How long does a breastfeed last?
The length of a breastfeed varies from child to child. Some babies are greedy and fast drinkers, others are rather small connoisseurs. You can use simple signals to tell whether your baby is still feeding properly or whether it is just sucking and you can stop breastfeeding.
Breastfeeding: How long on a breast?
A breastfeed is often compared to a “3-course meal”. First your child gets the thirst-quenching, low-calorie starter milk – the starter. Then comes the main course: the nutritious, high-calorie milk. When you’re new to breastfeeding, your body and baby need exercise. It can take up to twenty minutes for the nutritious milk to come from a breastfeed. After that, it only takes five to ten minutes. In any case, leave your baby on the first breast until it comes to the “main course”. Then your baby can get the dessert from the breastfeeding meal on the other breast – a mixture of initial milk and filling milk. Overall, a breastfeed can last a good hour at the beginning. Don’t watch the time, let your baby decide when to stop feeding. It is of course important that you are not under any time pressure yourself. Once full, your baby will usually let go of your breast. So you can’t overfeed it.
Breastfeeding: suck or drink?
However, as soon as your child only sucks at the breast without drinking, you should remove it from the breast and end the breastfeeding of your own accord. Because sucking softens the skin and can cause sore nipplesto lead. If the larynx stops swallowing, you can check whether your baby is still feeding as follows: Place two fingers above your areola on the breast and apply gentle pressure. If you feel a slight rhythmic movement, then your baby is still drinking. If it only sucks on your breast and has even fallen asleep, you can carefully detach it from the breast and thus declare the breastfeeding meal over. Before detaching, interrupt the suction by sliding your little finger between the corner of your mouth and your nipple. If your baby falls asleep before it is full and is therefore constantly hungry, you can use a few midwife tips to ensure that your child does not get too comfortable during the breastfeeding meal. In our article “The most common breastfeeding problems”you learn more about it.
Why do babies like to suckle?
You will quickly notice that your baby also likes to suckle at your breast when it is no longer hungry and the breastfeeding meal is therefore actually over. Because your baby’s sucking reflex is strong, but by no means just to take in food. Sucking was “trained” in the womb. When your baby sucks, whether from the breast, a bottle or a finger, it is not only looking for food, but also for security, attention and comfort. That’s why the word “breastfeed” doesn’t just mean to fill you up, but at the same time to calm, soothe, and satisfy.
Breast-feeding and proper breast donning and doffing
In our articles “How often should you breastfeed?” , “Is my baby drinking enough while breastfeeding?” , “Putting on and removing from the breast correctly” and “4 popular breastfeeding positions” you will get many more tips to ensure that breastfeeding works well . Our special “Breastfeeding” also offers you an overview of further information about breastfeeding .
