https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 04 Jun 2026 21:29:45 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-tell-when-a-breast-is-empty#post-1074734 Mon, 09 Sep 2013 14:43:04 +0000 Kemma 1074734@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Sapphiresun: you could be coming in to the six week growth spurt but rest assured you LO won't always feed for two hours at a time! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-tell-when-a-breast-is-empty#post-1073596 Mon, 09 Sep 2013 07:26:48 +0000 edelweiss 1073596@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>at that age, i would offer 15 minutes on each breast and supplement with a bottle of pumped milk or formula. that was my pediatrician and LC's advice, but i don't think it's a problem to go longer--for me, i needed a time limit because my patience wore thin. he got much more efficient as he grew older. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-tell-when-a-breast-is-empty#post-1073582 Mon, 09 Sep 2013 07:18:08 +0000 Adira 1073582@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh, one way I tell (at least now, I didn't know this back then) to determine if the breast is fairly empty and it's time to switch it is if he comes off on his own, I'll hand express and if a good stream comes out, I know it's not empty, but if I don't get anything or it's just a few drops, I know to switch him. But I only do that if he pulls off on his own (usually I'll check like that if he goes on and keeps coming off and going back on). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-tell-when-a-breast-is-empty#post-1073568 Mon, 09 Sep 2013 07:04:30 +0000 Foodnerd81 1073568@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Sapphiresun: yeah C does that sometimes- falls asleep in the first breast, I put her down, and 20 minutes later acts like she is starving. I don't have an answer bc when I try to give her the second one she refuses. I do tend to let her comfort nurse for a while at night so I can get every possible drop int her to help her sleep longer. </p> <p>I use a combo of her response (sometimes she will pull off, or seem really frustrated and whine or fuss at the boob), the feel of the breast (nice and soft and not full), and time (20 minutes plus) to decide when to switch sides. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-tell-when-a-breast-is-empty#post-1073551 Mon, 09 Sep 2013 06:45:26 +0000 Adira 1073551@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I always offer both breasts - some people can get away with just doing one, but I never could.</p> <p>At that age, Xander would nurse forever and often snoozed while eating. I think I'd limit him to about 30 minutes per side and then switch him if he didn't pop off on his own. I notice that when Xander falls asleep eating, he's still sort of sucking and about 15-20 minutes into his nap on the boob, he'll start swallowing again, so that's why I let him go 30 minutes. But then I'll pop him off and put him on the other boob.</p> <p>And spit up is totally normal at that age. Xander probably spit up after every meal for MONTHS. And his morning spit up was usually the biggest! It's normal and tends to get worse before it gets better! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-tell-when-a-breast-is-empty#post-1073531 Mon, 09 Sep 2013 06:16:36 +0000 Sapphiresun 1073531@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Update: I gave it a shot at her before I go to bed feeding of just letting her go at it. She did 45 min on one side and then fell asleep. I thought that was pretty good but then she woke up screaming 20 min later making hunger signals and diving for the boob when I picked her up. So I offered the other side and she suckled away there for an hour.<br /> Soooo... Over 2 hours start to finish for a feeding. Doesn't really seem like something I'd be able to keep up long term. Especially if during the day she's still eating on 3 hour cycles?? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-tell-when-a-breast-is-empty#post-1073490 Mon, 09 Sep 2013 03:01:04 +0000 Kemma 1073490@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My girl was a real comfort sucker and very rarely would unlatch herself from the breast. Unfortunately for us this would usually result in a fair bit of spilling from stuffing herself full of milk!</p> <p>We eventually got in to a system where she would nurse until just comfort sucking at which point I would take her off the breast and then I'd offer the second side thirty or so minutes later if she was still peckish.</p> <p>Newborn babies love to suckle, it makes them feel good and it keeps them close to Mama, it's also a fantastic way to establish and maintain supply! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-tell-when-a-breast-is-empty#post-1073445 Sun, 08 Sep 2013 23:58:54 +0000 Sapphiresun 1073445@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: I put empty in "" because I realize there's always a little bit more, but I just wonder especially if you're doing the first breast, whether you should leave her on the first as long as she wants scrounging up drops, when you could be offering a nice, fresh, full breast? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-tell-when-a-breast-is-empty#post-1073440 Sun, 08 Sep 2013 23:51:08 +0000 shopaholic 1073440@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I do the same as @hellocupcake: with just feeding from one side at a time. Have since she was little. She often will not let go, just loves to comfort nurse. Loves to nap on the boob too. I figure it's okay because the boob will eventually get pretty empty with the comfort nursing. If/when she's actually really hungry still, she's started punching/hitting my boob, as if to say "more!" Those times (not often), I'd switch sides and offer the other boob. I agree with pp, at that age, don't limit your time to 15 min. Your body is still adjusting and building a good milk supply. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-tell-when-a-breast-is-empty#post-1073423 Sun, 08 Sep 2013 23:19:11 +0000 Sapphiresun 1073423@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hellocupcake: No, I appreciate the input. I like to hear all sorts of strategies and go from there. We get "free" public health nurse that specializes in breast feeding for the first six weeks so I'll probably try to sneak in for one more session before Saturday, but I like to have some thoughts to present to her when I go in and see what she thinks.</p> <p>@Ms.Badger: That's how I feel like she is too. I assume she's had enough when if I pull her off she has that milk drunk expression and doesn't seem upset. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-tell-when-a-breast-is-empty#post-1073419 Sun, 08 Sep 2013 23:10:27 +0000 Ms.Badger 1073419@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I can totally relate! My LO has never just popped off. I can tell he's had enough when I release him and lift him to burp and he doesn't cry. If he does cry I just offer him the boob again. I only give 1 boob a feed though. For a while I did try to give both sides but he seemed satisfied with one so now I just alternate. Good luck </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-tell-when-a-breast-is-empty#post-1073418 Sun, 08 Sep 2013 23:07:06 +0000 lolabee 1073418@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Sapphiresun: I did the same as @hellocupcake: in terms of feeding. The times I pump I do so at the same time as nursing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-tell-when-a-breast-is-empty#post-1073415 Sun, 08 Sep 2013 23:05:11 +0000 lolabee 1073415@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Sapphiresun: I think it sounds like you're doing wonderfully!! I'm not sure about the spit up, as my guy didn't spit up too often. Someone told me once it's pretty hard to overfill an EBF baby, can't remember if its a scientific fact or not though ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-tell-when-a-breast-is-empty#post-1073412 Sun, 08 Sep 2013 23:02:38 +0000 Penny Lane 1073412@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Sapphiresun: we did 45 minutes on one side, and that was the whole feed. next time would be 45 minutes on the other side! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-tell-when-a-breast-is-empty#post-1073410 Sun, 08 Sep 2013 23:01:50 +0000 hellocupcake 1073410@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't want to give advice that could be bad for you, but in my case: I let her eat as long as she wanted on one boob and didnt offer the other boob until her next meal. Sometimes she would nurse on one side for an hour and then later that day when she wanted more I would offer the other side. This has worked for us, even today, at 8+ months. She eats breakfast on one side and gets the other right before her nap, etc. etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-tell-when-a-breast-is-empty#post-1073408 Sun, 08 Sep 2013 22:59:38 +0000 Sapphiresun 1073408@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Penny Lane: That's happened here too. I went in the bedroom to feed her side lying and fell asleep. My husband came to check on us after an hour and a half and she was still there, sucking away. If you nursed for 45 minutes, are you doing both sides or just one?</p> <p>@lolabee: Poops are bright yellow and seedy, and she still poops a lot. I usually do a diaper change right before each feeding at night and after during the day - so she doesn't fall right back asleep after so her world involves a little more than sleeping and staring at my boobs - and I'd say 7/8 times there's a significant poop in there.</p> <p>She spits up a fair bit as well, so as much as I worry she's not getting enough, I'm also sometimes worried that I'm over stuffing her. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-tell-when-a-breast-is-empty#post-1073402 Sun, 08 Sep 2013 22:50:22 +0000 lolabee 1073402@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Agree with above posters, as they age they become much more efficient! As a newborn there is no way my LO would be able to get his fill from 15 mins/side. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-tell-when-a-breast-is-empty#post-1073400 Sun, 08 Sep 2013 22:46:17 +0000 lolabee 1073400@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My LO would just keep going sometimes if I'd let him! To be honest, in the early days it feels like all you do is nurse sometimes :) I think once you don't hear swallowing anymore LO is comfort nursing. That's what I figure for my guy anyways. At 5 weeks though i think she's nursing to eat and create her supply!</p> <p>For me, it ended up that I had an oversupply and had to block feed, or I'd never 'empty' a boob. So that could be your case too? What colour are LO's poops? Green? Mustardy yellow? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-tell-when-a-breast-is-empty#post-1073394 Sun, 08 Sep 2013 22:43:26 +0000 Foodnerd81 1073394@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My baby really really likes to stay on. Nursing sessions in the first couple if weeks were over an hour-- now at 6 weeks its more like 40 minutes usually. At the end she starts doing more comfort sucking but she will still do some real ones. Eventually she either pops off or falls asleep and falls off the nipple. </p> <p>I don't think you are ever completely empty, she will always be able to get a few more drops. If she's gaining and has enough diapers I wouldn't worry about it. I say my baby likes to savor her meals slowly. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-tell-when-a-breast-is-empty#post-1073392 Sun, 08 Sep 2013 22:43:10 +0000 Penny Lane 1073392@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>when my LO was that age he would nurse at least 45 min each time. he never just popped off. he would either fall asleep, or I would get bored after an hour and take him off. i think he just really liked the comfort aspect of it all :)</p> <p>i vividly remember at around 6 weeks falling asleep during a nursing session. an hour and a half later I woke up and he was still latched, sucking, and occasionally swallowing! as he got older he slowly got more efficient, until we got to the point that each nursing session would take 10 min at the max</p> <p>at this age, i would definitely be hesitant to limit your LO to 15 min on each side though! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-tell-when-a-breast-is-empty#post-1073386 Sun, 08 Sep 2013 22:36:21 +0000 Sapphiresun 1073386@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have a 5 week old that is exclusively breastfed, but it seems like she will eat and eat and eat constantly. Never seems to really indicate that she's finished on one side. The doctor recommended 15 minutes, then offer the other side for 15 minutes. She never pops herself off, I always have to pull her off after I decide that it's been long enough, but now I'm concerned that she's not getting the hind milk?<br /> I attempted to pump just with a manual this morning because I was worried that maybe I'm not producing enough and was able to get 1.5 oz in just over 5 minutes... so assuming she's more efficient than the pump - and the LC that I saw early on said she had a good latch and I can see her jaw pumping and hear her swallowing - she should be getting plenty right?</p> <p>Anybody have any experience with a baby who really just likes to stay on? </p>