how do u really time contractions ???and a brestfeeding question to?

Question

i was wondering how u really time the contractions..
is it from the begining of the first contraction till the next contraction.. how dose this contraction timing work.. please help?
also the first day the baby is born.. how long do u put the baby on each breast.. and how often..?
thanks everyone..
its my first :-)

Answer 1

Contractions are timed by the time they start... They also time how long they last. So if it starts at 0530 and comes back again at 0533 then they will be considered 3 minutes apart. Lasting however many minutes.
When a baby is first born you usually nurse 15 minutes on one breast then 15 on the other. This is to help your milk come in. Once the milk actually comes in the baby will nurse for a shorter amount of time. Congrats and good luck to you.

~Nursing mother of a 5 month old baby girl~

Answer 2

You time contractions from when the first one starts to when the next contraction starts.
You get an average time for the contraction by adding the times together and by dividing that number by how many contractions you had.

When you breast feed, Baby will pretty much eat for however long s/he wants, on both and/or either side, but ideally half the time on one breast, then the other breast the other half of the time.
Babies eat usually 30 minutes-1 hour, so I'd change breasts every 15 minutes.
You'd also be encouraging more milk to be produced.

Answer 3

Well the time starts when you start to contract and the end. But the closer in time, let's say for example if you're having them every 5 minutes, the baby is getting ready to be born. That's why they ask you that because the closer in the time it is, the cervix is opening up wider to dilate and to get ready for the birth. But if they're like 45 mins apart, then that means you're not close yet. If you have a stop watch it's easier to monitor. But another thing is the contractions will probably get stronger and intense the closer the timing is... And don't worry about breastfeeding, a nurse or lactation consultant will help you out, let them know you're breastfeeding and they'll get you going. Your milk won't actually come in until about 3-4 days. And your body only makes just enough milk, but if you breastfeed and pump in between, you'll have a sufficient supply, but you have to expel the milk every 2-3hrs, so it can get overwhelming. Congrats and good luck.

Answer 4

You time from the beginning of one contraction to the beginning of the next. Also try to time the length of each contraction. Let someone else time for you, you'll be working. When baby comes, put him to the breast as soon as you can, and let him stay there until he lets go of the nipple. Burp and switch. You should feel pains in your abdomen, and a feeling of relaxation over your body. Put baby to the breast often--whenever he wakes up! If you encounter a problem with breastfeeding, get help! Congratulations and good luck.

Answer 5

You time contractions from the beginning of one to the beginning of the next. I also kept track of how long they lasted. Sometimes your doc/midwife will want to know that too.

I breastfeed my baby on one breast for 20 min. then switched to the next. The first few days, it will just be colostrum. But doing it this way ensures that when your milk comes in your baby will get the hindmilk (the milk with the calories and fat in it that helps your baby grow). Then, start with the breast you left off on.

Example: Start on right, finish on left. Next feeding, start on left, etc....
Your going to be feeding your baby very often, anywhere between 1 and 4 hours. You want your baby to eat often, as this ensures a good milk supply and minimal weight loss in your baby. Plus, as they say, practice makes perfect, and your baby will make sure you get LOTS of practice!!
The first month is as follows: baby eats, pees/poops, diaper change, sleep, wake up, diaper change, eat, bathroom time.... etc.. You get the idea. Find a really comfy chair, some healthy snacks, and keep a refill on the water. Don't forget the remote and maybe a book or two. Most of all, enjoy this time with your infant. When they are teenagers, you'll look back on this time with fondness :).
Good luck momma!

Answer 6

Contractions are timed from the beginning of one to the beginning of the next. There might not be much space between contractions as you progress through labour.

The nurse will help you with "putting baby to breast". It's not as easy as it looks. I highly recommend reading and gaining as much knowledge about breastfeeding BEFORE baby comes. Although all the women in my family breastfed, I still had a terrible time. I wish I knew more about it.

Answer 7

First off, congrats sweetie!

Second, you time from the begining of one contraction to the begining of the next.

As for nursing, there should be a lactation nurse at the hopital. Request to see her, she will help you a lot to make sure the baby is properly latched and everything. Babies actually dont *need* to eat for the first day or two after birth, so dont stress if it is difficult. Just relax, and do your best. Request that they do NOT give your baby a bottle while in the nursery. Tell them you want to nurse on demand. The nurse will help you and answer any questions

Answer 8

about breasfeeding:

It can be very difficult. If you really want to breasfeed, give yourself at least 4-6 weeks to get used to it. That is how long it took me to really get into the swing of things...even for my second baby.

Offer your baby the breast every two hours (or more often, if they want). But, if you fed your baby, and about 30 minutes goes by and he/she starts crying again, don't automatically assume he/she is hungry. If you tried feeding him/her and this makes her more frustrated, assume your baby is not hungry and try something else. This took me FOREVER to understand.

If your baby nurses every 2 hours for about 20 minutes each time, your milk supply should be fine. (the more they nurse, the more milk you will eventually produce)

Oh... and congratulations on the baby!

Answer 9

We were sooo worried to but it is alot easier than expected just relax be patient.Sometimes the mom cant produce enough milk so if you have to go with formula get the one that is dha and comfort proteins like similac advanced