Breastfeeding

I am taking a very informal poll.  : )  I'm wondering if you've ever been told that it's OK to limit your child's time at the breast, particularly for infants (whether or not you followed the advice). 

For instance, when my DD was an infant, I was told that after 20 minutes she was "only using [me] as a pacifier" and I could unlatch her.  A woman at my La Leche meeting today was told the same thing but only 10 minutes.  A friend of mine was also told 20 minutes recently.  And in one of those free parenting rags that Babies R Us hands out, they had this spectacular article about nursing, right up until a pedi was quoted as saying that "all an infant needs for nutrition is 10 to 15 minutes on each side." 

The other variation on this is the "every x hours" advice.  "If your infant is crying but it hasn't been at least [1, 1.5, 2, 3] hours, it's probably not hunger." 

My personal experience was that it was very damaging because my DD was a loooong nurser and I so wanted a break.  But I already had oversupply and after 20 minutes she had really only had foremilk, so she would be hungry 20 minutes later and I'd do the same routine, which exacerbated the foremilk/hindmilk imbalance and led to low weight gain.  At which point I was told that my milk hadn't come in yet and I should nurse every 2 hours but no more (ack) and supplement with expressed milk.  Fortunately I found a good LC and stopped a disaster before it started.  But anyway, I am amazed at how often this has come up in my circle and wondering if it's widely-given advice.  

  

 

 

I heard that somewhere, don't remember where, before my first was born.

After about 20 minutes on each side, so 40 minutes total, I would see if he would take the pacifier so I could get a little break. That kid nursed constantly. If he took the pacifier, great, if not then I went to the bathroom, got a glass of water or a snack and went back to nursing.

 

 

i was never told to limit my time but i also had a super speedy nurser.

even as a newborn he would only nurse for 7-10 min. and only sometimes take the other side after a diaper change.

but i had been told that if he cries before 2 hours after a feeding he isnt hungry. i still put him at the breast though cuz it's the fastest way to make him quiet,lol.