How long does LO nurse for?

chois · October 2013

How long does your LO nurse for?

DS will only nurse for 5 minutes max on each side. I feel like he can't possibly be getting enough in that short time. He is having a decent number of wet and dirty diapers though.

After he eats from the second side he'll unlatch, but still root around like he wants more. He won't latch though, even if I switch him to the first side again. I can express more milk when he's done so I know he hasn't sucked me dry. I'm curious how long other LOs take to eat or if they root around without latching when they're done.

Takeabreath · October 2013

My LO is 2 weeks and depending on what's happened during the day she could go between 15-30 minutes.

ammiddleton3 · October 2013

My LO has been doing this but I can get him relatched eventually. He does this off and on sometimes for extended periods.

ravenclaw1 · October 2013

I had a weighed feeding with an LC today, she took 1.5oz in only 10 minutes. The LC and I were both shocked.

If you're concerned, try doing that, it was interesting to know.

staebells · October 2013

My LO nurses for a minimum of 15-20 minutes on each side. Then he'll root after he seems like he's done and go back for what I call "dessert". It's about 5-10 minutes more per side after that. He's 6 days old. I look forward to when he nurses faster!

lovemyboyyss · October 2013

DS only eats one side at a time for 10 to 15 minutes. At 3 weeks he has already gained 2 lbs and 3 inches so I'd say he is eating efficiently. When he is really tired he will root but I give him a pacifier because he just wants to comfort nurse.

ajbook · October 2013

My LO does that sometimes during the day. She's 1 week old and 1/2 oz below birth weight so I think she's getting plenty.

smlowe9311 · October 2013

LO is 3 weeks today and she had been eating about 10 minutes on each side give or take a few minutes but starting today she will feed on one side for like 20 minutes and then sometimes she will take the second side. At her last feeding I got her to take the second side and she ate for about 5 minutes on that side.

erink7211 · October 2013

DS is a lazy eater so sometimes a full meal can take anywhere from 45 minutes total to sometimes nearly an hour and a half. Granted that includes stopping to burp, switching sides, trying to wake DS up, and often times a diaper change.

jjkaye · October 2013

Usually 15 mins per side. Sometimes 10 each, sometimes up to 30 each. I let the kiddo do his thing and only track time to see how many feedings we get in per day.

Skalbrecht · October 2013

We do 8-10 min per side. LO is 3 weeks 3 days.

Edited for spelling

emorda · October 2013

We do 20+ min each side. Her pediatrician and the lactation consultant at the hospital said to do 15 on each side but she is NEVER done that quick and then cries when I unlatch her. Once I swaddle her back up and change her again she does another 5 min on one side as dessert and then she is OUT! I think I feed her too long but it's what she wants. My boobs are sore all the time!! I can't wait until I can pump.

Ntymec · October 2013

Every baby is different. I wouldn't try to compare what your baby does to what others do. If your baby is awake and is not trying to continue to feed I wouldn't stress out about it. They are probably done nursing. Some babies gulp and some take their time. There is no set timeframe.

Also your breast doesn't actually empty. You are continually making more milk. You will most likely always be able to express some milk out. If you feel like your breast isn't full and engorged they probably got enough. One way to tell is from their stool. If it's yellow they are getting enough from the breast. If it's green they aren't reaching the hindmilk and need to nurse on that breast for a longer period of time or you need to put then back on that same breast for the next feeding.

kgravil85 · October 2013

My LO does anywhere from 5 min to 15 min and he almost always does only one side at a time. I think this is because I have a super fast let down. When I pump I get 3+ oz in maybe 10 min (which I try to do once a day to stock up for when I go back to work) and pumping isn't near as efficient as nursing. I also have to wear nursing pads 24/7. All babies and mamas are different, so I'm sure you're doing a great job!

Edit- I felt bad for him in the beginning because I think he had trouble keeping up.

Baxterman · October 2013

My LO does about 10 -15 min per side. I also did a weighed feeding with the lactation consultant at our hospital and he gets about 2 oz per feeding. I think it all depends on your baby and how fast your milk flows. See if your hospital can help you with a weighed feeding to find out how much your baby eats. I know it made me feel a lot better to know!

ejb23 · October 2013

My LO usually nurses on one side for 10-20 mins then sometimes switches for 5-10. But it can last longer if she's sleepy

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kelseyjohnston · October 2013

I think I am the oddball- I only nurse on one side each feeding. He usually goes for about 20-25 min and is passed out milk drunk afterwards. He eats every 2-3 hours right now. He has gained the right amount of weight too according to pedi.

RoosterWrangler · October 2013

Mines averaging about 40 minutes on each side. I'm hoping he'll get faster; it seems like he's either distracted or falling asleep or just comfort nursing. He also wants to eat about every 2 hours so that doesn't leave me much time when I'm NOT feeding him.

katiezab · October 2013

How old is he? He might just need to burp.

Also you should consider putting him back on side 1 after he unlatches the first time. Side 2 really should just be dessert; you don't want to get uneven or leave him only getting foremilk!

janelleashu · October 2013

My baby usually nurses for 10-15 on each side with breaks in between for burping and general wake up time. I felt some anxiety and pressure to hit 15min on each side but now that I've let that go, he's fallen into his own schedule. He's almost 2 weeks and has gained 13oz from his birth weight.

lauriemel · October 2013

DD was nursing 10-15 minutes on one side and 5-7 on the other, but this week she has suddenly decided to nurse 20-30 on the first side. She's almost 5 weeks and has been gaining well with plenty of diapers.

VitaLuna · October 2013

Most feedings, she'll eat 10-15 minutes on one side only. Maybe once or twice a day she'll go longer on one side and/or eat for about 5min on the other side. She's 5.5wks. I agree with PP that a weighed feeding may be helpful.

normandyn7 · October 2013

Originally he would nurse 15-20 minutes on each side. For the past couple days he's been feeding maybe 15 minutes on one side only. I'll offer him more but he won't take it. My pediatrician said he should only nurse 7-10 minutes on each side. I don't agree because he always lets go when he is done. I'm not going to detach him.

Lbear8 · October 2013

2 weeks and dd only nurses 8min to occasionally 20 minutes total each feeding. 8 minutes is only on one side. I only change sides when I can't hear her swallowing anymore. She also just won't latch. I worried at first but at her 2 weeks checkup she gained an ounce a day and the doctor said that is on track, she is just a proficient eater (yeah!)

kat81again2 · October 2013

are you burping him and giving him a bunch of breaks? 'cause the rooting plus not latching thing is often an indication of gas. he might want more if you take a nice long break with burping.

Our nursing sessions total 60 min most of the time...which is too long, I know, but I have an overactive let-down so I need to burp her a LOT, and she really does detach when the flow is too strong for her (but before she is full).

katdesear · October 2013

@kat81again2 I have the same problem on my right side. Met with the LC yesterday to try different latch positions and we were able to find something that seems to work much better. Lots of burping is key though OP. Does he fall asleep right after? I read that LOs will continue some rooting behavior during REM sleep before they fall into a deeper sleep.

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