Brenda:
Some mothers take longer than others to have a letdown of their milk.  Some
factors that can contribute to a delayed or inhibited milk ejection reflex
are: sore nipples, engorgement, smoking, alcohol or caffeine consumption,
hormonal problems, or stress due to emotional or physical reasons.  If a baby
is a lazy nurser, a sleepy baby or has a weak suck and not nursing
effectively switch nursing may help to keep the baby interested in
breastfeeding but under normal circumstances baby should be allowed to nurse
until satisfied and finish with the first breast before being offered the
second breast.  As a feeding progresses, the fat content rises steadily as
the volume decreases therefore restricting or timing feeds can lead to to a
baby that is receiving too much foremilk and not enough hindmilk resulting in
slow weight gain, fussiness between and during breastfeeding and greenish,
liquid stools (Woolridge 1988).  Resourse: The Breastfeeding Answer Book,
LLLI, Revised 01/97, Page 25.

With my first child (who is now almost eleven years old), I was also told to
limit feeds to 10 - 15 minutes and it was only when she reached approx. 6
months old and was projectile vomitting along with the above symptoms (and I
had enough milk to feed an army) that I was finally told to stop switch
nursing, to stop clock watching and to follow her lead by letting her decide
when she had enough.  It did not take long for things to turn around - maybe
a week to ten days - and life became a lot easier for both of us from there
on.  Since then several mothers attending our local LLL meetings have been
given the same information - "to finish the first breast first" - and
typically the mother reports that the baby is happier, is less gassy and
spits up less, is easier to nurse and starts to gain weight at a faster rate.
 It has been my experience that these mothers tend to be happier about
breastfeeding and therefore tend to breastfeed longer as a result.  A win-win
situation for mother, baby, and everyone else who lives under that roof.

Leona Simoes, LLLL

P.S.  We also had a mother that was told by her doctor to not bother
breastfeeding for longer that 10 - 15 minutes because her breasts would be
empty after that much nursing.  I explained to her that her breasts
manufacture milk during breastfeeding and are therefore never 'empty' as well
as giving her the above information from the BFAB.