Breastfeeding - How Long Should Each Feeding Last?

• The ideal answer is: let the baby decide. Your baby will come off the breast once she or he had enough. Offer the second breast, and let the baby stay as long as she or he wants on that breast too.
• If you are concerned about your milk supply, you might want to switch breasts frequently. See increasing your milk supply.
• If your baby falls asleep while nursing, slip a finger into her or his mouth to break the suction (see also sleepy baby).
• If you're in a hurry, it might help to know that a baby who is nursing vigorously can take most of the milk in a breast in less than ten minutes. You can offer each breast for about that long. Don't do this regularly though, as your milk continue producing milk as your baby nurses. Furthermore, the initial milk in your milk sinuses is watery (low in fat), and is most effective for quenching thirst. The later milk that you eject from the milk-producing glands and continue producing while nursing is much richer (fattier), and is important for proper nutrition (see milk production).
• If people tell you to limit feedings to a particular length of time (one minute, or five, or ten...), don't. If you do, you'll be depriving your baby of the valuable, rich hindmilk.
• If your baby is a lazy nurser, and seems to be taking forever to finish feeding, see sleepy baby

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