How long do you BF?

theaustins05

I have heard of so any different ways to BF I am so confused. Do I feed her 15 min each boob, 30 min each boob? Let her eat till she passes out or spits it out? Is there a right and wrong way to BF?

fluffybuns

No right way. DD only takes 5-10 minutes a boob till she starts playing. So I know she's done.

 My first would suck forever if I let her, so we tried different thing, 15 minutes each boob, and just kept switching back and forth till I thought she was done.

It gets better! 

Leggadine08

Im in the same boat, Im so overwhelmed! DO I pump, when do I pump, do I let her finish one boob before offering the other? She BFs for almost an hour each time so Im getting worried she isnt getting enough since she eats so often. How many ounces should I get if I do pump? Ugh.. Lack of sleep is magnifying my anxiety over it all too.

So far Ive gone with the approach of letting her finish the one boob and offering the other since thats what the LC at the hospital told me. 

dahansen85

Leggadine08:

So far Ive gone with the approach of letting her finish the one boob and offering the other since thats what the LC at the hospital told me. 

I was told this as well - it's so that they get both fore milk and hind milk. I usually just feed LO on one boob until it's empty (as best as I can tell), but she is usually done before I switch boobies, so I guess I'm just going to live with being a little lopsided for a while.  

theaustins05

fluffybuns:

No right way. DD only takes 5-10 minutes a boob till she starts playing. So I know she's done.

 My first would suck forever if I let her, so we tried different thing, 15 minutes each boob, and just kept switching back and forth till I thought she was done.

It gets better! 

My LO is like your DD1 she will suck forever and fall asleep sucking. In the hospital I went for 4 hrs switching back and forth because she would wake up and cry when I took boobie away. So pedi nurse said I should try a paci unless I wanna be the paci. I know she is eating enough because of the diapers, but I'm wondering if I feed longer, if she will sleep longer, or if that's just a recipe for a super sleepy mama. I also wonder if kicking her off after 15 min is me being impatient.

fluffybuns

theaustins05:

fluffybuns:

No right way. DD only takes 5-10 minutes a boob till she starts playing. So I know she's done.

 My first would suck forever if I let her, so we tried different thing, 15 minutes each boob, and just kept switching back and forth till I thought she was done.

It gets better! 

My LO is like your DD1 she will suck forever and fall asleep sucking. In the hospital I went for 4 hrs switching back and forth because she would wake up and cry when I took boobie away. So pedi nurse said I should try a paci unless I wanna be the paci. I know she is eating enough because of the diapers, but I'm wondering if I feed longer, if she will sleep longer, or if that's just a recipe for a super sleepy mama. I also wonder if kicking her off after 15 min is me being impatient.

I was willing to be the pacifier until she was about somewhere between 2-3 months. Then I finally had enough and started giving her a binkie. It was the best thing I ever did. I didn't realize how much I hated sitting for hours upon end just nursing. I got nothing done and had no time to myself! I would no sooner finish one feeding and she would be hungry and wanting to nurse again. It took a lot, but when I finally had enough, I brought in the binkie!

She ended up loving it, and just had a need to suck, a lot! I would do a timed feeding 15min each breast and then give her the bink. She would then go 2 hours between feedings if not more, and was happy as can be! It was a life saver. But, I had to get to my breaking point before doing it because I was so opposed to the binkie in the first place.

 

tokenhoser

I've just been doing what the baby wants. Usually, that's 5-15 minutes on one boob. He rarely takes both, and he usually stops really sucking in a reasonable timeframe. Then I take my nipple away and see if he's happy or still fussy.

He will go around 4 hours between feeds... but only between 8 am and noon so far. Nights and early mornings he still never goes more than 2-3 hours. Sigh.

Lisa102304

Can you hear her swallowing? If she is still swallowing, then i dont think she is using you as a paci ? I would let her keep feeding if she is swallowing. Also, I found at about 3 weeks LO started being more efficient and a faster eater. DD now feeds for between 5-15 minutes ( and my boob feels emptied in that time). When I hear her stop swallowing, I break the latch and she how she acts. Cranky? I either re-latch or switch sides to see if she is still hungry.

nycdueinmay

Since seeing her pedi at 5 days PP, we have been following directions of 20 mins on each side for every feeding (so 40 mins total!). She usually completes the first boob for the full 20 mins, I break her off. The second one, she usually only goes for 15 or so. Even if she isn't swallowing anymore, I let her have the full 20 mins to suck if she is on. If it has been 15 mins and she spits out and sleeps, I leave her alone. If it has been less, I try to get her back on. She goes about 4 hours between feedings, but will cluster feed at night (every 1-3 hours), and then sleep for 8-9 hours straight. I kind of think she is such a great sleeper because I get her really full before bed. Does any of this make sense?

Regardless, there is no right or wrong way to feed your baby, especially if diapers and weight are fine and everyone is happy.

NothingLikeBarbie

I generally feed him only from one boob, for around 10 min on average (or quicker if he falls asleep or spits it out). And then the next feeding I will feed him from the other boob.

 Although sometimes he will be a hungry hungry hippo and eat from both boobs. Just do what works for you and your Lo!

mzsparklepdx

I usually start with alternating boobs and aim for 10-15 minutes per side.  Sometimes she falls asleep after 5 minutes and I can't wake her up to do more.  Because of my supply issues, I know she's not getting much after 15 minutes, but if she's actively sucking and happy, I'll let her keep going just to keep her sucking activity up.

tokenhoser

There can be gaps between let downs, so assuming a baby that stops swallowing for a bit is "done" can be wrong. Baby could be trying to stimulate another let down. Boobs never run empty - if a baby keeps sucking, milk shows up.

I know it's cliche, but "watch the baby, not the clock" is really good advice. Yes, sometimes I cut my LO off so we can get somewhere on time. I try not to do that when we're just at home or sitting around when we're out, though. 

kacelle

At first, I tried for 15 minutes a side.  But lately I've been feeding her as long as she wants on the first side, then offering the other and doing the same.  She seems to sleep longer after eating this way, and I've read that it's because they get all of the milk fat that they might not after 15 minutes.

I'm ready for her to be a more efficient eater and to cut down on the amount of time she spends on the boob! 

Raquellyo

She spends about 15-20 min on one side and lets go when she's done (and usually takes a nap).  I tried offering the other side, but she's usually not interested because she's in a milk coma.  I figure she's gaining weight so she's getting enough to eat so I'll just go with it.

michelerenee78

I usually let him nurse as long as he wants on the first boob.  Most of the time he is comatose after one and never makes it to the second.

Angel0423

5-20 mins depending on her mood! She's gaining so I don't worry about it!

pinkflipflops44

until she stops, starts playing or falls asleep. if i think she should be done i try burping to see what she does

akklotz0810

i dont think there is a right or a wrong way when it comes to timing the only thing is you should always aim to emptying the breast. my duaghter nurses only on one side each feeding (i am making an excess of milk), and i let her nurse for as all as she likes sometimes it is 10-15 minutes sometimes it is 30 minutes just depends on her. hope this helps.