How Long Should a Breastfeeding Session Last for a Newborn?
Feeding your newborn, whether it be by breast or bottle, is one of the best ways to bond with your baby. Cuddling up in a chair, on the couch, or even in bed and feeding my baby until their heart’s content was one of my favorite things about babyhood.
Although breastfeeding is one of the most natural things we can do as humans, it doesn’t always come easily. It sure didn’t for me! There are so many questions that come along with learning how to breastfeed, as you and your baby are both learning at the same time. Keep reading to find answers to some of the most common questions about breastfeeding, such as how long should a breastfeeding session last for a newborn.
How Long Will It Take to Breastfeed My Newborn?
Because your baby is new to the world and new to breastfeeding, it will take your baby a while to eat as they are getting the hang of how things work. Most newborns can take upwards of 20 minutes on one or both breasts. Don’t worry; as your baby gets older and gets more experience, they should take about 5-10 minutes per breast!
Many factors are involved when it comes to breastfeeding. Such as if:
Your milk supply has come in. This happens 2-5 days after birth and will follow colostrum.
Your let-down reflex happens immediately or a few minutes into the feeding. Let-down reflex just means when your milk starts to flow from your breast to your baby.
Your milk is coming out too slowly or too fast.
Your baby has the proper latch. Their mouth should be taking in as much of your areola as possible.
Your baby starts drinking fast or is taking their time.
Your baby is tired or isn’t paying attention to feeding. This happens frequently during nighttime feedings.
If you notice any concerns with breastfeeding, be sure to consult your pediatrician or a lactation consultant.
How Often Should I Breastfeed My Newborn?
When your baby is newborn, they will need to be fed frequently as their stomachs are as small as marbles at birth and then grow to ping pong balls by day 10. They can only take in so much at a time! Because of this, you will need to feed them small amounts often.
This can be exhausting for mothers. As a newborn, your baby will need to be fed approximately every two hours. But it’s not two hours from when the last session ended; it’s from when the last session started. So let’s say you started feeding your baby at 8am. The next session would be 10am, then 12pm, and so on.
Keep in mind that your newborn should absolutely not go longer than four hours without eating. This includes during the night!
When Do I Burp My Newborn?
Babies who are breastfed usually take in significantly less air than bottle-fed babies as there is no air in the breast. This usually means that you can burp these babies less. Once you have finished with one breast, try to get your baby to let out a good burp or two before moving to the next. Then, once they have finished the second, you can burp them again. Some babies will need more or less burping than this!
An important thing to note is that if your baby is spitting up frequently, they may need to be burped more often. Some spit-up is normal, but if it becomes excessive, they may have more air trapped in their stomachs than they should. If you feel your baby is spitting up more than they should, make a call to their pediatrician for guidance.
Should I Alternate Breasts?
Something that I didn’t know about breastfeeding when I first started was that the breasts need to be alternated. This is to make sure that both breasts are being cleared of the milk to avoid painful engorgement or developing mastitis.
Some of the best advice I received was to start by offering one breast, and then offer the other breast towards the end. The breast that you finish with should be the one you start with for the next feeding to be sure you are completely clearing the breast. Among the sleepless nights and endless feedings, this can be easy to forget, so try keeping a hair tie or bracelet on the wrist of the side you need to start with. This was a lifesaver for me!
Your baby may decide that they prefer a certain side over another. If this is the case, you can offer one breast during one feeding and then the other during the next. Ultimately, you need to do what works best for you and your baby.
Monitor Breastfeeding Sessions with Baby Connect
Learning how to breastfeed your baby can involve a lot of trial and error. Your baby needs to learn to latch, your body will have to adjust to producing milk, and you’ll need to figure out when your baby is full enough! All of these things can be stressful to new mothers who are on their first breastfeeding journey.
This is why the app Baby Connect was created. Baby Connect was designed for busy parents who want to keep track of all the important milestones and health information in their baby’s life. With this user-friendly app, you can keep track of how often you are breastfeeding your baby, as well as which breast you used last to ensure you are not using one side more than the other. Caring for your baby has never been easier!
