Am I over feeding LO?

sdlaura

I've been reading BF posts on here where other moms are saying they only feed 15-20 min at a time, or only one side.

It takes my LO at least an hour at each feeding, and she wants to drain both sides. She'll fall asleep and unlatch a few times but if I try to put her down, she'll start giving hunger cues again until she's drained both sides. I don't think she's having any trouble getting milk out since it will drip out when she lets go.

Maybe it's just her age (1 week exactly)? What do you think? 

lily225

I have been one to say in posts recently that I only nurse on one side. That is with the exception of the marathon nursing sessions I would sometimes get in those first couple weeks. A typical nursing session in the first 1-3 weeks has always been at least 45 minutes, but usually more towards and hour or more. For those long ones, I would sometimes feel my one breast drained so we would switch to the other. I pretty much nurse on demand so if baby seems hungry, I nurse. Breastfed babies rarely overeat. Newborns tend to love to nurse for long periods of time and their bellies are growing rapidly every day, so it makes sense to have these longer sessions especially when they aren't so efficient at sucking yet.

Definitely don't worry about your little one eating for a long period of time - totally  normal!!

MyBeanieBaby

Don't worry.

My First basically nursed around the clock from both breast an hour each feed and an hour and a half later feed for another hour. But it turned out the LC said she Nursed for comfort.

This baby is totally different. At first she was feeding for 15 minutes on only one breast. Now it's only for 5 - 10 minutes on one breast and then feeds again 2 hours later.

AprilAngie

C_mo:

I really don't think there is a way to overfeed a newborn... or any baby for that matter. I would just continue with what she wants to do, although an hour is a LONG time! Hopefully the feedings get shorter for you soon!

This is not true. My LO always over eats. I think the big reason is too much milk and she is gulping and her tummy can't hold all the milk. Then she throws it up. Not reflux. Not crying nothing just can't hold the milk. Sometimes she is slepi g when she throws it up.

Op every baby is different. It sounds like your baby is fine. If big throwing up and baby seems content then don't stress. I never nurse on both sides. I always alternate breasts with each feeding or what ever breast is fullest and leaking is sometimes the choice.

sdlaura

She isn't spitting up at all - just regular burping - so I guess that's a good sign.  Thanks, ladies.

nopegoat

Every kid is different. My first was (and still is) a grazer and would sit on the boob for an hour easily. Rhett on the other hand latches on and goes to town for 5-15 mins and is done! 

irer

kdm06c:

Every kid is different. My first was (and still is) a grazer and would sit on the boob for an hour easily. Rhett on the other hand latches on and goes to town for 5-15 mins and is done! 

This! Besides the occasional marathon session, Oliver is a very efficient nurser, while my first would have hung out on the boob all day if I let him.