How long do you breastfeed for?
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Topic: How long do you breastfeed for?
Posted By: BaAsKa
Subject: How long do you breastfeed for?
Date Posted: 14 August 2007 at 1:25pm
I was wondering how long other b/feeding mums feed for at a time??? I only leave Astin on for 15-20mins each side but if i leave him on for as long as he likes he stays on for close to an hour each side!!!! i kidd you not!!! and i was doing that LLLOOOOONNNGGGG!! feeding routine until my MW told me not to put myself through that and only leave him on for 15 mins each side!
SO how long does your bubs feed for??? |
Replies:
Posted By: Bizzy
Date Posted: 14 August 2007 at 2:02pm
| both my boys were loooong feeders. up to an hour a side sometimes - but generally 45 mins. |
Posted By: ShellandBella
Date Posted: 14 August 2007 at 2:12pm
Isabella usually feeds about 20 minutes each side, but while she's going through a growth spurt (which she seems to be doing AGAIN already) she seems to want to be at my breast for about an hour each side  . ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
|
Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 14 August 2007 at 2:14pm
| At that age Daniel was about 30-40 mins all up (but he would only take one side and I had a ton of milk). Now he only takes about 10-15 mins before he refuses to have anymore |
Posted By: BaAsKa
Date Posted: 14 August 2007 at 2:18pm
| i guess it varies then |
Posted By: MILF
Date Posted: 14 August 2007 at 2:22pm
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jordis was on that long in the early stages, took about 3 months for her to be able to feed any quicker than that.
now i count myself lucky to get her to latch for 4 mins a side i miss those cuddles!!!!------------- Lyla - mum to Xanthe -  my big 4 year old 
and Jordis - 1 year old 
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Posted By: Andie
Date Posted: 14 August 2007 at 2:32pm
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At Astin's age, Ella once lasted 5 hours on the boob (usually ... I can't believe I took the "this might just be the way Ella needs to feed" advice and let that happen!!! Sounds to me like you're doing a good thing by letting him feed for 15-20 mins a side. ------------- Andie |
Posted By: Mikaela
Date Posted: 14 August 2007 at 2:56pm
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Before my milk came in properly Alex could be up to an hour on each side. Now I follow my midwife's advice, which is to let him have 15 minutes on one side and then as long as he wants (within reason) on the other side - usually 20 mins or so. And I rotate the starting side each time. ------------- http://www.bump-and-beyond.com"> 
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Posted By: Bombshell
Date Posted: 14 August 2007 at 4:48pm
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Gabriella used to feed up to 45 mins at a time...as milk got thicker she fed less as was filled up more....and she always fed a lot more during a growth spurt...
now she feeds around 5-15 mins a time....more if she falls asleep on it and i dont realise (i only feed her morning and night now!) |
Posted By: miss
Date Posted: 14 August 2007 at 5:47pm
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Lily would stay on for forever up until a couple of weeks ago, now she will take herself off. Generally a full feed is around 1-120 minutes on one side, with occasionaly 5 or so minutes on the other side.
With a growth spurt she will feed fully on both sides - like last week, and now I have milk for africa! -------------  
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Posted By: Rachael21
Date Posted: 14 August 2007 at 8:03pm
| If you listen for swallowing you can take him off when there are big gaps between swallows. Jack was the same he would of stayed on all day if i let him. |
Posted By: BaAsKa
Date Posted: 14 August 2007 at 9:34pm
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the only thing is that i feel stink for having to take him off when i give him formula topups cos i feel like if i kept him on for longer and filled him up then i wouldnt need to top him up but when i was giving him those long feeds i was falling apart!! i was tired, upset, depressed!, grumpy, hungry, thirsty!! and he still seemed unsettled! we both didnt settle down until i started giving him topups and 15mins each side. I just feel like a bit of a failure for not being able to breastfeed properly without having to give formula as that was a big thing for me after not being able to b/feed Bay so i wonder everytime i give Astin a bottle whether i will ever be able to fully breastfeed!!???
sorry that was a whinge!! |
Posted By: Bombshell
Date Posted: 14 August 2007 at 9:51pm
| ah supermilk is the answer.....thicken it up and he might get more from you and want bottle less???? |
Posted By: MyMinis
Date Posted: 15 August 2007 at 7:06am
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when haleigh was feeding off me before i started expressing she would feed 45mins - 1hr then 15mins the next side.
my mum told me i shouldve done 10 each side but my mw told me to empty one side them offer other side if sge was still hungry ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
http://tweetytweety85.bebo.com - bebo |
Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 15 August 2007 at 8:37am
I agree, and if you think it might be a supply issue there is stuff out there to try to boost your supply |
Bombshell wrote:Posted By: Andie
Date Posted: 15 August 2007 at 11:15am
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And don't be harsh on yourself for boosting his nutrition with a bit of formula. I'm sure he adores you for it! I found the marathon breastfeeding sessions just about drove me around the bend - you're right, they are exhausting and leave you feeling half-human (especially when you look about at the other stuff you'd wanted to accomplish over those few hours and you were couch-bound instead). It's all about balance, eh - and if a top-up of formula helps achieve that, I don't see the problem. There's no reason why you can't breastfeed and top-up once a day or so and continue that for however long you like. ------------- Andie |
Posted By: Andie
Date Posted: 15 August 2007 at 11:18am
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...sorry... I didn't word that last sentence how I meant it. I know lots of people have that choice taken away from them (me being one now) and I didn't mean it to say 'there's no reason...'. What I meant was please don't fret that a little formula top-up once a day or so means you'll inevitably have to wean onto bottle sooner than you'd hoped - it mightn't, and you might just be onto a good thing with what you're doing now. ------------- Andie |
Posted By: nikkitheknitter
Date Posted: 17 August 2007 at 8:36am
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Han used to feed for ridiculously long periods. I felt glued to the couch for the first year of her life.
A friend's midwife told her that babies get 95% of their feed in the first 5 minutes... so after I heard that I didn't worry too much. And even if it isn't technically correct, based on milk flow etc it's only logical that they do get the largest amount of milk at the start, so he's not missing out with only 15 minutes on each side! And I'd get in touch with a lactation consultant (one with a good reputation!) and get them to suggest some tips... (if you want to) Good luck Amber! |
Posted By: BaAsKa
Date Posted: 17 August 2007 at 1:48pm
thanks ladies i will persivere with it and feed him with top ups till hes 18 months!! if necesary! lol
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Posted By: Rachael21
Date Posted: 17 August 2007 at 8:32pm
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The only advice I can think of is try not to increase the formula when he grows. Like when he has a growth spurt let him spend all day on your boob rather than increase the formula amount. That way you will increase your supply and might even be able to drop the formula all together when he starts dropping feeds
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