How Long Does Your Baby Nurse?

A., you want to make sure that your baby's jaw is moving up and down along with his lips when he is nursing to determine whether he is really eating. My daughter refuses the pacifier and my doctor made a point to telling me not to allow her to stay on one side for more than 20 minutes to avoid becoming her pacifier.

Also, try undressing him down to his diaper (and a top depending on your baby) or tickling his jawline to help keep him more active when nursing.

I can really relate! My daughter would take 45 mins per breats so she was basically on the breast all day. I didn't want to remove her because i know how important the hindmilk is. What i didn't realize was that it only really takes about 15-20 mins for the breast to drain and that she was using me to sleep... basically using me as a pacifier. this became clear later on when she would drain boht breatss but couldn't fall asleep unless she was latched on.

my advice would be to start on one side and after 20 mnins, offer the 2nd breast but don't force. after another 20 mins, the feeding is rreally over and baby is just enjoying the comfort.

My first took his time, napping while he nursed. Sometimes it would take him 45 minute to and hour...He is all grown up and a fine, young, man and is 6'5"!! My second was like a little barracuda..He seemed to be a speed eater. He could be finished within 15 to 20 minutes...He, too, is all grown up and a fine, young, man and is 6'3" tall!!
So, I guess, it is all about the child. Relax and enjoy the time your son nurses. Once he decides he doesn't want to nurse anymore, you don't get that time back with him...As a mom who nursed both sons, home schooled them, and have watched them grow and mature into fine, young, men. I am eternally grateful for all the time I had with them growing up. ENJOY your little boy:-) Your relationship with him will grow as he does, but you will always remember those quiet moments that you had when he was just so small...

Many blesings,
C.

I also experienced longer nursing times around this time (2 months). By three to four months, he should become more efficient feeding for about 15 minutes on both breasts. Having said this, sometimes my daughter will still nurse for 40 minutes at a time during feedings where she is sleepy.

One thing my pediatrician advised me was to see if he was using your breast as a pacifier and not as a food source. Look to see if it looks like he is sucking and swallowing (food source), not just sucking (pacifier). After about 20 minutes of feeding, try pulling your breast away or gradually try to release the latch and see if he goes back to your breast for a feeding. He may also start to nod off on your breast, slowing down the pace. To make sure he stays actively feeding, gently rub his head or cheek to make sure he keeps up the work and again does not just use your breast as a pacifier.

Ha! Ha! Talk about nursing your entire day away...I nursed my 3 year old till he was past 2 1/2! I don't regret a single day though. He is the healthiest, smartest 3 year old I know (and that's not just because I'm his mom)! Anyway, at first I worried about the more nutritious hind milk. He was a snacker. Fed 10 minutes on just one breast and fell asleep. He wanted to breastfeed every half hour, night and day so I would just try to remember which breast was last and give him the other at the next feeding. I breastfed on demand, I could do this because I freelanced from home. My mother gave me a lot of flack though. Telling me I should put him on a schedule, so he'd be hungrier and feed for longer but it just felt right to let nature take its course and stop worrying about what everyone else thought. I was never fully drained and I'm sure there was plenty of hind milk left, but I stopped worrying once I saw how healthy he was growing, never getting sick like his non-breast fed friends, no ear infections, etc. I know you hear this all the time, but it does get easier! If I could breastfeed through baby's first sharp teeth, you can breastfeed for an hour! Use the time to catch up on some reading, emails, or TV.

This is something you DO need to address, and sooner rather than later. Many nursing consultants will tell you to let the baby dictate completely, which is not what's in his best interest or yours. I followed that advice, not knowing any better. What the other mom's said about the baby using you as a pacifier is so true, but I was never able to figure out whether he was nursing or playing. As for falling asleep on the breast, yup, he did that too, but I could not keep him awake no matter what tricks I tried, and he'd fall asleep with a tight latch on me...which I misinterpreted as him still wanting to eat. Over the first month and a half, we got into a horrible cycle. He would nurse for too long. I would get dehydrated and exhausted, and consequently not produce enough milk. He would nurse longer because I wasn't making enough milk. I would get more exhausted and dehydrated....At 6 weeks, the pediatrician said he was becoming severely underweight and I had to start supplimenting with formula. Thank G-d, we caught things in time and he's back on a healthy growth curve...but I'm still upset about everything we went though because the current lactation fad advice is so out of balance.

Based on what other moms have told me, it sounds like 20 minutes on each side is a good upper bound, even for a slow nurser. If he's taking longer than that, he's probably playing around - and it's completely legitimate for you to teach him not to do that.

Good luck with this. I hope things improve soon.

Congratulations on continuing to breastfeed. I am a labor and postpartum doula and had issues breastfeeding my now two year old. It does get better.
There were a few pointers that helped me during my early days. One getting your son not to fall asleep at the breast is crucial. You want to make him a more efficient nurser and also free you as well so your days aren't spend solely nursing. A few lactation consultants told me to make sure you keep him awake. You have to make sure your son continuously nurses. It's normal for him to suck and pause but not fall asleep. You can use a wash cloth with cool water and pat the bottom of his feet or arms to make sure he doesnt fall asleep and continues to nurse.
You mentioned that you want him to drain the breast. A breast cannot be completly drained but you can feel a lightness after he nurses. The goal it to get him to nurse on each breast for 15 minutes each breast without falling asleep. It takes some work at first. But babies are super smart and will catch on quickly. But by no means should you nurse only one one side.
You may also benefit from looking into your local La Leche League meeting or contacting a lactation consultant. A lactation consultant will come to your house and give you some more pointers. They also come with a scale and weigh the baby before you nurse and after to see how much he's getting.
I hope this helps. Good Luck.
A. Perel CD(DONA)
www.clearbirth.com