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BREASTFEEDING FOR BEGINNERS
Women have been breastfeeding their babies since the beginning of humanity, so it seems like it should be easy, right? But although breastfeeding is a natural way to feed a baby, learning how to breastfeed can take time, practice, and support. It does not come easily for everyone.
When you are a first-time mom, breastfeeding can seem so foreign and even weird. I certainly felt that way at first.
But it doesn’t have to feel that way! With patience, practical guidance, and support when you need it, you can learn what works best for you and your baby. Every breastfeeding journey is different, and you do not have to figure everything out on your own.
HOW TO BREASTFEED A NEWBORN
It’s important to remember that you and your baby are learning to breastfeed together. Nursing your newborn is a relationship between the two of you, and it creates a bond that only you will share.
It really is something special to provide your baby with nourishment and comfort through breastfeeding. Your body begins producing colostrum, your first milk, during pregnancy, and your milk supply changes after birth as your baby feeds.
With this in mind, take it slow and have patience with yourself. You are building the foundation for months (or years) of a nursing relationship. Learning to breastfeed can take time, and asking for help is a positive step—not a sign that you are doing anything wrong.
BREASTFEEDING TIPS FOR FIRST TIME MOTHERS
One of the best ways to learn about breastfeeding is from moms who have come before you. So I’m happy to share my favorite breastfeeding tips and resources for first-time moms.
These tips are a starting point, not a substitute for individual advice from a qualified healthcare professional or lactation consultant if you or your baby need extra support.
1. FIND A GOOD LATCH
If you’ve heard anything at all about breastfeeding, you’ve probably heard how important it is for your baby to get a good latch. You won’t hear any differently from me!
A comfortable, effective latch helps your baby transfer milk and can help prevent nipple damage. Your baby’s mouth should open wide around the breast, with the lips turned outward and the chin close to the breast. You may be able to hear or see your baby swallowing as the feed progresses.
It can take patience and practice in the first few days and weeks to get the latch just right, and support can make a real difference. If breastfeeding hurts throughout a feed, your nipples become cracked or bleed, or your baby repeatedly slips off the breast, contact a lactation consultant or healthcare professional for help rather than assuming you need to push through the pain.
Just remember that you and your baby are learning about breastfeeding together. You can ask a midwife, nurse, or lactation professional to observe a feed and help you adjust your baby’s position and latch.
2. PRACTICE SKIN-TO-SKIN
One great way to encourage your newborn to breastfeed is to practice skin-to-skin contact with your baby. Newborn babies LOVE to be closely snuggled up to their mamas (and daddies!).
Spending time with your baby directly on your chest can help you bond and support the establishment of breastfeeding. Skin-to-skin contact is especially helpful soon after birth when you and your baby are medically stable.
Keep your baby’s face visible and nose and mouth unobstructed, and make sure your baby can breathe freely. Stay awake and attentive during skin-to-skin contact. If you feel sleepy, place your baby in their own safe sleep space.
3. NURSE ON-DEMAND
If your newborn is already hanging out on your chest, it should be pretty easy to identify when they are hungry. Feeding responsively means offering the breast when your baby shows hunger cues rather than following a rigid schedule. Newborns commonly feed 8–12 times in 24 hours, and some may want to feed every 1–3 hours, including overnight.
Frequent breastfeeding helps stimulate milk production. Feeding on demand can also help reduce the discomfort associated with overly full breasts.
Newborn babies may suck for nourishment or comfort. Comfort nursing can be a normal part of breastfeeding, so you do not need to stop a feed simply because you think your baby is nursing for comfort.
As you and your baby get to know each other and you learn your baby’s habits, you can gradually get a better sense of your baby’s cues and routine. Newborn feeding patterns can change from day to day, so try to follow your baby’s needs rather than expecting a predictable schedule straight away.
4. KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT ENGORGEMENT
When your milk supply increases after birth, your breasts may feel full, firm, warm, or uncomfortable. Some parents also experience leaking. This is common, but severe or persistent discomfort deserves attention.
Frequent, responsive feeding can help manage fullness. If your breasts are too firm for your baby to latch comfortably, gently hand-express a small amount of milk to soften the area around the nipple. A cool compress between feeds may also help relieve swelling and discomfort.
Avoid pumping repeatedly to empty your breasts unless you have been advised to do so. Extra milk removal can encourage your body to make more milk, which may worsen oversupply for some people. If you need to express milk, use an approach that fits your circumstances and seek professional advice if engorgement continues.
Have some reusable breast pads on hand to help soak up any leakage.
Or you could just stuff a burp rag in your shirt like I did in the early days 😉
Contact a healthcare professional if you develop fever, flu-like symptoms, increasing redness, or severe or worsening breast pain.
5. PREPARE FOR SORE NIPPLES
Some nipple tenderness can occur in the early days of breastfeeding, but significant pain should not be treated as an inevitable part of the process. There is a tiny human suckling on your nipple frequently throughout the day, and newborns are learning how to latch and feed.
If your nipples remain sore, become cracked or bleed, or breastfeeding hurts throughout a feed, ask a lactation professional or healthcare provider to assess the latch and check for other possible causes.
A nipple cream designed for breastfeeding may help protect or soothe the skin for some people. Check the ingredients and label directions, including whether the product needs to be removed before feeding. Cream alone will not correct a latch problem.
Tenderness may improve as you and your baby become more comfortable with feeding, but there is no fixed deadline for soreness to disappear. Seek help early rather than waiting a month for pain to go away.
6. GET READY FOR GROWTH SPURTS
Your baby’s feeding pattern can change as they grow. Some babies have periods of cluster feeding, when they want to feed much more frequently over several hours. This can happen in the early weeks and at other times during infancy.
Breastfed babies may nurse more often during these periods, so don’t be alarmed if your babe is asking for milk every hour.
Frequent feeding can help stimulate milk production in response to your baby’s needs. However, feeding more often does not automatically mean your baby is having a growth spurt or that your milk supply is low.
Look at the bigger picture, including your baby’s feeding effectiveness, wet diapers, and weight gain. If your baby seems persistently unsatisfied, is difficult to wake for feeds, or you are worried about milk intake, contact your healthcare provider or a lactation professional.
7. TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF
It is really easy to forget about yourself when you are all consumed with your brand-new baby. But it is crucial that you take care of yourself, mama!
Make sure you are drinking regularly, eating enough to meet your needs, and resting whenever you can. Keep water within reach if you tend to get thirsty during feeds. You do not need to force yourself to drink excessive amounts of water to produce breast milk.
Pro Tip: Keep a GIANT water bottle with you if that makes life easier. I would suddenly become parched as soon as my baby began nursing.
Let your partner, mom, or someone else you trust take care of everything else around the house while you focus on nursing and bonding with your baby. Your body needs to rest (birth is intense!), and accepting practical help can make the early days feel more manageable.
If breastfeeding is affecting your physical or emotional wellbeing, reach out to someone you trust or a healthcare professional. You deserve support, and feeding decisions should take your health and your baby’s needs into account.
LEARN ABOUT BREASTFEEDING BEFORE BABY ARRIVES
If you’re reading this breastfeeding-for-beginners guide before your baby is here, congratulations! Learning about breastfeeding ahead of time can help you recognize common feeding cues and know where to find support. You do not need to know everything before your baby arrives.
TAKE AN ONLINE BREASTFEEDING CLASS
An online breastfeeding class can help you learn about positioning, latch, feeding cues, and common challenges before your baby arrives. It can be a useful starting point, but it should not replace individualized support if you or your baby experience difficulties.
BEST BREASTFEEDING BOOKS
- The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding by Diane Wiessinger
- The Breastfeeding Book by William Sears M.D.
- Ina May’s guide to Breastfeeding: From the Nation’s Leading Midwife by Ina May Gaskin
- Dr. Jack Newman’s Guide to Breastfeeding by Jack Newman
Books can be useful learning resources, but they should not replace current medical guidance for a specific breastfeeding problem.
Remember, everyone is a beginner at some point. Your body was made to feed your baby – you’ve got this!
