Length of feeds

[Maud]

I know every baby is different, but I wondered how long other people's babies tend to take having a feed?

My 4 week old usually feeds for about 40 minutes (has been over an hour a few times) so feeds are exhausting, especially overnight. I'm really hopeful she will learn how to get a satisfying meal in less time at some point but am not sure if it works that way.

 

[Taurusgirl]

That sounds normal for a newborn, when I saw the lactation consultant and she said anything from 40mins to just over an hour is normal. X

 

[CamFi]

it does get quicker as they get older, don't worry...

 

[Maud]

I hope so. Feeding in public could be a challenge when she takes an age.

 

[naomip]

Leo is about the same, 40 mins or so. Apparently they do get more efficient at feeding so hopefully feeds will get shorter x

 

[BunnyN]

It started getting a lot quicker for us at about 8 weeks. Before that we spent many hrs a day feeding.

 

[Maud]

Good to know.

It wouldn't be quite so bad if she latched quicker and if she was more consistent at staying on. She likes to feed every 2-3 hours ATM so I've often barely finished one feed before she wants the next one. Good thing I love her!

 

[AmeliaM27]

Definitely gets quicker - my LO would take between 40-1 hr at that age but now takes more like 10-20 mins at 7 weeks.

 

[Samantha55]

As others said it will get quicker! Although for me my little boy was 3 months before feeds got noticeably quicker but he does like to use me as a dummy so often not keen to let go after a feed!!

 

[Becky1]

Feeds do get quicker but I can't remember when - I know by 6mths I started to miss the long feeds as I'd settle down to feed, pop the tv on and have a cuppa. - then be like was that it, and have to get up again.

In the early days I used to watch films in stages whilst feeding - gone with the wind will always remind me of feeding my little baba! x

 

[nic2013]

Hey, great to hear you're still breastfeeding For both sides that sounds totally normal to me - if it's getting painful or exhausting for you though you could ask a consultant/midwife to help check if baby is actually drinking the whole time or just wanting to sooth herself. You could also try changing sides sooner to save your nipples

 

[Maud]

She used to spend that long on just one boob actually! Now her latch has started to improve her feeding patterns have changed again though and now she feeds every 1-2 hours during the day. She drinks much quicker but requires both boobs with a break in between so each feed still takes close to an hour, with approx 35 mins of feeding in that time. Think she's going through a growth spurt though so we're hoping she'll settle back to less frequent feeds at some point as it's getting increasingly difficult to get out of the house!

 

[Melanie3103]

My LO is just 2 weeks old... and he has gone from feeding from about 40mins (when I could only feed him lying down, as I was recovering from birth and surgery) - now we've sussed out feeding sitting upright in the chair in the living room - the longest he has fed for is about 20-30mins... not sure if that means he's getting more efficient, or do you think milk flow is different in different positions ?

He feeds longer at nights, when we rivert to lying down feeding... he is cluster feeding a lot too, so that might have a lot to do with it too...xxx