Breastfeeding

Getting Started Breastfeeding

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Day 1 | Days 2 to 4 | Days 3 to 5 | Days 5 to 28 | Contact us

The first few weeks of breastfeeding are a learning period for both you and your baby. It may take time, patience and practice for you to feel confident in breastfeeding your baby.

Keep a simple chart of feedings and diaper changes for each day. Keeping track of your baby’s progress will help you know if your baby is getting enough breastmilk. You can write the following information on a blank sheet of paper:

The time the baby started feeding at the breast
The amount of minutes the baby fed at the breast
Which breast the baby fed on?

If the baby fed on both breasts write that down also

Wet diapers and stools

Take the chart with you when you visit the baby’s health care provider.

The following guidelines will help you know what to expect for the first 28 days of breastfeeding your baby:

Day 1

Term babies are usually ready to begin breastfeeding within the first hour of life
Babies are most active right after birth, followed by a sleepy stage
Put your baby to the breast as soon as possible after delivery
A baby should breastfeed several times on the first day
Baby may only have 1 or 2 wet diapers or stools during the first 24 hours

Days 2 to 4

Your baby should begin to wake up for feedings and show signs or cues that he / she is ready to eat. Signs that your baby is ready to eat include rooting, smacking lips, sucking on a fist or fingers

Crying is a late sign of hunger

Babies will breastfeed every one to three hours or at least eight to 12 times in 24 hours

Newborn babies have small tummies, so will need to eat often
These frequent feedings provide your baby with the nutrient rich early milk called colostrum and tells your breasts to make more milk

Your baby may suckle for 10-30 minutes on the first breast, before falling asleep or letting go

Try to burp the baby and then offer the second breast
Some breastfed babies don’t burp much
Some babies are content with only one breast per feeding

Your baby should have at least two to four wet diapers and stools per day

Stools should start turning from the dark tarry meconium to brown or green
Bowel movements should start becoming looser

Babies may lose some weight

As your milk comes in, your baby should start to gain weight
Talk to your health care provider about how often the baby should be weighed and how much weight is safe for your baby to lose

You may feel uterine cramping when breastfeeding the first few days
You may experience mild nipple tenderness while you and your baby are learning to breastfeed

Contact your health care provider or a lactation consultant if you have nipple tenderness that lasts longer than the first week, you have nipple pain, cracked or bleeding nipples

Days 3 to 5

Your milk supply should increase quickly or “come in”
Your baby will nurse about 8 to 12 times every day for about 10 to 30 minutes each feeding
When your milk comes in and the baby is feeding well, stools will be a mustard-yellow, loose and seedy

By day five, your baby should have six to eight wet diapers every day and several stools

Breasts may feel full, heavy and warm when milk comes in

The most important thing to do when your milk first comes in is to remove the milk out of your breasts by feeding your baby often
You can massage your breasts a little before feeding to soften them
For severe engorgement, you may need to use some cold packs to reduce swelling before feeding your baby
Hand expressing a few drops of milk may help soften the nipple so that the baby can latch easier

Contact your lactation consultant for assistance with latching the baby at the breast or other concern.

Days 5 to 28

Your baby will nurse about eight to 12 times per day for about 10 to 30 minutes each feeding
Let your baby decide when to come off the first breast, so that he / she can nurse long enough to get the higher fat hindmilk
Your baby should continue to have at least six to eight wet diapers and at least two or three loose, yellow, seedy stools each day
Your baby should be back to birth weight by two weeks of age
When baby is gaining weight well and has the correct number of wet diapers and stools each day, let the baby decide his / her own schedule for feedings
Contact your health care provider or a lactation consultant for any breastfeeding concerns