Super short sessions - normal?

[EmmaGM]

Before my milk came in DS would nurse one side, fall asleep, I'd burp him and annoy him awake, then nurse the other side.

Now my milk came in and he's nursing one side for 5-7 minutes, dropping off, and sleeps, well, like a baby, until his next session 2 hours later. I've been accustomed to waking him to nurse so its not like I'm not trying or don't know how.

I wondered if this was maybe normal at the beginning while his stomach expands?

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[luvthefluff]

i recall my ds doing that same thing..as long as he was gaining weight and catching up at some point that day i never got concerned. i would pump the other side to keep that supply going for when he gets a spurt or bigger appetite you will be ready...its a good way to save some ounces too

[Connor]

I would just encourage him to nurse longer and ideally empty both sides. If not definitely pump the other side to keep supply up.

[tygr2410]

I had a friend who's baby would only nurse for 5 minutes each time, all through his first year and beyond. He'd empty a side and be done. I was jealous lol!

[lilmomma83]

As long as he is gaining I wouldn't worry...add other mamas said its a great way to pump and store milk!

[songbird516]

My second is kind of like that. He never nurses on both sides, even in the beginning. I had plenty of milk and he was gaining a lot, so I didn't worry about it. My first was the opposite- she would have marathon nursing sessions for 45 minutes, both sides. As long as your supply stays up and he is gaining, be happy! It's a lot easier to go out with a baby that doesn't take long to nurse.

[SamanthaE]

I have a 3 month old that does this. He used to nurse around 12-15 minutes on only one side and now he is down to about 5-7 minutes on one side. He is gaining weight and has lots of poopy and pee pee diapers. And after he nurses my breast feels empty. I wouldn't worry too much about it.

[EmmaGM]

Thanks ladies I can't help worrying about every little thing.

I really, really want a good pump if only to relieve some of this pain but all my nurses in the hospital told me pumping would lead to oversupply and that would somehow be worse? I don't understand, can anyone else explain that to me?

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[misskira]

My first nursed for 30 mins out of every 2-3hours, my second nursed for about 5 mins 1-2x per hour. I think it just varies. As long as he continues to have wet/poopy diapers and gains weight... No worries mama.

[jessicap]

some babies are super suckers and can drain you like no one's business in 5 minutes and be completely full. I don't think my last 3 children nursed on both sides until they were like 8 months old in one nursing session. They were all power suckers, but my first would hang out at the breast for 30-45 min.

If you are having discomfort and would like to relieve some of that pressure, go ahead and pump. But just watch so that you don't pump to the last drop, just drain off enough to feel some relief. Your body will produce what is demanded of it. So if you don't demand it doesn't make more than what it is producing now, you won't have to worry about it.

The reason behind the not wanting an oversupply is it can create issues with a foremilk/hindmilk imbalance, which can lead to a whole host of problems. You will eventually even out...

make sure you are watching wet diapers and poopy diapers and weight gain.