Hold your baby skin-to-skin as soon as they are born. Encourage them to breastfeed as soon as possible.
Latching on
- Get comfortable and relaxed—sit or lie with your back well supported.
- Keep your breast at its natural level. Bring baby to breast, not breast to baby.
- Keep baby’s head and body in line, their tummy against you and their nose opposite your nipple.
- If you support their back and neck, leave their head free to tip back so they can open their mouth wide.
- Help baby latch on ‘chin first’ with their head tilted back.
- As they latch on, their lower jaw will be well back from your nipple so that they can take in a really big mouthful of breast tissue.
- Once they latch on, snuggle them in close against you.
It’s ok to ask for help—it can take a while for breastfeeding to become easy.
Call our helpline: 0345 120 2918, Find a local LLL Leader to talk to, or find your local LLL group here.
Colostrum
- Rich milk made in the first few days.
- Small amounts (teaspoons, not tablespoons).
- Protects against infection.
- Clears meconium— helps reduce jaundice.
- Satisfies baby’s thirst and hunger.
Enough milk?
- After milk comes in: 6–8 wet nappies in 24 hours (5–6 disposables).
- 3 or more poos per day mean baby is getting enough milk.
Milk too weak? Never!
- Your milk has everything your baby needs. They will tell you when they have had enough.
- Finish first breast first and
- Offer other breast if baby is still hungry.
How often?
- Breastfeed baby 10–12 times in 24 hours.
- Hold them and wake them if they are very sleepy.
- The more you breastfeed the more milk you make.
- Resting the breasts results in less milk.
Engorgement
- Cold cloths or cabbage leaves between feeds reduce swelling.
- Warmth before feeding helps milk flow.
- Soften breasts by expressing some milk.
- Breastfeed often!
Sore nipples
Remember: good positioning and latch-on are most important for preventing sore nipples.
- Break suction before taking baby off the breast.
- Offer the least sore breast first.
- Avoid plastic against nipples.
- Use only plain water for washing.
- Get skilled help.
Why avoid bottles
click for larger image
Baby needs night feeds
Human milk is easy and quick to digest and babies have tiny tummies—so babies need to wake at night to eat.
Blocked duct?
You may feel a tender lump in your breast:
• Apply warmth before feeding.
• Feed often.
• Check baby’s attachment.
• Rest. Keep breastfeeding.
• If no better after 24 hours, contact GP.
Growth spurts
Baby feeds more often to build milk production. ‘Frequency days and nights’ often occur around 2–4 weeks of age.
Back to work
• Get breastfeeding going well before starting back.
• Ask about facilities at work for expressing and storing your milk.
• Pump to express milk at work.
• Take milk home for the next day’s feeds.
• Breastfeed often on days at home.
Further Reading
Comfortable Breastfeeding – easy read