Getting breastfeeding off to a good start

The First Day - Getting Breastfeeding Established - Part Two

The foundation to comfortable breastfeeding is to ensure that your baby has achieved a good latch. This is a skill that is easier acquired if you have someone assist you. When your baby is latched on well, you may feel a strong, but painless tugging sensation on your nipple. Some mothers describe it as a sliding back and forth of their nipple or a pulling sensation. All these would be normal descriptions as the baby opens mouth wide, lowers tongue over his gum line to provide a nice padding between their gums and your nipple. If baby latches on deeply and with just the right angle, your nipple is placed far back in baby's mouth and you avoid nipple compression. If at any time, you feel soreness or pain, please request help from an experienced breastfeeding consultant.

It is normal for your baby to be quite sleepy the first 24 hours and you may need to put some effort into waking your baby up. If the first several feedings are effective with no pain and a normal amount of milk transfer, your baby begins waking up on his own by the second day of life and should be interested to feed at least 8 or 9 times a day.

Once your baby latches on and it feels comfortable, and you feel your baby's sucking behavior is vigorous and yet painless, it is best to let your baby stay on the breast until he changes to a more pacifying/light suck with minutes in between suckles or until he falls asleep. A diaper change and an effort to wake baby up is helpful before you offer the other side. The first 24 hours some babies are only interested in 1 side per feeding, however, they usually are hungry enough and cue for the "second side", from the second day on.

There is a lot more to say on this subject and I will continue this discussion in my next post. From this point on, you will notice that I will repeat one of my favorite sayings several times in the hopes that you understand the truth.

The truth is - Breastfeeding should not hurt - Not on Day 1 or Day 2 or Day 3.

So, if it is hurting, and the people who have been helping you have not been able to show you how to fix this, you will want to seek the help of an IBCLC. As an experienced IBCLC, I have learned that the sooner you seek help, the quicker your problems are fixed and the less pain you have.

You can follow this link to learn more about what a private breastfeeding consultation with an IBCLC includes. If you are not in the local Phoenix, Arizona area, you will want to perform a google search for an IBCLC in the area in which you live.

The first day - getting breastfeeding established

The First Day - Getting Breastfeeding Established



A mother's experience can be dramatically affected by what happens during the first 24 hours after her baby is born. There are several steps to pay close attention to which help both mother and baby get off to a good start. In discussing the steps, it is important to note the assumption is that your baby is born full term and without any health issues for the mother or baby. While health issues can be overcome, they may make the information given here unattainable, at least temporarily.





Babies typically experience a time of quiet alertness within the first 2 hours after birth. Keeping your baby skin to skin keeps your baby warm while having access to nuzzle or lick the nipple. In a short period of time, your baby will begin to root, lick, open his mouth and you can gentle guide your baby to the breast and allow him to begin suckling. If your baby does not go to the breast right away, don't worry. Some babies need more than 2 hours to recover from the birth process.

As long as there is no medical reason to be separated, it is best for you both to room together while you become accustomed to the baby's gentle breathing and little noises they tend to make. Babies should have easy access to their mothers and fed as frequently as they are showing feeding cues. It will help get breasfeeding off to a good start if you avoid bottles and nipples and pacifiers. This allows breastfeeding to happen easier, as baby adjusts to the suckling activity needed at the breast to remove milk as well as the texture and smell of his mother. This familiarity helps get breastfeeding off to a good start. Check out the next post as it will include additional tips on breastfeeding the first day.