My baby nurses for a few minutes, then falls asleep while breastfeeding. I’m not sure he is getting enough. What can I do?
It sounds like your baby would benefit from you doing breast compressions during the feeding. Breast compressions are helpful for many situations and can be used when mom is producing colostrum or mature milk.
Use breast compressions to:
- Improve milk flow
- Increase the amount of milk baby drinks during a feeding
- Stimulate milk production
- Help baby get a good, deep latch
- Encourage a sleepy baby to finish their meal
- Motivate babies who are “nibbling”, but not actively drinking
- Support healthy babies who are gaining weight more slowly
- Comfort frustrated babies who fuss at the breast due to wanting more milk
How to use breast compressions:
- Use proper positioning techniques, so baby has the opportunity to get a deep latch.
- Start compressions before baby has fallen asleep, or loses interest at the breast.
- Using one hand, place your thumb on one side of the breast and your four fingers on the other to form a “C”.
- Be careful to position your hand farther back on the breast, away from the areola (so baby’s latch isn’t affected) and close to your chest wall.
- Wait for baby to start drinking, then gently squeeze your fingers and thumb together, holding pressure for several seconds. When baby pauses or stops nursing, release compression to open up the milk ducts.
- Change hand positions, rotating around the breast, to stimulate different milk ducts (pathways to the nipple).
- Continue with compressions until baby stops drinking and loses interest. Remember It’s best NOT to compress when baby has stopped sucking altogether.
- Offer the second breast and repeat.
For more information on signs baby is getting enough to eat, click here.
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