How long is enough for a baby to stay on the breast?
Show your support
Do you have a low supply? That would be my main worry in this situation. I’m hoping she’s actually truly getting enough and it’s just a comfort thing
She’s 5m old? 4-6 hrs breastfeeding a 5m old doesn’t sound right…when he was a nb his feeds were 40-50mins long but that’s because he kept falling asleep and he was new to latching, normal for that age. 4-6hrs doesn’t sound normal for a 5m old, even in times of cluster feeding
If she’s putting on weight then it wouldn’t be a supply issue and likely she’s using you for comfort. Listen out for the swallow sound and if she’s not doing this, then unlatch her if you need a break. Dummy helps if she needs soothing ☺️
Thats very long.. my baby is done within 10 minutes and she unlatches herself when she is finished. Maybe try a dummy/paci?
I would try formula as an assist. Or pump as often as you can and see how much bubba is actually drinking. This will also help you check if you’re getting a good supply or not
Is it cluster feeding? Are there short breaks? Is she feeling asleep between?
Is she asleep and not actually eating but still latched?
@Imani she’s 5 months old. Sometimes I can but there are times that I'm just too drained and exhausted. Thank you for your tip. I'll try the pacifier thing hopefully it'll work. She hates pacifiers but because she's teething I'll figure out a way
@Darian I way low in supply! I'm using formula too but there are times that she just wanna stick to me and I'm giving her all I have. I just wish I had more to give
@Kellie exactly! And her doctor islike there's no such thing as low supplies! I'm like you wanna come and see? Then she goes drink fluids and you'll be fine! I ammmm😩 young doctors...
@Natalie I'm pumping, manual, electric and haakaa. sometime I keep haakaa on through out the night and it's less than 10ml😒 I have been stressed both through pregnancy and postpartum. I'm still looking up ways to increase the supplies but 30ml has been the maximum I could get out of pumping.
@Emily sometimes it is cluster feeding. No short breaks. more like comfort suckling and ye she does fall asleep but I'm sitting there like an owl keeping myself awake so I wouldn't fall on her. My supplies are low. I just needed other opinions to see if this is normal or not. Which looks like it isn't😅
@Sam yes that's exactly it! She sleeps, comfort suckling for hours unend. If I don't drag my breast out she'll stay there forever😂
@Miracle have you tried unlatching her with your little finger and swapping for a dummy while she's still dopey? Remember breastfed babies don't take as much volume as your milk adapts.
Wow, that’s very long. How old is she? Is she falling asleep? My guess is that she’s probably not actually drinking that entire time, and may be suckling for comfort vs hunger. When my LO was a newborn, I noticed when the “suck swallow” motion stopped while nursing, that meant she was no longer taking anything in and was just hanging out on my boob. I decided to unlatch my LO (using your pinky along the inside wall of her cheek) once she was actually done eating and used a paci if she was being fussy/still wanted something in her mouth. If you’re okay with her using the boob for comfort, that’s your choice! Whatever works best for you and your LO. Good luck, mama!