How do you define "short" feed?

cachoque · August 2014

Sorry if covered elsewhere. I keep reading "short feed" in threads and I'm currently worried that I'm not nursing long enough. I'm curious what everyone's nursing goals are? How many minutes, one side or both? What do you consider a "short" feed? Who's pumping already (I am because 6 days pp my boobs are already solid rocks even after feedings - so it's a necessity! lol)?

Unknown · August 2014

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MC03 · August 2014

I feed on demand, whenever she wants. It's usually every 1-3 hours for 10-15 minutes at a time. I consider that a short feed just because my DD1 used to nurse for 45 min at a time. I think every baby is different. As long as baby is having appropriate wet and dirty diapers and gaining weight then I would let baby set the pace.
Also I would be careful pumping so soon. You could create oversupply which can cause a lot of problems. Check out kellymom.com for info on pumping and oversupply.

lexxctpx · August 2014

This was confusing me too at the beginning. The nurses in the hospital led me to believe a 15 minute total feeding was good. I had a bunch of 5-10 min feeds while I was there and no one gave me a hint that it might not be enough. She also passed nearly all her meconium at the hospital. Only had a couple pees.

Well, my LO went from birth @ 6 pounds 10 ounces to 5 pounds 13 ounces in 3 days.

My pediatrician recommended 15-20 minutes per breast, 2 breasts at a feeding. I would assume this is pretty generalized since as PP said some babies are more efficient than others, but for me this has worked beautifully. Around the 20-25 minute mark on the first breast LO peters out. I burp her well, then she continues to root and I switch her to the other side where she feeds for about 20 minutes then purses her lips and she's done. I burp her and she falls asleep on my chest.

Seems to work pretty well. HTH.

lookame3639 · August 2014

With DD a short feed for her is about 10 minutes both breasts included. These feeds are usually based on her frustration or being tired. Since she requires fortified breast milk bottles i try to breastfeed during the day and do the bottles at night.

Jennicillin · August 2014

Just count your diapers..... if baby is peeing and pooping regularly then you don't need to worry about feed length.

My son would feed for 15-20min per side. My daughter would fee 5-7min per side. She actually gained weight way faster, and was just overall more efficient. Shorter doesn't mean less, it usually means efficient.

If your baby is peeing and gaining weight, it's getting enough :-)

As for the pumping, ditto what a PP said about working against yourself. You're telling your body it needs to produce more. It's usually better to relieve engorgement by hand and a hot compress at this stage if it's getting too painful for you.

jendem8 · August 2014

MrsDeo said:

cachoque said:

Sorry if covered elsewhere. I keep reading "short feed" in threads and I'm currently worried that I'm not nursing long enough. I'm curious what everyone's nursing goals are? How many minutes, one side or both? What do you consider a "short" feed? Who's pumping already (I am because 6 days pp my boobs are already solid rocks even after feedings - so it's a necessity! lol)?

FTM, so grain of salt and all that, but from what I've heard, if you're pumping because of engorgement, you're working against yourself. Your body is still trying to figure out how much milk to make and when, and if you're pumping, you're just telling it to make more milk. Breastfeeding is a very supply and demand based system. If you want to start building up a stash of extra milk, go for it, but you might want to pump less often, not after every feeding (not sure how often you're pumping anyways). Oversupply is an issue that's not helped by pumping.

As for the rest of it, no input but I'm curious to see other responses! My only "plan" is to feed from one breast until LO seems done with it, then offer the other just to see if she's still hungry; I'll just switch starting sides each time.

I just want to say that I ended up in the hospital with mastitis because of this advice. You really might need to pump. I have an oversupply and stopped pumping because a few people told me to do so.... and then I woke up with 102.8 degree fever and am now on antibiotics for 14 days. If you are in pain/engorged and your LO is not resolving it, then you need to pump until comfortable (don't "over pump" but allow yourself be relieved). The lactation consultant told me that I was basically producing enough for triplets, but she told me that I will probably need to pump to be relieved.

cachoque · August 2014

Thanks for all the advice! I know every body is different but I left the hospital feeling like every nurse and LC that visited told me something slightly different. Like some of you, I was advised to pump but I've read about the "working against yourself" notion alot as well. The "planner" in me is frustrated b/c I'd really like to have a plan that I could trust but it just doesn't seem to work that way.

Rosebean · August 2014

Kellymom.com y'all.

raquelynn714 · August 2014

I hope I can eventually have a "short feed" sometime soon. Preston nurses for 60+ minutes still demanding more (only 5days old). Hoping my milk comes in stronger soon and feedings get shorter... Barely any time in between!