Give your baby the first feed as soon as possible after birth.
Frequent unrestricted feeding, meeting the baby’s needs, will stimulate the production of milk. Go along with your baby and feed as required.
- Feed frequently whenever your baby cries or seems hungry.
- Let your baby finish the first breast before offering the second breast.
- Your baby will need to feed during the night (this also helps prevent your breasts becoming too full and uncomfortable).
- Your baby will probably want at least 6-8 feeds in 24 hours (many young babies have more than this - often 10-12 feeds).
- Giving complementary bottles ("comps") will reduce your baby´s need to suck at the breast and so reduce your supply.
Babies also suckle for comfort—this is not feeding, but is perfectly acceptable.
As your baby grows, your baby will nurse more vigorously and may reduce the suckling time.
Nipple care
- Using soap, alcohol or other drying agents on the nipples can cause cracked nipples.
- Rub a few drops of expressed colostrum, which has anti-infective properties, into the nipple and areola.
- Air-dry nipples and, if possible, expose them briefly to the sunlight each day. Start with a few minutes and gradually increase exposure to about ten minutes a day.
Feeding positions
- Make sure that your nipple and as much as possible of your areola (the darker area around your nipple) is in your baby´s mouth. When your baby is positioned correctly for breastfeeding, it should not hurt you.
- When feeding, it is very important to take up a comfortable position so you won’t get tired. Your comfort and your baby’s comfort are essential to benefit fully from these moments of shared tenderness. You can breastfeed your baby in bed: lying on your side with your baby lying parallel to you, their head level with your breast. You can also feed in an armchair, in a comfortable position, putting your baby’s head in the crook of your arm, supported by one or two cushions so you don’t have to lean over.