Newborn breastfeeding: Your guide to the first week of nursing

Breastfeeding is a learned process. That means you likely have numerous questions about breastfeeding, like if it’s normal to have pain while nursing and how long to feed your infant for. It’s to be expected that new moms will need information as they figure out what breastfeeding looks like for them after birth. Along with some loving care and guidance, and a good dose of trust in the process and your body, it’s vital to have that information about what to expect in the first few days of newborn breastfeeding, especially since so much changes that first week—from birth to colostrum to your milk coming in!

Here’s an overview of what happens over the course of the first week of breastfeeding (and beyond), but the key things to remember in those first few days are:

• Keep baby close with skin-to-skin contact
• Nursing every 1.5 to 2 hours is typical
• Rooting, turning their head, fist-to-mouth and lip-smacking are baby’s key hunger signs
• Check diaper output: Generally 3 to 5 solid diapers and 5 to 6 wet diapers per day is normal
• Your baby’s latch shouldn’t be painful. Get help if needed from a certified lactation consultant

Read on for a breakdown of the first week of breastfeeding a newborn: What’s normal and what to do if you’re having trouble.

Related: Dear mama, you deserve a beautiful breastfeeding experience—and mindfulness can help

3 tips to support the first week of breastfeeding

Wondering how to get nursing off to a good start? Following these tips in the first hours after your baby’s birth (when possible) can help promote bonding and breastfeeding success.

1. Breastfeed in the first few hours after birth

Babies are often ready to start eating within 45 minutes to an hour of being born. If you are able, this is a great time for that first feeding. There is evidence that nursing in the first two hours after birth leads to longer nursing duration over time. Babies are learning as soon as they are born, so give them the chance to learn to nurse. If you aren’t able to breastfeed right away, or if something goes wrong, don’t worry—with help, almost all babies can learn to latch later on.

Don’t forget to ask your nurse or provider for help with the first latch, and ask to see a lactation consultant or counselor if available.

2. Maintain skin-to-skin contact

Unless you or your baby has a medical condition that requires immediate attention, it’s important to spend a good few hours with your baby skin-to-skin directly after birth. Even babies born via C-section can be placed in a mother’s arms immediately after birth. If you can’t do skin-to-skin, a partner or family member might be able to. And skin-to-skin has major benefits moving forward as well. Any time spent doing skin-to-skin is valuable, whether or not you are breastfeeding.

Related: WHO now recommends all premature babies receive immediate skin-to-skin contact after birth

3. Check your baby’s early latch

Many babies (especially ones born to mothers who didn’t have pain medication) will crawl up to the breast and latch on themselves, known as the breast crawl. Numerous studies have shown the importance of these first few hours of breastfeeding. Babies are most alert and primed to nurse in these post-birth hours.

Related: One-week-old feeding schedules and amounts

Newborn breastfeeding tips: Days 1 to 3

1. Nurse frequently

For the first few days after birth, expect your baby to nurse very frequently. There is absolutely no schedule yet. If you are in a hospital, having your baby room-in with you can help since you’ll be closer and can respond to their hunger cues when they start. Keep your baby skin-to-skin with you for most of the day. This way, anytime your baby looks for the breast, it will be right there. Rooting, head bobbing, fist sucking, mouth fluttering—these are all signs your baby is hungry.

Related: Top breastfeeding positions—what they are and when to try them

2. All hail colostrum

During the first three days, you’ll produce a special kind of early milk called colostrum. It’s small in quantity, but rich in vitamins, proteins, antibodies and antiviral agents. It’s your baby’s first inoculation. It also acts as a laxative and helps your baby clear out their first poop (meconium.)

Related: 6 ways breast milk is basically magic, according to science

3. Keep an eye on the baby’s weight loss

It is normal for breastfed babies to lose a bit of weight in the first three days of life—5% to 7% is within the normal range. Part of this is the passage of the first poop and other fluids from birth.

You likely don’t need to supplement your breastmilk. In fact, your baby’s stomach is about the size of a marble right now, so feeding a few ounces in a bottle will most likely make your baby spit up. The colostrum your body produces is small in amount for a reason—it’s just the right amount for your baby’s stomach to hold.

Related: 14 science-backed ways to reduce SIDS risk in babies

4. Address latching issues as early as you can

What if your baby is not latching? Some babies have trouble latching in the first few days. If this is the case, get some help from a lactation consultant right away.

In the meantime, keep your baby skin-to-skin, hand express your colostrum (pumps don’t work as well in these first few days before your milk “comes in”) and feed your baby the colostrum with a small spoon or a medicine dropper.

Related: Your best latch: 10 things to know to breastfeed without pain

Newborn breastfeeding tips: Days 3 to 5

1. Prepare for the arrival of milk letdown

Sometime between the third and fifth day after birth, your milk will become more abundant. It can often happen suddenly but is sometimes more gradual. Some women just feel fuller and might notice their baby swallowing more milk (not everyone can hear a baby swallow, but that doesn’t mean the baby isn’t getting milk!). Others become quite engorged when their milk comes in, which can be a challenge in itself.

Related: This amazing video of the milk letdown is going viral—and it’s a must-watch

2. Know that overfilling, or engorgement, is possible

The key is to make sure your baby is deeply latched on well and to nurse frequently to empty your breasts and prevent them from getting engorged.

Related: How to treat mastitis, thrush and other breastfeeding issues

3. Try hand-expressing breast milk

If your breasts are so full that your nipples become flattened, your baby may have trouble latching on. Hand expressing a little milk to soften the nipple, or trying a technique called reverse pressure softening, can make the nipple more pliable and make latching easier.

4. Gently massage your breasts

Get some help with these techniques if necessary. If you are so engorged that your milk isn’t flowing, a gentle massage can help. Cold packs or chilled cabbage leaves placed over the breasts between feedings can also be helpful to relieve breast discomfort.

5. Do a diaper check

Soon after your milk comes in, your baby’s poops will transition to a greenish-brownish color, and will take on a mustard yellow color soon after. Wet diapers will become more abundant as well.

Related: How to change a diaper: A step-by-step guide

Newborn breastfeeding tips: Days 5 to 7

Once you’ve gotten over the hump of the first few days, you might be starting to find a groove with breastfeeding. Your baby will still be nursing very frequently, about 10 times in 24 hours. Some babies will have a slightly longer stretch (though not always at night!), but most will need to nurse every two hours or so.

1. Learn your baby’s hunger cues

Once your milk is in and you know that your baby is gaining weight, you can let some longer stretches happen (feeding every 2 to 3 hours), but remember to always nurse when your baby shows cues like rooting, head bobbing and fist sucking; and always check with your pediatrician first before stretching out feeds. Even a baby making light sucking motions is a cue to nurse.

2. Know that schedules vary

Some babies will seem to have an erratic breastfeeding schedule, wanting to nurse every hour for a few hours, and then sleeping soundly for a few hours after that (cluster feeding). All of it is normal.

Related: What is cluster feeding?

3. Continue checking diapers

Babies generally have three to five solid diapers per 24 hours. The poops should be at least the size of a quarter, yellow in color and sometimes seedy in texture. Variations in color are normal, too. Some babies will poop after every feeding, and some will consolidate the poops more. Pee diapers vary, but five to seven wet diapers per day is normal.

4. Check baby’s weight

Diapers only tell half the story of how much milk a baby is getting. The most reliable test is a weight check (placing baby on the same scale each time if possible, wearing no clothes or diaper.)

Related: This baby-care log is so easy to use—even when you’re exhausted

It can take up to two weeks for a baby to get back to their birth weight, but by the end of the first week, a baby should be gaining rather than continuing to lose weight. If your baby isn’t gaining weight, get help right away!

5. Supplement if needed

If your baby is losing weight, you may need to try supplementing your milk with formula or your own pumped milk. Your child’s pediatrician can guide you here.

6. Know that breast tenderness should subside

Nursing should be relatively pain-free by the end of the first or second week. Some mild tenderness when your baby first latches is within the spectrum of normal, but pain that is severe, lasts more than a few seconds, lasts between feeds or is accompanied by broken or cracked skin, that is not normal and you may need help fixing your infant’s latch. Tools and techniques are available and can help with latch issues—you shouldn’t have to fight through the pain to feed your infant.

8. Ask for help when you need it

If you have any issues or concerns with breastfeeding, get help sooner rather than later because these problems only tend to get worse with time. Often all that you need is a quick adjustment to your latch or breastfeeding positioning. Some moms and babies need a little more help, like a nipple shield or checking for a tongue tie. Ask your pediatrician for recommendations for a lactation consultant.

Related: Your guide to C-section recovery: Timeline, tips and what to expect as you heal

Newborn breastfeeding tips for the first week and beyond

1. Relax & snuggle

Your baby will want to nurse a lot and be near you. Now is the time to clear your schedule and let yourself rest and snuggle with your infant. Lots of new moms have trouble with this because they are used to getting things done and feeling independent. But this time is brief and you will thank yourself later for taking the time to rest and establish breastfeeding.

Related: 5 reasons to practice postpartum rest, according to a midwife

2. Get support

Remember, you don’t have to do everything alone. Get help! Your partner, your family, your neighbors—accept all offers of help, even imperfect help. Let others keep house and feed you so you can rest and nurse.

Related: ‘Failure to thrive’ is a harmful and unhelpful term for my child

3. Find your people

Do you love breastfeeding? Hate it? Feel overwhelmed? All these feelings are normal, and it’s normal to feel all of them all at once. Check in with yourself too to determine if you’re experiencing symptoms of postpartum depression or postpartum anxiety.

Once you have recovered from birth and breastfeeding is established, join a local breastfeeding support group. Meeting other breastfeeding moms will help you feel seen. Plus, more concerns come up after that first week, and it’s great to have the wisdom and support of other mothers.

Related: The early weeks of breastfeeding are exhausting—but fleeting

Sources

Nakao Y, Moji K, Honda S. et al. Initiation of breastfeeding within 120 minutes after birth is associated with breastfeeding at four months among Japanese women: A self-administered questionnaire survey. Int Breastfeed J 3, 1 (2008). doi: 10.1186/1746-4358-3-1

A version of this post was originally published on June 30, 2018. It has been updated.