• About Us
• Resources
• Contact Us

I was unable to give him breastmilk. He was born at 27 weeks with weight 985gr. Thank you very much to the donors who donated breast milk. It really saved my sons life.

Because of your organisation, most of all your donors, my son is healthy, his weight at the moment is 4.5kg - getting fatter by the day.  May God bless you all and the work you do. THANK YOU! THANK YOU!"

"A premature baby needs so little breastmilk. I was always so careful not to spill any of it. I know of mothers who express surplus milk in the shower or simply throw it down the drain. It’s just such a waste."

Milk Matters

• Donate Milk
  • The Process
  • Expressing Milk
• Need Milk?
  • Starting a Milk Bank
  • Pasteurisation
  • HIV
• Breastfeeding
  • General Tips →
    • Preparing for Birth
    • Your Newborn
    • Potential Problems
    • Support
  • Myths
  • The Code
  • Breast vs Formula
  • The Working Mother
• Support Us
• FAQ's

How long should my baby drink for at every feed?

The length of feeds may vary from feed to feed; allow your baby to drink for as long as he wants to. This allows your baby to get the milk with the highest fat content at the end of the feed. Should your baby's feeds consistently last for an extended time and he not settle well afterwards, have a lactation consultant or breastfeeding expert check your baby's latch.

NB. It is not possible for your milk to be too thin or too weak; even woman who are undernourished produce nutritious milk for their babies.

NB. You will always have sufficient milk for your baby while you feed exclusively and on demand. The number of feeds and length of feeds vary from one mother to another and one baby to another.

NB. Babies do eventually, some sooner, some later, settle into a reasonable pattern. If you and your partner agree, it is far less stressful to take the path of least resistance, in other words, go with the flow and demand feed by following your baby's feeding cues.

NB. If you baby appears to be consistently hungry, cries a lot, sleeps a little and posits all the time, please see a lactation consultant or breastfeeding expert. These symptoms can be alleviated. There is nothing wrong with your milk, your breastfeeding method may just need some adjusting. To start with, offer your baby one breast per feed and the other breast at the next feed.