How long should your baby suck? Should you burp her after every feed? Read on for answers to frequently asked questions on breastfeeding.
Are you breastfeeding your baby? Although it seems like a simple thing to do, there's a lot more to it than we realise, and only when we are confronted with the task of breastfeeding, do we suddenly have all these unanswered questions and doubts.
How long should baby suck?
Generally ten to fifteen minutes of sucking should provide your baby with adequate milk. If your baby sucks for longer than that, it is possible that your baby is sucking on an empty breast, as doing so is comforting. Thus, the amount of time your baby suckles is not an indicator of how much milk he is getting. Gently break the latch by pulling up your baby's mouth from the side after he's sucked for 10-15 minutes. Then, express milk to see if it is still flowing well. If it is, let your baby suck a little longer. If not, burp your baby and put him on to the other breast. If your baby doesn't seem satisfied, sucks for a long time and still feels hungry, or is not gaining enough weight, speak to your medical practitioner. "It's always best to rule out any possible problems," says Vijaya, whose baby fed for almost 40 minutes on each breast. She then consulted her practitioner, and found out that she had blocked ducts.
Should I burp baby after every feed?
Normally you do need to burp your baby after every feed, or your baby may vomit. It is also perfectly normal for your baby to spit out some milk along with a burp.
"If your baby has reflux where he vomits a lot after every feed and seems to choke on his vomit, you should hold him vertical after a feed and keep burping him for a period of 20 minutes," says Dr. Lakshmi. Similarly, at times your baby may burp as soon as you pick her up to burp her. Don't put her down immediately but hold her on your shoulder and keep patting her gently for another five minutes before you put her down.
What are some burping positions?
There are various positions in which you can hold your baby when burping her. The most common way is to hold her vertical on your shoulder with her head to one side so her nose is not blocked, and tap her gently.
You could also prop her up in a semi-seating position on your lap as you rub her back, or you could lie her down with her tummy on your lap, face sideways, as you pat her. Switching positions helps the air out faster. Similarly, lying your baby on her back also helps the air out. With time you will get to know your baby better, and will be able to tell when she is about to burp. So you can lie her down and she may either suddenly open her eyes and start waving her hands around when she is about to burp, or she may start whimpering. Pick her up when you notice any such change in her behaviour and try and burp her again. Chances are, she should burp soon after.
