Duration of breastfeeding

How long breastfeeding takes varies from baby to baby, from breastfeeding to breastfeeding, and as the baby gets older.

The purpose of breastfeeding

It is important to know that breastfeeding meets a number of different needs for the child - regardless of age. On the one hand, breastfeeding covers the obvious need for food and fluids. But also, among other things, the need to regulate the nervous system, calm down, be comfortable, be comforted and seek security. How long breastfeeding takes can therefore vary depending on whether breastfeeding is about regular hunger, comfort hunger or, for example, to be comforted.

Observe your baby's needs

As a starting point, you should look at your child. If baby shows signs of wanting to go to the breast, then baby should go to the breast. If baby shows signs of being full (turns head away, lets go of the breast again and again), then believe it. When we as adults get to the point of counting minutes, we get caught up in our analyzing adult heads instead of looking at baby and his needs and signals. In other words, breastfeeding takes the time that breastfeeding takes - and baby shows the way.

Duration of breastfeeding in relation to baby's age

As written, the duration of breastfeeding also varies in relation to the baby's age. A newborn baby has to work harder for a meal than a baby that is several months old. Partly because the milk takes a few days to flow into the breast after birth. This means that the newborn baby has to work harder to get milk than an older baby. Partly because the older baby has gained both more experience and has become stronger. For that is It's real work for a baby to nurse at the breast.

Milk adaptation and the end of breastfeeding

In other words, there is no rule or regular recommendation about how long breastfeeding should last. However, it is important to know the composition of the breastfeeding meal. The milk is always adapted to the baby's nutritional needs. If the baby is born, for example, in the 28th week of pregnancy, the milk is suitable for a child of that age. The same applies when the baby is 2 weeks, 2 months, 5 months, etc. Nature is simply so clever, and our bodies are amazing! The milk in each meal varies. The first milk is thin, flows faster and quenches thirst. In the last part of the meal, the milk flows slower, is thicker, more filling and is the milk the baby gains weight from. It is therefore important that breastfeeding is not interrupted until the baby is properly full and rejects the breast. If the baby needs to burp during the meal, put the baby back to the same breast afterwards until the baby rejects the breast. If the baby then still shows signs of wanting to continue breastfeeding, the other breast can be offered.

Some babies often fall asleep at the breast. This can be due to several things. For example, the baby was simply hungry for comfort and fell asleep from all the comfort. This can be because the baby has to work a lot for the meal and gets tired (here it is important that you take care of yourself and thus of the milk production - read more about that elsewhere). If you have the feeling that the baby did not get his full, you can change the baby's diaper and thus wake the baby and then offer the breast again.

Breastfeeding during the day and night

There can also be a difference in how long breastfeeding takes, during the day and at night. We women produce more milk at night, so there is more milk in the milk bar and breastfeeding often lasts a little shorter at night. Maybe it also plays a role in the fact that we mothers are not quite so much for cozying up and chatting at night?

The importance of observing the baby's well-being

If baby is allowed to suckle as often and for as long as needed, baby will almost always have his needs met - regardless of whether it is about food, comfort, coziness or something else. A breastfeeding can therefore take anything between 5 minutes and an hour. Some parents become concerned if their baby breastfeeds for a short time. Here it is important to look at your child's well-being. Is baby gaining weight? Does baby follow his own weight curve and has an age-appropriate number of wet and dirty diapers? ( Check the Danish Health Authority's brochure: Check the diaper ) In that case, everything is fine.

Considerations for very long breastfeeding periods

Very long breastfeeding sessions can be a sign of several things. Pay attention to whether baby is breastfeeding AND swallowing, or whether baby is just lying down and enjoying himself. Breastfeeding is often cozy. And cozy is part of breastfeeding for baby. However, very long breastfeeding can also be a sign that baby has to work hard to feed. This can partly be due to incorrect sucking technique or an unoptimal breastfeeding position. It can also be due to too little milk, and baby then has to breastfeed for a long time to get his nutritional needs met - this can be the case, for example, at the end of the day, when milk production is naturally a little lower. If baby often lies restlessly at the breast, then there may be something that needs to be optimized. Here it can be good to have a breastfeeding professional watch a breastfeeding and possibly check baby's tongue, lip and jawbone. If the birth was very quick, baby was born with the help of a suction cup or by caesarean section, it can be good to have baby checked by an osteopath. Because tension in the little neck, jaw or other things can have an impact on baby and breastfeeding.

Final advice from the HeartMidwife

In other words, there is no quick and easy answer to how long breastfeeding takes. It is about getting to know your baby. You need to ensure that you are calm until breastfeeding is established, which can easily take a month. And you need to understand that breastfeeding is a regular job. The same goes for producing milk 24-7. It is also work for the female body. Therefore, it is essential to protect the woman and her milk production with plenty of rest, sleep, food and fluids. It may sound easy and straightforward. It rarely is. So make sure to invest in this point. As you have just read, milk production has an impact on how long it takes to breastfeed both newborns and older children. Taking good care of a breastfeeding woman is therefore a win-win and truly important!

I wish you all the best in your breastfeeding endeavors!