep during feeding. She won't always stay asleep though. If I move her she may wake up. If she's fed enough she'll be content, if not she be cranky. She's just a weirdo.

chicago1985

The whole session is about 45 mins for us

jame1380

Our sessions were 45 minutes to an hour. He was very sleepy when on the breast so I was never sure if he was getting enough. If I switch sides trying to wake him, he is done. He lost almost 10% of body weight. I almost exclusively pump now. I wanted to be able to track how much he was eating. I hated the not knowing. He has put weight on well and is doing great.

Our feeding/pumping sessions still take almost an hour but my mindset is so much better! We still nurse once in the morning so that we make sure he still can.

sunnyday016

20ish minutes. I would let her nurse longer and stop supplementing/pumping. Why do you think you don't have enough? From what you wrote it sounds like you do.

stark01938209

Still pregnant here- but I remember it being about 20 minutes each side with my first- or until he dozed off. A full tummy would make him very sleepy

mamajama3

Mine are about 30-45 minutes. She'll get fussy after the first side (when I think she's drained it) and I'll move her to the other side. We pump too (for the middle of the night feedings), and sometimes she's super fussy and I'll give her a bottle of pumped milk, but she loves breast feeding and then passes out on me so I feel like it's normal for her with how we are doing it. I've had friends whose babies fed for 10-15 minutes or as long as an hour or so. I think as they get bigger they get more efficient with feeding and will take less time.

lestes1121

Be careful with pulling baby off and making them switch sides. They may not be getting a lot of the fatty hind milk when you do that. I let mine feed on one side at a time and our sessions last anywhere from 10-15-27 minutes depending on when the last time she ate was.