Hold your baby with his tummy touching your tummy. Tap baby’s lips with your nipple and watch for a wide open mouth with his tongue down. When baby’s mouth opens wide, quickly bring baby’s mouth over the nipple. Baby’s mouth should be about one inch behind the nipple on the dark circle, also known as the areola.
Remember, breastfeeding is NOT supposed to hurt!
- If you have nipple pain during feeding, try pulling baby’s chin down.
- Always check that the baby’s bottom lip curls out. If it does not, pull his chin down.
- You may need to take baby off and try again farther back on the areola
- The baby’s nostrils may appear to be blocked by your breast. His nose can safely touch your breast while breastfeeding and still breathe.
Having Enough Breast Milk
Your baby will have times of rapid growth at 2 weeks, 6 weeks and 3 months.
During these growth spurts, babies act hungry all the time. At these times, the baby needs food more often. This will signal the breast to make more milk. The baby will control the supply of milk. The more your baby feeds, the more milk your breasts will produce. It will take him about 2 days of breastfeeding more often for your milk supply to increase.
Feeding Times
For the first few weeks, you may have to wake the baby for feedings. If you wake your baby every 2 to 2 1/2 hours DURING THE DAY, the baby will adjust his days and nights sooner. Early on, some babies will want to feed every hour or two at night. By one month, you will only have to feed the baby once or twice a night.
As long as you have no nipple pain, let the baby breastfeed 10-20 minutes to empty the first breast before you offer the second breast. If you take him off too soon, he will not get a whole feeding. Start the next feeding on the breast used at the end of the last feeding.
Breastfed babies do not need bottles. Giving a bottle in the first month confuses the baby and will cut down your milk supply.
Is Baby Getting Enough Milk?
Yes! After the first week you have plenty of milk if:
- You feed baby 7-10 times in 24 hours
- Baby has at least 6 wet and 2 dirty diapers in 24 hours
- Baby is content for 1-2 hours between most feedings
- During the feeding, you can see his jaws moving in slow and rhythmic motion and hear him swallowing milk.
If you have other breastfeeding questions, the nurse or lactation consultant will help you! The “Babies First” series of pamphlets will have more detailed instructions too. For additional tips see our post: Tips for Breastfeeding Moms
Next week: Tips for formula feeding!
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Posted By Karen Koslov Barski, BSN, RN, LNC
Certified Newborn Infant Care Specialist & Instructor,
Parenting Consultant
Breastfeeding, the “healthiest choice”, benefits mothers and babies in many ways. Nature intended for babies to have breast milk, the ideal first food. Breastfed babies have fewer colds, allergies, ear infections and other health problems. Breastfeeding offers health benefits for mothers too, including faster return to pre-pregnancy weight and a reduced risk of certain types of cancers. The 
Below is a list of important signs that every parent should be aware of:
When a baby is sick there are likely to be symptoms or signs of illness other than crying. If you see signs such as a change in baby’s level of activity or a change in skin color, call the baby’s medical provider.
Does baby have a fever? What is his/her temperature?
