Duration of a feeding
How long a feeding takes varies. From baby to baby, from feeding to feeding, and as the baby gets older.
The purpose of feeding
It is important to know that feeding meets a number of different needs for the child -regardless of age. Partly, feeding covers the obvious need for food and fluids. But also, among other things, the need to regulate the nervous system, calm down, cuddle, be comforted, and seek security. The length of time a feeding takes can therefore vary depending on whether a feeding is about regular hunger, cuddle hunger, or, for example, being comforted.
Observe your baby's needs
As a rule of thumb, you should look at your child. If the baby shows signs of wanting to go to the breast, then the baby should go to the breast. If the baby shows signs of being full (turning their head away, letting go of the breast again and again), then trust it. When we as adults start to worry about the number of minutes, we get up in our analytical adult heads instead of looking at the baby and their needs and cues. In other words, a feeding takes the time a feeding takes -and the baby shows the way.
The duration of feeding in relation to the baby's age
As written, the duration of a feeding also varies in relation to the baby's age. A newborn baby has to work harder for a meal than a child who is several months old. Partly because it takes a few days for the milk to come in 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 the matter of fact, it is real work for a baby to suckle at the breast.
The adaptation of the milk and the end of the feeding
In other words, there is no rule or regular recommendation regarding how long a feeding should last. However, it is important to know about the composition of the feeding meal. The milk is always adapted to the baby's nutritional needs. If the baby is born, for example, in week 28 of pregnancy, the milk is suited to a child of that age. The same applies when the baby is 2 weeks, 2 months, 5 months, etc. Nature is simply so wise, and our bodies are fantastic! The milk in each individual meal varies. The first milk is thin, flows faster, and quenches thirst. In the last part of the meal, the milk flows more slowly, is thicker, more filling, and is the milk the baby puts on. It is therefore important that the feeding is not interrupted until the baby is regularly full and rejects the breast. If it becomes necessary to burp the baby during the meal, then 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 suckling, 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 may simply have been cuddle-hungry and fell asleep from all the cuddling. It may be due to the baby having to work very hard for the meal and becoming tired (here it is important that you protect yourself and thus the milk production -read more about it elsewhere). If you have a feeling that the baby did not eat until truly full, you can possibly change the baby's diaper and thus wake the baby and then offer the breast again.
Feeding during the day and night
There can also be a difference in how long a feeding takes, respectively during the day and at night. We women produce more milk at night, thus there is more milk in the milk bar, and a feeding often lasts a little shorter at night. Perhaps it also plays a role that we mothers are not quite as much into cuddling and babbling at night?
The importance of observing the baby's well-being
If the baby is allowed to suckle as often and as long as needed, the baby will almost always have their needs met -regardless of whether it is about food, comfort, cuddling, or something else. A feeding can therefore take anywhere from 5 minutes to an hour. Some parents become worried if their child suckles for a short time. Here it is important to look at your child's well-being. Is the baby gaining weight? Does the baby follow their own growth curve and have an age-appropriate number of wet and dirty diapers? (Check the Danish Health Authority's leaflet: Check the diaper) In that case, everything is fine.
Considerations for very long feedings
Very long feedings can be a sign of several things. Be aware of whether the baby is suckling AND swallowing, or whether the baby is simply lying there and cuddling. Feeding is often cozy. And coziness is part of feeding for the baby. However, a very long feeding can also be a sign that the baby has to work very hard for the food. This can partly be due to incorrect sucking technique or suboptimal feeding position. Partly it can be due to too little milk, and the baby then has to suckle for a long time to meet their nutritional needs -this can, for example, be the case at the end of the day, where milk production is naturally a little lower. If the baby often lies restlessly at the breast, there may be something that needs to be optimized. Here it can be good to have a breastfeeding professional look at a feeding and possibly check the baby's tongue, lip, and jaw band. If the birth was very fast, the baby was born with the help of forceps or by cesarean section, it can be good to have the baby checked by an osteopath. For tension in the little neck, jaw, or elsewhere can have an impact on the baby and the feeding.
Concluding advice from HjerteJordemoderen
In other words, there is no quick and easy answer to how long a feeding takes. It is about you getting to know the baby. You must ensure peace for the feeding itself, which can easily take a month. And you must understand that feeding is regular work. The same applies to producing milk 24/7. It is also work for the woman's body. Therefore, it is essential to protect the woman and her milk production with plenty of peace, sleep, food, and fluids. It may sound easy and straightforward. It rarely is. So make sure to invest in this area. As you have just read, milk production, among other things, has an impact on how long it takes to feed both newborns and older children. Therefore, taking good care of a breastfeeding woman is win-win and truly important!
I wish you a really good breastfeeding journey!
Author Siff Stephenson HjerteJordemoderen