Breastfeeding Tips
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Breastfeeding is one of the most amazing and natural things a mother can do for her baby, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy from the start. In fact, many new moms find breastfeeding to be very challenging initially. I certainly did! Now, four breastfed kids and over 74 months of breastfeeding (and counting) later, plus baby #5 on the way, I truly have found it to be one of my absolute favorite parts of motherhood.
The good news? With practice, patience, and some expert tips, it becomes much easier. Whether you’re expecting your first baby or have just welcomed your little one, these breastfeeding tips can help you feel more confident and prepared for the journey ahead. From one mama to another, with love.
Breastfeeding tips
Breastfeeding Tips
1. Feed Your Newborn ON Demand
Newborns have small stomachs and need to eat frequently. Feeding on demand—meaning whenever your baby shows signs of hunger—helps establish your milk supply and ensures your baby is getting enough to eat. This is especially important in the early newborn days. Hunger cues include rooting, sucking on hands, and smacking lips. Try to feed your baby before they start crying, as it’s easier for both of you.
(Want to read more about how to recognize hunger cues? You’ll love this article on recognizing signs of hunger as well as gas, tiredness, etc.)
Your pediatrician may also tell you to wake your baby to feed every 2 or 3 hours around the clock in the early days and weeks. This can be helpful for sleepy newborns and makes sure they don’t go too long between feedings if they aren’t waking to feed on their own. I was given these instructions for all four of my newborns until they get back above birth weight. Always follow the guidance of your pediatrician that is specific to your baby’s individual needs and remember that this article is parenting, not medical, advice!
2. Take Care of Your Nipples
Sore nipples are very common in the early days of breastfeeding. I had horribly sore nipples as a first time mom, to the point where they became cracked and chapped and even bled a little bit. Unfortunately, at the time I didn’t know how to prevent that from happening or how to soothe them. Keep reading so you don’t have to learn the hard way!
Sore nipples are often caused by a poor latch. Be sure to seek the guidance of a lactation consultant or midwife to ensure you know how to latch. If your baby is incorrectly latched, quickly remove them and re-latch rather than continue trying to nurse with the poor latch (trust me, your nipples will thank you later!)
Lanolin cream can be applied after each nursing session to help prevent or sooth cracked or chapped nipples. I’ve used several different brands of lanolin cream, and this one is my personal favorite.
A nipple shield can be very helpful for preventing nipple pain or for using to make breastfeeding more comfortable if your nipples are already sore. Here is one I have used and recommend.
Avoid using scented or harsh body wash, scrubs, or soaps on your nipples when you shower. These can further irritate sore nipples. Rinsing with plain water works just fine.
Don’t be afraid of temporarily pumping to allow your nipples to heal. I wish I would have done that with my first to avoid prolonged pain. (Too bad I was so intimidated about using my breast pump for the first time!) You can then switch back to nursing once your nipples heal.
3. Stay Hydrated and Nourished
Creating breastmilk for your little one uses a whopping 500-700 calories per day. This is the equivalent to walking 6 or 7 miles. And what many new moms don’t realize is that the caloric needs for breastfeeding are even higher than during pregnancy. Not eating and drinking enough can lead to reduced milk supply and becoming run down—neither of which is good for you OR your baby.
It’s no wonder, then, that breastfeeding can make you feel very hungry and thirsty. Eating a balanced diet with plenty of calories, even in the newborn haze, is critical to support your milk supply. Drinking a lot of water each day is just as important—your body needs well over 100 oz daily.
I recommend listening to your body’s hunger cues and eating when hungry. This might mean middle-of-the-night snacks when you’re up for an overnight nursing session. Having easy to prepare (think frozen or prepped meals you can quickly heat up) food is important for when hunger strikes.
My favorite trick to help ensure I drink enough water each day? Keep one 12 or 16oz water bottle next to where I will nurse baby. Drink an entire water bottle each time you breastfeed.
4. Keep Baby Close With Skin-To-Skin
Skin to skin with my 4th baby when he was three days old
Keeping your baby close to you through skin-to-skin contact (i.e. in diaper only on your bare chest) can do wonderful things for your milk production. Skin-to-skin encourages your baby to latch and nurse more effectively, and it strengthens your amazing bond. The American Academy of Pediatrics says that skin-to-skin not only fosters better breastfeeding outcomes but also enhances overall maternal and infant well-being.
I can personally say that doing skin-to-skin in those early newborn days is my absolute FAVORITE. It’s like my reward for all the months of pregnancy discomfort, the birth experience, and the sleepless newborn nights! And since it’s also so great for breastfeeding, it’s truly a win-win.
5. Offer Both Breasts, and Alternate
During each feeding session, offer both breasts to ensure they’re both being emptied regularly. This helps maintain an even milk supply in both breasts and can prevent engorgement. Yes, even when doing this, it’s very common for one breast to produce more milk than the other. This has happened to me!
Another tip is to alternate which breast you start on for each feeding. If you started the last feeding with the left breast, start with the right breast this time.
In the sleep-deprived early days, I sometimes have trouble remembering which breast I started with the last time and which one I should use this time. It may sound silly, but the sleep deprivation is real when you sleep only 1-2 hours at a time at first, and it’s hard to remember. Read the next tip for how I handle this!
6. Use AN App
I am a huge proponent of using an app to track my breastfeeding sessions. This does a few things for me:
Ensures I feed baby frequently enough, at least every 2-3 hours or as directed by my pediatrician, as the feeding times are tracked
Ensures I spend roughly equal time feeding on each breast to prevent becoming lopsided
Ensures I know which breast I started with for the last feeding and can start with the opposite next time
Enables a partner or family member to also have access to your breastfeeding log (if you choose to give them access) from their own device, so that they can support you with overnight feeds while you get some sleep.
Helps troubleshoot the root cause of why your baby might be fussy—if they are fussing and you can see in the app that they just fed 45 minutes ago, it’s likely they are either gassy or tired rather than hungry (though I’ve also never underestimate the cluster feeding needs of a newborn going through a growth spurt!)
Helps me develop a flexible feeding schedule to support my baby’s needs that brings more predictability to our days (learn more about how I implement a flexible newborn schedule here).
I’ve used a completely free app for all 4 of my babies and plan to use it again for #5. It’s called Baby Tracker and can be found in the app store on your device.
There are many other breastfeeding apps available, some free and some paid. I’ve never looked much outside of Baby Tracker because it’s free and has worked wonderfully for me. An app can be incredibly helpful to get breastfeeding off to a good start.
7. Start Building Your Stash The Easy Way
For working moms (like me!) who will eventually go back to work full time, building a stash of breast milk in the first few weeks and months is definitely a priority. But having a stash can be extremely helpful even for moms who won’t be going back to work and simply want to have extra on hand to allow a partner, family member, or caregiver to help with feeds overnight or on a date night out. We all need a break, and having extra breast milk on hand gives you freedom.
To start building my breast milk stash with minimal effort, I use a haakaa. This is technically a silicone manual breast pump, though it’s often also called a “milk collector”. I gently suction this onto the opposite breast when nursing, and it collects the letdown and some extra liquid gold as I breastfeed on the other side. I then switch sides for both breastfeeding and the haakaa for the second half of the feeding session.
Because this is a manual breast pump that removes milk from your breasts and ultimately signals your body to make more milk, there is a risk of causing overproduction by using a haakaa or any other breast pump too early. I personally don’t mind having a slight oversupply with my newborn so that I can build my stash and get others involved in feedings, but I didn’t take this approach when I was initially learning how to breastfeed.
Using a haakaa can be a powerful and easy way to collect a few extra ounces each feeding that can ultimately enable a date night out, a few hours of continuous sleep while someone else feeds baby, or a few hours of freedom to do something for yourself.
8. Prepare For Public Feeding
With my first baby, I was very hesitant to breastfeed in public. I eventually got over this and realized that feeding my baby is nothing to be ashamed of or to hide. Your baby needs to eat when they are hungry, which may mean nursing in public on occasion! I’ve now nursed in just about any public setting you could name. Airports, restaurants, malls, airplanes, lobbies, coffee shops, at the pool, at Disney…the list goes on.
Feeding in public can be intimidating at first, but practice can help you feel more confident. Start by feeding in front of a mirror at home to get comfortable with positioning and modesty. You can also invest in a nursing cover or choose clothing that makes breastfeeding in public easier. Here is my tried-and-true favorite breastfeeding cover, and here is an example of a shirt that’s made for easy breastfeeding no matter where you are (plus, it’s super cute and comes in a lot of colors!).
9. Learn How To Tell If your Baby Is Getting Enough Breast Milk
One of the most baffling things about breastfeeding for me at first was trying to figure out whether my baby was getting enough to eat. After all, you can’t exactly see or measure how much they are taking in like you would with a bottle. Over time, I learned all the signs. Here are some great ways to know that your baby is getting enough food.
Baby should have regular wet diapers, both with #1 and #2
Baby should appear restful, calm, and content after feedings
Newborns often clench their fists when hungry. During a feeding, you may notice their fists unclench. This is a sign that they are well fed and satisfied.
They no longer display the signs of being hungry such as rooting, sucking on their hands, and smacking their lips. Remember to check out this article to learn all about cues for baby hunger, tiredness, and gas that will be incredibly helpful.
Baby should be gaining weight. You will have many pediatrician appointments after baby is born, and one of the key aspects of each appointment will be to weigh your baby. This helps ensure proper weight gain and allows your pediatrician to make recommendations based on your baby’s specific needs.
10. Know The Signs OF More Serious Issues
There are a few common breastfeeding issues that a new mom needs to know about—namely, clogged ducts, mastitis, and thrush. It’s very important to learn the signs of these potential issues.
If you notice unusual symptoms such as redness, swelling, or pain, reach out to your healthcare provider or lactation consultant as soon as possible for advice. Early intervention can prevent small issues from becoming more serious.
Conclusion
Breastfeeding can feel like a big challenge at first, but with time and the right support, it will become easier. Remember, every mom and baby are different, so what works for one might not work for another. Trust yourself, be patient, and don’t hesitate to seek help if you need it. You’re doing an amazing job, and with each feeding, you’re giving your baby the best possible start. Keep going—you’ve got this!
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