The First Week
The First Week Breastfeeding Tips:
- Nurse early and often; 10-12 times in 24 hours
- Usual duration of feeding is between 20-45 minutes
- Give both breasts at each feeding
- If you experience nipple pain when feeding, ask for help right away
- It takes 3-5 days for mature milk to ‘come in’ to your breasts
- Breasts will become noticeably larger and fill with milk over 1-2 days
- After Day 5, baby should have 6-8 wet diapers and 3-4 large yellow, seedy, loose stools (with a few extra streaks) daily
- To prevent severe engorgement, nurse frequently.
- If baby is not able to nurse, hand express or pump your breasts 10-12 times daily
- Engorgement usually lasts for about 2 weeks
- Limit visitors, both in hospital and at home, while you bond with your new baby
- If you plan to sleep with your baby, make your room safe for bed-sharing
- Attend a La Leche League Meeting https://www.lllct.org/ or https://lllny.org/
- Recommended reading: “The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding” by La Leche League International
- If baby is not nursing, stooling or gaining weight well after your milk comes in, call right away