There are two main ways to determine if your baby has completed a feeding. By staying aware of these indicators, you will be relieved to know when your baby is full and that your nursing session has ended.
One way a baby may complete a nursing session is by falling asleep and naturally unlatching. Many times after a baby has had a full-feeding, Baby will unlatch, usually mostly or fully asleep, pull away from the breast and calmly relax into your arm or body. Baby isn’t fussing or rooting and doesn’t seem restless. In this case, it’s safe to assume your baby is content and full.
In contrast, if your baby unlatches and pulls away from the breast, but seems restless or starts to fuss and fidget, this indicates that Baby may still be hungry and after putting baby on shoulder ot make sure there aren’t any gas bubbles that need to be released, go ahead and offer the other side. After nursing for a bit, your baby will likely fall fast asleep, calm and relaxed, indicating that he/she is full.
Another way that your baby may wrap up a nursing session is asleep-but-latched. It is important to know that most newborns are asleep at the end of a nursing session but Baby may not always unlatch at that point. If Baby has fallen asleep at the breast but stays latched on, you can tell when the feeding has ended by taking note of Baby’s suck-pattern. Nursing sessions usually begin with active sucking, you can hear consistent swallows and you can see the rhythmic movement of Baby’s mouth. After some time has elapsed, commonly around 20 minutes or so, you’ll notice that Baby is mostly asleep and sucking-rhythm has become slowed while sucks have become more gentle, some describe it as “fluttery.” At this point, use your finger, at the corner of baby’s mouth, to break the suction of the latch. Put Baby on your shoulder and rub his/her back to help release any burps. If Baby awakens at this point or shows any hunger signs, offer the other side. However, if Baby remains relaxed and asleep, Baby is full.
The key-indicator to a completed nursing session is a baby who is calm and relaxed. Whether Baby has pulled off the breast naturally or the sucking patterns have slowed to a point where you have gently unlatched Baby, making sure your Baby is calm and relaxed is a great way to know that your baby has gotten plenty to eat. Your newborn is most likely to end a nursing session asleep. Doing the “arm-drop test” is one way to be sure your sleeping baby has fully-fed and is fully-relaxed. Pick up the arm and let it drop to Baby’s side; if the arm drops easily without tension, it’s a clear sign that your baby is very relaxed and sound asleep which should further assure you that your child has had a solid-feeding.
