Length of time at breast.

Re: Length of time at breast.

• JWhite1517 member

  May 2012

  I went to a lactation consultant today and asked about that because my baby does the same thing. She said after about 20-25min or so she is probably not getting too much more and is just sucking more as a pacifier. She said that would be a good time to switch. Hope this helps!

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• Count Choculitis member

  May 2012

  I would say it depends on how much colostrum or milk is coming out of you.  Do you know how much you're producing?  

  I had my twin boys two weeks ago and I tandem-nursed them for 30 or 45 minutes at a time while I was in the hospital and then when I got home.  But when I took the boys to the pediatrician for two consecutive follow-up appointments, I found out that they were actually losing more weight than was healthy.  I was devastated because I had been nursing them for such good, long stretches - I wondered how it was possible that they weren't getting enough. 

  Apparently, when you do long nursing sessions, it's like a workout for the baby.  It takes a lot of energy for them to root and suck.  So you want to make sure they're getting enough milk to make up for what they're burning off.  But if your baby seems to be gaining weight at a good pace, then I wouldn't worry about it.  

   

  

   

   

  

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• KCD053109 member

  May 2012

  The LC I had at the hospital after DS was born said 10-20 min. per side and then switch sides - and not any longer than 20 min. per side. This also gives you a clear opportunity to stop and burp in between sessions.
  

  

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• becketts

  May 2012

  The LC I've been seeing told me to listen for sounds of swallowing and to take DD away from the breast if it's been 10-15 minutes and I stop hearing swallows. Of course, that advice might not apply in all cases. DD is a preemie and we're working toward EBF but being careful not to tire her out. 

  

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