Many new mothers ask, "How long should I breast feed?" This question has two possible interpretations.
Some mothers want to know how many minutes per feeding session. Others want to know how many months until they start weaning. This article is going to give a brief overview of both.
When it comes to individual feedings, the best answer to the question is this: Feed until your baby is full. You'll know your baby is full when they start what's called "non-nutritive suckling."
This means they are taking short, quick sucks of your nipple or only sucking occasionally, even though they are still latched on. When your baby is getting milk, they'll take long, regular pulls from your nipple and you'll feel the milk leave your breast.
When this feeling stops, your child is done. You'll quickly learn how to tell the difference as you go along.
Some mothers want time estimates, though, so here are some general guidelines. Newborns will probably need up to 10 minutes per breast per feeding, and feedings will happen every 2-3 hours. This is the usually the norm but some babies might take longer.
Babies who've reached the one-month mark may feed for up to 40 minutes per breast and be hungry every 3-5 hours. This feeding length is similar for babies up to six months old, though they will need feedings less frequently the older they get.
Breast feedings should be your baby's primary form of nutrition until they hit the six-month mark. In fact, some doctors even discourage mothers from giving their children plain water or other forms of liquid, let alone solid foods.
As a general rule take six months as the time when you can begin slowly introducing outside forms of food, make this a gradual tansition and start weaning your child off the milk.
The choice to stop breast-feeding is entirely up to you. You may want to cut off the milk supply at six or seven months or continue until the year mark. Some mothers go even longer than that.
It's a personal decision after six months, as your child can get nutrition from other sources then.
When weaning your child, be patient. They have to get used to the texture and taste of new food, and this can take days or weeks.
They are also learning to get comfortable with no longer being breast fed. You should learn to be patient so as to make this transition be as comfortable as possible for the both of you.
Author Resource:-
Jared Wright is a webmaster who works from home sharing his knowledge through his passion for writing. His latest project is a website that provides useful breast pump reviews such as the ameda breast pump and the playtex breast pump to mothers.
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