I am lucky that I have a good supply and the pain has gone when feeding, but am finding the time it takes to breastfeed hard when I am running after a toddler aswell.
That's very normal at this age. It will get quicker, though, as he gets older.
Sometimes it helps to set your toddler up with an activity - even a book to read together - while you're feeding. You may also learn to perfect the art of feeding while walking around.
Thanks, I enjoy breastfeeding, just finding my toddler incredibly demanding at the moment as she is often screaming at me to come into another room - jealousy issues!
At the start my Little Man feed for about 20mins on one side and then about 5 on the other. He now pretty much feeds for 15 mins on one side only at each feed. Occasionally needs the second BB for 5mims. He is a guzzler!!! Lol
Our night feed though goes for 45mins. Its a wind down really quiet feed for him and he relaxes and feeds slowly compared to during the day.
I agree that is fairly normal in terms of length of a session and that within a few mnths they start to become very efficent (by 4-6ish mnths DS was literally feeding in 2 mins) Some people have a container of snacks/drinks in the fridge (assuming your toddler can open the door) that they can only have during feed times and a box with some simple activities that again they can only have during feed times.
Goodluck
Our feeds here are pretty random here. DD3 will sometimes have a quick snack, or she'll be on there and drain both sides and take an hour or more. It seems to really depend on her mood at the time.
But I am pretty lucky in that she is one very laid back bub and she doesnt seem to mind if I have to interrupt a feed to do something for the big girls. Or break up a fight or something.
The toddlers do seem to cotton on that feeding time is a great time to "need" mum. The first few weeks with a toddler and baby are really tough and it can seem impossible, but it's amazing how quickly it gets easier. I love the idea of special feeding time activities for the toddler - or even snacks/treats that are only for feeding time. Also if you can feed in the same room that might help too.
You know how you find yourself sitting behind that wretched L-plater? Crawling along? Nervously hitting the brakes at every bump in the Rd? Looks like he's completely snoozed off? That's your baby now? You know how in a few months down the track that same driver - now on his p-plates roars up behind you at the speed of light? Veers around you impatiently at the first opportunity? And disappears in a cloud of dust - you cursing him for not slowing down and being so impatient/ That will soon be your baby. He's just a newbie. It's worth sticking with. Things get better, and usually quickly
Some babies are faster and some are slower. Most get really efficient and where it once took an hour you suddenly find yourself wondering how your baby can possibly have had enough in five mins!
My DD1 was a slow feeder for months and then got down to ten minutes for most bfs. DD2 never takes more than five mins, from birth she has just vacuumed it down. But it is much easier to be able to bf a baby to sleep than to settle a baby already full and tired!
so far for 2 and a half weeks, the feeds go anywhere from 20 mins to 1hour and a half... although the longer ones I get the feeling I am just being used as a dummy... although she falls off on a milk drunk state with milk dribbling out the side... so there's stuff going in
When he was little it felt like ages - I could watch nearly a whole episode of a tv show. But now, he's usually done within 10-15 minutes. It doesn't take long for them to get a lot more efficient at feeding. Not much help now when the older sibling wants to hijack things I guess, but the others have given some really good suggestions of distractions
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How long do you breastfeed for each session?
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