Breastfeeding is like learning a new skill; it can take some time to establish and is something you and your baby will learn to do together. There is a lot of support that can be given to you by your midwife, both in the hospital and at home, from your health visitors, maternity support workers, and breastfeeding peer supporters. Here are some tips that you might find useful during the early days of breastfeeding. 

Colostrum: your first milk

The first milk your body produces is called colostrum. It's thick and usually a golden yellow colour. It's a very concentrated food, so your baby only needs a small amount (about a teaspoonful) at each feed.

Your baby might want to feed quite often, perhaps every hour to begin with, and that’s normal. They'll then start to have fewer but longer feeds once your breasts start to produce more ‘mature’ milk after a few days. It’s good to remember that the more you breastfeed the more milk you'll make.

Colostrum is produced by your body during pregnancy (the exact time the body starts to do this will vary from person to person). Some people start collecting their colostrum before the baby is born. This is called antenatal colostrum harvesting or expressing. Your midwife will talk to you about this towards the end of your pregnancy. More information about colostrum harvesting can be found here. 

Positioning your baby to feed

There are lots of different positions that you can use to feed your baby; it's important to remember the following when trying to position your baby:

• Position your baby close to you and get comfy. Take a moment to think about how to make yourself as comfortable as possible. Do you need a pillow under your arm? Would it be nice to lie on your side?
• In line, make sure your baby is facing towards you.
• Support your baby's shoulders and neck, but allow their head to move freely. It’s best to avoid having your hand or anything else touching their head.  
• Try to line up their nose to your nipple – so that when they attach to you, they get lots of your breast tissue in their mouth rather than just your nipple, as this can be very sore!
• When they open their mouth wide (you may need to give this some time or give your breast a gentle squeeze so that baby can smell the milk) move baby towards your breast in a swift movement so that they get as much in their mouth as possible. Always bring the baby to the breast, and let them latch themselves. Try not to lean your breast forward into your baby's mouth. 
• Finally, once the baby is latched, make sure you’re comfortable again.

For a step-by-step guide on positioning and attachment, the NHS has some helpful resources here. 

How do I know if my baby is latched on well?

There are many ways to tell if your baby is latched on to the breast: 

• The latch is pain-free. If it's painful, take your baby off the breast and try again. 
• Your baby's chin touches your breast
• Your baby is calm and relaxed throughout the feed
• Your baby's mouth is opened wide around the breast. 

Your ‘let-down reflex’

Your baby's sucking makes the muscles in your breasts squeeze milk towards your nipples. This is called the let-down reflex.

Some women get a tingling feeling which can be quite strong, while others feel nothing at all.

You'll see your baby respond when your milk lets down - their quick sucks will change to deep rhythmic swallows as the milk begins to flow. You might notice your baby pause after the first quick sucks while they wait for more milk to be delivered.

This let-down reflex can sometimes be so strong that your baby coughs and splutters. If this is happening, you could try speaking to your midwife, health visitor or breastfeeding supporter to get some help with this.

If your baby seems to be falling asleep before the deep swallowing stage of feeds, it might be that they’re not properly attached to your breast. Midwives, health visitors or breastfeeding supporters can help with this, too! They can give suggestions about your baby's positioning and attachment.

Sometimes, you'll notice your milk letting down if you hear your baby crying or when you have a warm bath or shower - this is normal, so don’t panic!

How often should I feed my baby?

In the first week, your baby might want to feed very often - it could be every hour in the first few days! Try to follow their feeding cues. 

It’s absolutely fine to feed your baby as often as they want and for as long as they want. They'll start to have fewer, but longer feeds after a few days. As a very rough guide, your baby should feed 8-12 times, or more, every 24 hours during the first few weeks. We know this sounds like a lot, but remember that it’s a great opportunity for you to bond with your baby through close contact. It's fine to feed your baby whenever they’re hungry, when your breasts feel full or if you just want to have a cuddle. Remember that it's not possible to overfeed a breastfed baby!

Building up your milk supply

Around 2-4 days after birth, you might notice that your breasts become fuller. This is often called your milk ‘coming in’. Your body is incredibly clever, and the amount of milk you make will change in response to your baby's needs. Each time your baby feeds, your body knows to make more milk for the next feed, so if they’re feeding often your body will make more milk.

It’s absolutely fine to feed your baby as often as they want and for as long as they want. This is called responsive feeding. In other words, responding to your baby's needs. It's also sometimes called on-demand or baby-led feeding.

In the beginning, it can feel like you're doing nothing but feeding! But gradually, you and your baby will get into a pattern, and the amount of milk you produce will settle down, so hang on in there - it will get easier!

It's important to breastfeed at night (at least one feed between midnight and 6 a.m.) because this is when you produce more hormones (prolactin) to build up your milk supply.

Remember, you can speak to a midwife or health visitor if you’re worried about breastfeeding or think your baby isn’t getting enough milk.