How to breastfeed your newborn

You may feel excited about breastfeeding your newborn – and you may also feel a little intimidated. Maybe you've heard stories of moms who didn't produce enough milk or who struggled with painful nipples or other problems. Or maybe you're just unsure how to go about it.

Some moms and babies coordinate breastfeeding easily and without a hitch. But for many others, it can be tricky, especially at first. Breastfeeding is natural, but it's also a skill that can take practice – for you and your baby. (Sucking is a reflex babies have even before birth, but it may take some time for a newborn to learn to coordinate their breathing, sucking, and swallowing to breastfeed successfully.)

There's a lot to know about breastfeeding, but there are many resources to help you. Once you and your baby learn the basics and iron out any problems, it's likely to feel natural.

How to breastfeed a newborn

Babies are often most alert right after birth and then get sleepy, so the first hour after delivery is a great time to start breastfeeding.

At the beginning, your body will produce small amounts of a special milk called colostrum that will help protect your baby from infection. (Your baby's tummy is very tiny, so they only need small amounts to fill up. As your baby's tummy grows, your milk will change and you'll produce more of it.)

When you're ready to breastfeed:

• Arrange yourselves. Get in a comfortable breastfeeding position. You may feel best sitting up, or you may want to breastfeed in a side lying or laid-back position. Turn your baby's whole body toward you, chest to chest. Make sure your baby's body is lined up – imagine a straight line from their ear to shoulder to hip – so they don't have to turn their head.
• Hold your breast. Use one hand (or arm) to hold your baby in position, and the other to hold your breast. You can help your baby get a deep latch by making a "nipple sandwich" for them. Compress your breast using your hand – with your thumb by your baby's nose and your fingers underneath your breast, by their chin. Hold your breast far enough back that your fingers aren't in your baby's way.
• Get your baby to open wide. Tickle your baby's upper lip with your nipple, and, when they open their mouth wide, aim your nipple toward the roof of their mouth and quickly bring your baby to your breast (not your breast to your baby), chin first. Don't panic if your newborn seems to have trouble finding or staying on your nipple. Breastfeeding requires patience and lots of practice.
• Make sure your baby's latch is good. This is often the trickiest part of breastfeeding, and it may take some practice. (See below for tips.) It may even be painful at first, while your baby is figuring it out. Once your baby starts sucking, you should feel just a gentle tug. If you continue to experience pain when breastfeeding, it may be that your baby's latch isn't quite right. If you're not sure your baby is latching on correctly, have a lactation consultant watch.

How can I tell if my baby has a good latch?

If your baby doesn't have a good latch, it can result in them not getting enough milk and your nipples becoming sore and cracked. Things to check:

• Your baby's nose should almost touch your breast but not press against it.
• Your baby's mouth should cover not just the nipple but as much of the areola (the darker part surrounding it) as possible. Your nipple should end up far back inside your baby's mouth. If your baby sucks on just your nipples, they won't compress the glands that secrete milk, and your nipples may hurt.
• Your baby's lips should be flanged out (turned out), not curled under. You won't be able to see their bottom lip, but you can feel it.
• Listen for your baby's swallows or watch to see their jaw working as they nurse.
• Check that your nipple remains the same shape before and after feeding. If your nipple is pinched or pressed, then the latch is probably shallow.

Pay attention to how your breasts feel when your baby latches on. If latch-on hurts, break the suction (by inserting your little finger between your baby's gums and your breast) and try again. Once your baby latches on properly, they'll do the rest. Learn more about how to get a good latch.

How often to breastfeed a newborn

The more you nurse, the more milk you'll produce. And because newborns have tiny stomachs, they need to eat frequently. Nursing eight to 12 times every 24 hours is on target.

Rather than nursing according to a rigid schedule, it's important to nurse your newborn "on demand" or whenever they show early signs of hunger, such as increased alertness or activity, mouthing, or rooting around for your nipple. Crying is a late sign of hunger – ideally, you should start feeding your baby before they start crying. Babies can find it hard to settle in to nurse if they're too upset, no matter that they're hungry.

During the first few days, you may have to gently wake your baby to begin nursing, and they may fall asleep again mid-feeding. Keeping your baby skin-to-skin with you during breastfeeding will help keep them awake and active during feedings.

To make sure your baby's eating often enough, wake them up if it's been four hours since your last nursing session. Your baby's doctor will want you to keep track of your baby's wet and poopy diapers for 4 or more days – this will help determine that your baby is getting enough nourishment. They'll also weigh your baby regularly to make sure that they're gaining weight properly.

Tips for breastfeeding a newborn

There's plenty of good advice to help you succeed at breastfeeding. Here are some of the best tips from experts:

Get comfortable

Since feedings will take up a lot of time, especially in the newborn months, pick a cozy spot for nursing. Use this time to bond with your little one.

Hold your baby in a position that won't leave your arms and back sore. The position you choose really depends on what's comfortable for you.

A nursing pillow can be a big help in supporting your baby. Many moms also find a footstool helps them get comfy when they're sitting in a chair. Whether you're sitting or lying down, don't start the feeding until you and your baby are comfortable because you'll be in that position for a while.

Eat well

A healthy breastfeeding diet is all you need while you're nursing. Although you can produce milk for your baby even if your nutrition isn't up to par, eating a well-balanced diet will ensure that the quantity and quality of your milk is all it can be. (Plus, it will help you feel your best.) You don't need to count calories but, as a general guideline, most women who are breastfeeding will need about 450 to 500 calories more than moms who aren't.

Many moms feel extra hungry while breastfeeding, which makes sense – your body is working around the clock to make breast milk for your baby. Eating small meals with healthy snacks in between (the way you may have done during pregnancy) is a good way to keep your hunger in check and your energy level up.

Your practitioner may recommend that you keep taking your prenatal multivitamin while breastfeeding, to make sure you get all the nutrients you need.

By the way, most nursing babies don't mind if Mom indulges in spicy foods. In fact, some experts believe that babies enjoy some variety. No foods are problematic for all babies, so there's no need to restrict what you eat right away. But if your baby seems more gassy or irritable every time you eat a particular food (dairy products, for example), try eliminating the suspect food for a while to see if you notice an improvement.

Rest

Nap when you can during the day, because your baby will keep you busy breastfeeding overnight.

Whenever you can, get help from family and friends with errands, cooking, and other household tasks so that you can rest with your baby.

Supplement your baby's diet

Your baby's doctor will talk to you about giving your nursing baby vitamin D supplements. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends breastfed and partially breastfed infants up to one year old be given 400 IU of vitamin D daily. That's because breast milk may not have enough of the vitamin for your baby. Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium and phosphorus, which help build strong bones.

The doctor may also recommend that your baby take iron supplements beginning at four months of age. The AAP recommends 1 mg/kg per day of oral iron until your baby starts eating enough iron-containing foods.

Stay hydrated

Drink plenty of fluids throughout the day, and have a beverage handy when you sit down to breastfeed.

Use your thirst as a guideline. You're likely to be more thirsty when you're breastfeeding. If your urine is dark yellow, you need to drink more water. Eight to 12 glasses of water daily is a good guideline.

Use both breasts

Begin nursing on the breast your baby didn't feed from (or the one they didn't empty) the last time you nursed. (Tuck an extra nursing pad into your bra on that side as a reminder, if it helps.) Have your baby nurse on both sides at each feeding. The more frequently you nurse, the more you'll stimulate milk production. (See what to do if your baby prefers one breast over the other.)

Limit caffeine and alcohol

Don't overdo your caffeine consumption, because you'll pass the caffeine along to your baby in your breast milk, and it can accumulate in their system. (Experts recommend limiting your intake to no more than 300 mg per day, about the amount you'd get in a 12-ounce cup of coffee.)

You'll also want to limit drinking alcohol while you're breastfeeding, because the same amount of alcohol that enters your bloodstream makes it into your breast milk – and your baby can't process the alcohol as well as you can. Learn how alcohol can affect your breastfeeding baby.

Choose breastfeeding-friendly birth control

Talk with your healthcare provider about which birth control methods are best for breastfeeding women. Hormonal birth control may affect milk supply in some women. If that's the case for you, a non-hormonal option such as a copper intrauterine device (IUD) might be best.

Breastfeeding problems you may encounter

It's normal to feel overwhelmed by your baby's constant nursing and exhausted from lack of sleep. And you may have questions: Is my baby getting enough milk? Should breastfeeding hurt? How long should my baby nurse? Should I wake my baby if they fall asleep nursing?

Many women also face specific breastfeeding difficulties early on. Some of the most common breastfeeding problems you may encounter in the first six weeks include:

• Engorgement (breasts that are excessively full and uncomfortable)
• Sore and bleeding nipples
• Mastitis (a breast infection)
• Low milk supply

Don't suffer in silence. Call your healthcare provider or a lactation consultant if you're suffering from any of the above, if you're in pain, or if physical discomfort is getting in the way of nursing.

Where to get help with breastfeeding

Breastfeeding help and support is just a phone call (or a click) away. Places to contact:

• Your doctor or midwife. Talk with them about any health concerns that may be getting in the way of successful breastfeeding. Ask them to put you in touch with a lactation consultant. You can also contact the hospital or birth center where you delivered, a postpartum doula, or your baby's doctor for a referral.
• La Leche League InternationalOpens a new window, an organization that offers encouragement and support to women who want to breastfeed their babies, can send you information or put you in touch with a La Leche League chapter near you. You can reach the group's headquarters or get advice from its breastfeeding hotline by calling (800) 525-3243. If you attend local meetings, you can meet other new moms and get breastfeeding assistance.
• International Lactation Consultant Association. For professional advice and encouragement, call an international board-certified lactation consultant (IBCLC). A lactation consultant can offer advice on how to breastfeed properly and give you hands-on help. To find one near you, call the International Lactation Consultant Association at (919) 861-5577 or use that association's online lactation consultant finderOpens a new window.
• The National Women's Health and Breastfeeding HelplineOpens a new window provides answers to questions and breastfeeding support. Call them at 1-800-994-9662.

For support from other breastfeeding moms, visit the Breastfeeding support and help group in BabyCenter's Community.

Learn more:

• Preparing to breastfeed
• Breast milk storage
• Breastfeeding tips and tricks
• Benefits of breastfeeding