S/O how long between feedings - how long do you feed?

bumpuser1282882 · April 2014

The "how long between feedings" thread got me thinking - how long do your feeds last? I was told by the hospital they should be around an hour. Just wondering how long everyone else feeds for.

I was told to feed every 3-4 hours, feeds should take about an hour, and to offer both sides at every feed. It really seems like this is different than what I'm reading on here.

I'm wondering if I should be doing more frequent, shorter feeds so I wanted to get an idea of what everyone else does.

TazzzS · April 2014

My LO lasts between 10-30mins

bumpuser1282882 · April 2014

@WickedNE‌ he is 2.5 weeks (3 weeks this tuesday).

natsmama · April 2014

DS is very fast; he normally only nurses for 8-10 min on each side. He's gaining weight and has plenty of wet and poopy diapers every day, so I'm letting him do his thing. He has a checkup on Monday, I'll run everything by the pedi then but, to answer your question, about 20 min each feeding unless he chooses to stay on longer.

AriaAmante143 · April 2014

Anywhere from 5-20 minutes a side. She'll usually pop off, I'll burp her and try to offer that same side again.

BrideNamedMeg · April 2014

An hour??? That sounds ridiculous! I do about 10 minutes per side, sometimes a little longer but I'd say a half hour is absolute tops unless she's cluster feeding.

SassyFlats · April 2014

Sometimes she only takes 5-7 minutes a side, sometimes 10. She might comfort nurse for a bit after, but I'd say 30 minutes total is fairly long now that she's gotten the hang of things.

She usually pops off on her own, I burp her, and offer the other side. Sometimes she takes it, sometimes she doesn't.

bumpuser1282882 · April 2014

BrideNamedMeg said:

An hour??? That sounds ridiculous! I do about 10 minutes per side, sometimes a little longer but I'd say a half hour is absolute tops unless she's cluster feeding.

The more I read on here and other sites, the more I agree. I think that might be why he is so drowsy for feeds, because I am trying to make them last so long. I would also be apt to nurse more often if it didn't take an hour. I couldn't fathom how other posters feed every 2 hours, because I assumed everyone was feeding for a hour (as I was told to do). This is so confusing and frustrating.

MeggsM · April 2014

My LO usually takes half an hour to feed, less at MOTN feedings and more at the 8 am feeding after her 6 hr stretch. She's mostly on one side, sometimes the second if she's super hungry in the morning. My midwife said half an hour should be enough. Usually after the initial gulps she falls off te latch, I burp her or change and then put her back in the same side.

Sanibel21 · April 2014

So I was worried about feeding too short (8-10 minutes and only one side) every 2-3 hours. But I went to a lactation group that weighs them before and after feeds and LO is getting 2.5 ounces which is fine for her they said. I have a fast flow/letdown. So I think it all depends on the baby and the boob!

natsmama · April 2014

Ha, maybe my little guy's schedule is more average than I thought!

BethRN1987 · April 2014

I've heard that the "hour" includes burping and diaper change

Babykawash · April 2014

My daughter feeds anywhere between 15 and 45 mins, it just depends on her mood and how hungry she is. I always offer her both breasts but she doesn't always take the second. I make sure I pump when she has quick feeds just to keep up with my supply. So far it's been working, lots of pee/poop and she is only 2 weeks and over her birth weight.

pepperedmoth · April 2014

A probably averages 10-15 minutes a side. He doesn't always want the second side, especially during the MOTN feed. In the evening he often will have a marathon session of up to an hour, but I think most of that is comfort nursing.

LC today said that 15 minutes is about average to drain a side, though babies and breasts differ. We feed on-demand, but it works out to 1.5-4 hours during the day and as long as six at night. He has regained birth weight and has lots of wet/dirty diapers.

myfriendscallmemeg · April 2014

15 minutes and we are golden! One side. If she nurses for 20 minutes or longer she will over eat and that's when she ends up projectile vomiting all over herself/me. She's usually good to go 2-2.5 hours between feedings.

LaurenAsh23 · April 2014

I think it also depends on you...for me, if I'm just watching TV I'll let her go on each side however long she wants. But if we are out somewhere or getting ready to go somewhere, I pay more attention to her sucks and if she's just using me as a pacifier after a while, I pull her off. I agree with others though, 30 minutes should be sufficient, but It does depend on the baby

lazyreader · April 2014

We feed every 3 hours in the daytime (up to 5 at night so far). She eats for about 40+ mins. But I let her comfort nurse as long as she wants usually. I offer the same boob for one session and pump both about 30-60 minutes after she eats for my stash. next meal i give her boob b.

This includes a few burping sessions and a diaper change (sometimes twice. ugh)

Pinecone21 · April 2014

If I don't let LO nurse for at least 20 minutes on one side, her poop turns green, which means she isn't getting enough of the hindmilk. She usually finishes by 30 minutes, and only takes one side per feeding. Our longest feeding ever was 65 minutes.

jfb29 · April 2014

On average - 45 minutes total. I've been taking her off between 20 and 25 minutes. She almost always takes both sides and has been feeding anywhere from 1-3.5 hours. I have low supply though so that might have something to do with it.

Ceventa · April 2014

DS eats between every 2-3 hours and it usually takes him between 10-15 minutes to drain one side, sometimes I'll let him go to 20 minutes especially at night because he'll start to fall asleep. I've tried offering the other side, but he usually doesn't go for it. The last time he went for the other side he only lasted 5 minutes and it was a little over 3 hours from his last feeding.

BrideNamedMeg · April 2014

stufie said:

BrideNamedMeg said:

An hour??? That sounds ridiculous! I do about 10 minutes per side, sometimes a little longer but I'd say a half hour is absolute tops unless she's cluster feeding.

The more I read on here and other sites, the more I agree. I think that might be why he is so drowsy for feeds, because I am trying to make them last so long. I would also be apt to nurse more often if it didn't take an hour. I couldn't fathom how other posters feed every 2 hours, because I assumed everyone was feeding for a hour (as I was told to do). This is so confusing and frustrating.

Can I ask who told you to feed for an hour? If it was a pedi, I feel like sometimes they aren't totally up to date on the full range of normal for BFing.

I think overall it's important to watch your baby and take your cues from them. If you're feeding your LO for 20 minutes, they're having lots of wet/poopy diapers, are gaining weight and doesn't seem starving/rooting around everywhere after each feed than you're doing what you need to do for your baby. It might not work for someone else's but I don't see any point in trying to keep them on there for a crazy long time just for giggles.

bumpuser1282882 · April 2014

@BrideNamedMeg‌ it was the lactation nurse who told me that. Maybe she meant that included a diaper change and burping? And I agree with you. I think as a FTM I'm just really questioning myself and wanting so much to do the right thing, but still trying to work out what the right thing for us actually is.

erios329 · April 2014

We usually go 10-15 mins each side. I have a question though, I keep reading about babies "draining" the breast in however many minutes. How do you know if they are draining the breast? I usually just switch when liam is falling asleep and its been a decent amount of time..is that right?? Or how so I know I'm empty? I want to make sure he's getting the hind milk...

BabiesFTW · April 2014

About 5-7 minutes on a side. She often only takes one side.

bumpuser1282882 · April 2014

erios329 said:

We usually go 10-15 mins each side. I have a question though, I keep reading about babies "draining" the breast in however many minutes. How do you know if they are draining the breast? I usually just switch when liam is falling asleep and its been a decent amount of time..is that right?? Or how so I know I'm empty? I want to make sure he's getting the hind milk...

I've wondered this myself too.

lwebley · April 2014

During the day I feed every 3-4 hours roughly. I've started feeding on demand the last couple weeks. The whole process takes me about an hour, although, he doesn't eat the whole time. The hour includes, changing his diaper, feeding both sides, and burping in between. I also sit him upright for 15-30 minutes to let his food settle and prevent spitting up. The first month I fed every 3 hours and he ate about 20 minutes on each side.

lwebley · April 2014

@stufie @erios329‌ from what the lactation consultant told me your breast should feel firm at the start of the feeding and feel very soft (deflated) once "drained".

Hdhtk4 · April 2014

My lactation consultant told me not to let LO feed over 40 minutes because she would be burning more calories than she was taking in, BUT LO has difficulty getting much milk during a feeding so that might be different for a baby who nurses efficiently. I usually do 15 minutes on each breast.

jwls84 · April 2014

E can be a super fast eater, usually she takes no more than 15 minutes and only eats from both sides one or two feedings a day and all other feedings are one side at a time.

My first took 45 minutes every time, it was too long for me! So I Am enjoying my quick eater this time around

klitwin1 · April 2014

Mine is 10 min one said but about every hour during the day. I get a 6 hour stretch at night. My baby is 5 weeks

aabems · April 2014

mine has been eating 20 minutes an hour when she's awake. She's been up for 4 hours tonight ! @-)

farmrose · April 2014

Anywhere from 5-20 minutes, usually in the 10-15 range. She only takes one side per feed bc I'm making a TON of milk. I only offer the second side when she's cluster feeding and angry that the first side is dry-which isn't very often.

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