Nursing Question..

Kennedy Rose is 1 month old today.. . and I' am still going strong with the breastfeeding, although it has been quite challenging..

I was told in the hospital and by her new pediatrician to feed her every 2.5 -3 hours for 30 minutes.. To be even more specific in the hospital they said 15 minutes on each breast.. Well Kennedy falls asleep.. 15, maybe 20 minutes into it on the first breast.. and then refuses to wake up for the second breast.. any tips on how i can ge her to finish nursing?

Re: Nursing Question..

My little guy only nursed one breast at a time through 10 months. Around 10 months he started getting even more hungry and actually went for the second breast. And he slept on my breast more often than not.

Every child is different. You can't necessarily go by time guidelines or what other moms do. What matters is if your child is gaining weight at a normal pace. For the first few months we weighed him a few times per week, just so we would relax.

Re: Nursing Question..

We were always a 1 boob per nursing here too. I think you'll be ok

Re: Nursing Question..

I only nurse one boob at a time - but he just went through a growth spurt and started nursing from both every hour or so.

My ped. said that a newborn should really only nurse for 5-10 minutes on each side. Longer than that you are a human pacifier.

I would listen to her - if she is done then I would stop.

You will produce more as she needs it.

Nursing has been a big challenge for me - so hang in there!

Re: Nursing Question..

9 months BFing here and DD always nurses from one side at a time for 10-15 minutes max.

Re: Nursing Question..

I always nursed on one breast at a time (then pumped out the other). I also NEVER watched the clock. I let DD nurse DD on demand.

Re: Nursing Question..

One boob here too. I just let her nurse on demand--sometimes that was 2.5 hours from the last feeding and sometimes it was as little as an hour.

Re: Nursing Question..

DS always nursed for 20 minutes on each side. If he fell asleep after one side I would usually change his diaper and that would wake him up. He very rarely fell asleep until he had nursed at least 15 minutes on the second side. He was the type that refused a pacifer but would nurse for hours if I let him. If the baby seems satisfied after one side then I wouldn't worry.

Re: Nursing Question..

Try changing her diaper in between sides. At out breast feeding class they taught us to always feed from both sides so that your baby eats enough during the day and sleeps more at night. That's what I did with both kids and I had both kids sleeping through the night by 5 weeks old. Alexander is now 3 months old and sleeps 9 hours a night. I still feed him from both sides.

Re: Nursing Question..

I never switched and my baby usually ate ever hour for 8 minute increments.

Re: Nursing Question..

I have been nursing Gavin for 5 months and I never really tracked the time. I just let him stay on until he wanted off (which could be an hour later sometimes in the beginning). He was a 1 boob for the 1st 4 months, but now he will take 2, LOL!!!!

If she seems content and gaining weight I would just keep doing what you are doing and follow her cues. She will let you know if she is hungry.

Message edited 9/7/2008 12:28:02 AM.

Re: Nursing Question..

At that age, my DS was eating for about 5-10 minutes on one breast every 3 hours. His weight gain was well above average. (His weight went off the charts by the time he was 11 wks. He was somewhere around 15 lbs.) I never felt like he was BFing much in the hospital and yet, he gained weight and was an oz about his birth weight at 1 week.

Some babies are more efficient BFers than others. As long as your DD is gaining weight well, I wouldn't stress out about it. I also remember reading in one of my LLL BFing books that one side was fine.

Re: Nursing Question..