Breastfeeding
How long should my baby breastfeed for?

How long should my baby breastfeed for?

• During the feed, your baby will take little pauses between suck-swallows of milk. These little pauses are normal – there’s no need to jiggle your baby or hurry her up. As the feed moves on, your baby empties your breast and her tummy fills up, the pauses will get longer and more frequent, until baby is full of milk and the feed is over.
• The best way to remove your baby from your breast is to wait until she comes off on her own. Generally, when babies need a break, they will stop without any help. This is the best time for burping, chatting or nappy changing.
• If you need to remove your baby from your breast because she has fallen asleep, place a clean finger in the corner of your baby’s mouth and gums to break the suction on your nipple and breast.
• When your baby is full and finished the feed, your nipples may appear lengthened, but should be in good condition. They definitely should not feel painful.

Signs your baby is full and satisfied

Just as babies show non-verbal cues to let you know they are hungry, they also give you cues to tell you when they are full and have had enough milk. This is really useful information because it’s often hard to know when your baby has had enough to eat.

‘I’m full now’ cues

Here are some cues she’ll show you to say, ‘I’m feeling full now’:

• Relaxed, straight and extended arms and legs
• Falling asleep
• Hands no longer clenched into fists
• Relaxed fingers and open fists
• No longer sucking vigorously, but a series of short suck-swallows and pauses, until coming off the breast and socialising or falling asleep
• Pushing or pulling away from your breast or the bottle
• Arching her back away from you, or turning and pushing away from you
• By watching for a number of these cues coming altogether, you’ll know when your baby has had enough to eat.

Practical breastfeeding information

Feeding routines

When she’s first born, your baby will feed every two to four hours, and feeds should last about 15–20 minutes. However, it’s best not to time how many breastfeeds but follow your baby’s cues.

When you breastfeed, you can’t see how much milk your baby’s receiving, so you’ll have to follow her lead and watch for her ‘I’m hungry’ and ‘I’m full now’ cues. Of course, there is no set amount of food your baby is going to take at each feed. She’s a bit like you – sometimes, she’ll feel like a huge dinner and, at other times, she’ll want just a little snack, so she’ll take varying amounts each feed time.

As for your milk supply, you’ll discover when it’s most plentiful; this is often in the morning after you’ve had a good rest. Sometimes, at this time of day, your breasts are so full that your baby may only take milk from one side, but she may like both – it’s hard to tell. It depends on how hungry she is.

Often, in the evening, your supply is a bit less, so your baby will need both breasts. Your milk supply can also be lower because you’ve had a busy day. It’s easy to forget to sit down, put your feet up, and have plenty of water, snacks and regular meals.

Whenever you breastfeed, you and your baby need to be in a comfortable place. You need to have a chair with good back support and somewhere to rest your arm while supporting your baby’s head.

Your baby needs to be snuggled close in the crook of your arm, able to attach well to your breast and, importantly, she needs to make good eye contact with you while she feeds.

While your milk supply is becoming attuned to your baby’s needs, you will feel full and uncomfortable prior to feeds. Sometimes, your breasts may leak and even spurt milk. This is known as the letdown reflex. While it may continue for a few weeks, it will settle down as your breasts adjust to your baby’s needs. If you can persevere, your breasts usually become efficient at producing just the right amount of milk and start doing the whole supply and demand thing. The whole process of establishing your milk supply usually takes around six to eight weeks, sometimes a little longer. It’s a very individual experience.

If you’re looking for someone who can assist, good sources of breastfeeding help could include your own mum, or if you have sisters or friends who breastfed successfully, they are good sources of help. They can often have had similar experiences and may be the best women to give you some helpful tips. Once again, this is a gentle reminder to allow yourself time to adjust to these physical and emotional changes.