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A guide to breastfeeding - everything you need to get you started

The notion that boobs plus baby equal breastfeeding bliss is a nice one. The reality for many mothers, though, is that the whole business takes practise from both of you. If you're able to breastfeed and choose to do so, you might find you need some guidance, at least initially. Which is where we come in…

By Mumsnet HQ | Last updated Sep 22, 2023

Breastfeeding mum

According to the NHS, 73% of new mums begin by breastfeeding their babies, and many find it to be a relaxing, bonding experience. That said, it's not unusual to experience some difficulty getting started or a few hiccups along the way. Whether your baby is struggling to latch on, you've bought a breast pump and don't know how to use it (or are just downright terrified by the noise it makes) or you could simply use some friendly advice, you're in the right place.

The first thing to remember is that while things aren't always easy, there are a wealth of good reasons to give your baby breast milk. Here are a few to give you a morale boost in the difficult early weeks.

Benefits of breastfeeding

  • Breast milk is a complete meal, perfectly designed for your baby

  • It helps guard against conditions later in life such as obesity and diabetes

  • In mums, it can reduce your risk of osteoporosis, breast and ovarian cancer, heart disease and obesity

  • It's free and available whenever you need it

  • It can help to develop the bond between mum and baby

Getting started

Unfortunately, it isn't usually as simple as offering your baby a boob and telling them to get on with it while you binge on box sets/eat biscuits/drink tea (although those days will come). It can take a bit of time for you and your baby to learn the ropes.

Getting breastfeeding established is like learning any new skill. It can be daunting at first and it's easy to get dispirited when your baby doesn't guzzle away on their first attempt but, with a little preparation and perseverance, it usually gets much easier for both you and your baby.

It might help to spend some time reading up before your due date – perhaps borrow a book on the subject or have a browse of the Mumsnet pages. But if your baby's already here, don't panic. A bit of prep always helps but you can't really get a feel for it all until you can actually get on with it.

How to breastfeed your newborn | Mumsnet and PHE

Breastfeeding pillows

These can be a real boon for many feeding positions and can help you support your baby in the early days, while you develop the knack. Maternity pillows come in all shapes and sizes, from those that you can use as a pregnancy pillow and double up for feeding your baby later, to those that tie neatly around your waist to make picking your baby up for a feed easy. Have a look at a few different models to see what might suit you.

Breastfeeding positions

There are probably more of these than you realise (as a newbie, at least), and it may take a bit of shifting around before you find the one that works best for you. Don't worry if it feels a bit awkward at first – just get comfortable, make sure your baby's head and body are supported in a straight line so they can swallow easily, and the rest will come with practice.

  • Cradle hold – as the name suggests, cradle your baby across your lap, using the arm on the side that your baby is feeding to support her. Rest the head in the crook of your elbow and let the rest of her lie on your hand. Bring her forward to the breast, rather than leaning forward.

  • Rugby hold – place a pillow beside you on the side you intend your baby to feed on and tuck your baby's body beside you, her hip to yours, under your arm. Support the head with your hand and guide her to the nipple. This is a useful position if you have twins.

  • Lying down – a good position for night feeds, or if you're recovering from a birth injury or caesarean. Lie on your side and place your baby's body parallel with yours, and tuck a pillow behind them for extra support.

breastfeeding positions illustrations

Is my baby latched on properly?

When you start out, it's hard to know whether your baby is latching on correctly. There are a few things to remember:

  • Tummy to tummy: hold her so her tummy is facing into your own, so she doesn't have to turn her head to feed

  • Nose to nipple: bring her nose up to your nipple (not the other way round or you'll do your back in)

  • Wait for the gape: when she opens her mouth wide, bring her onto the breast so she gets a good mouthful

Signs of a good latch include:

  • Full cheeks as she's feeding

  • Not being able to see much of your areola while she's latched on

  • You can hear her swallowing but she isn't making any clicking or smacking noises

  • Your baby is gaining weight and you're seeing lots of wet and dirty nappies

If you've tried adjusting your feeding position and technique but your baby still is not latching on properly, there could be something else stopping her from feeding correctly. It's possible she could have thrush, which babies can easily pick up in the birth canal and affects many newborns, or it could be reflux or a medical condition such as tongue tie or a cleft palate (although a cleft palate is usually picked up earlier).

Keep persevering one feed at a time and try to find local clinics.

You know your baby better than anyone else, so if you feel something isn't right with her latch, speak to your health visitor or GP and they will be able to advise you. Although some pain may be expected when you start (and don't worry, nipples do eventually toughen up), pain can also indicate that something is wrong. Listen to your body, trust your instincts and get advice if you feel you need it.

How many feeds does my baby need each day?

This will change as your baby grows. At first, it will be approximately eight to 12 feeds in 24 hours. You could be feeding every two to three hours or more frequently when she is having a growth spurt, and this will gradually reduce to every four hours. The best thing is to be guided by your baby.

Signs a baby is hungry

  • Sucking her fists

  • Making chomping motions with her mouth

  • Rooting for the nipple (embarrassingly, she will try this on anyone holding her at the time)

  • Wriggling and looking around

  • Crying (this is one of the last signs so don't wait for her to start yelling before you feed her)

Should my diet change when I’m breastfeeding?

Eating a varied and nutritious diet is very important for keeping you and your baby healthy. There are few hard-and-fast rules on foods to avoid. In general, it's much less prescriptive than the dietary dos and don'ts of pregnancy, you'll be pleased to hear.

While there’s no specific NHS guidance on food that can increase milk supply, traditionally fenugreek, oats, garlic, lean meats and poultry have been thought to boost breast milk production.

Caffeine and breastfeeding

NHS advice is to limit your caffeine intake to 200mg or less per day, which amounts roughly to two cups of instant coffee. You may be feeling tired as sin, but it's thought that the caffeine you consume could keep your baby awake – which isn't what anyone with a newborn is aiming for.

However, a recent review by the University of Warwick has highlighted the need for more extensive research on this subject. The study, by a research team from the university's medical school, has found no real evidence of positive or negative effects of maternal caffeine consumption on a breastfed baby.

But before you stick the kettle on, the team isn't suggesting that caffeine has no effect at all – it just doesn't think there are sufficient studies of good quality to inform new mothers about how much caffeine they can actually have.

Is it safe to drink alcohol while breastfeeding?

It's best to limit your alcohol intake, though the occasional glass is alright. The NHS recommends you limit your intake to two units once or twice a week. That's a couple of small glasses of wine, a pint of beer, or two single measures of spirits.

How do I express milk?

Expressing breast milk can give you flexibility and some respite if you're finding feeding challenging. Whether you express by hand, or with a breast pump, it allows you to transfer your breast milk into a bottle.

I pumped and DH gave a bottle daily from six weeks because we wanted DS to be OK with a bottle when I went back to work at six months. I just pumped once a day and DH gave him whatever I got that evening. I found I got dramatically more – twice as much – if I did it as soon after getting up as possible.

Combining breast and bottle feeding is known as mixed feeding and allows other people, such as your partner, to feed the baby (yes, this can mean getting your partner to take on a night feed, which means more sleep for you).

You may also like to try paced feeding, a technique that allows your baby to control how much milk they take and how quickly they feed. It aims to slow feedings down in order to mimic breastfeeding. According to Lansinoh, there are many benefits to paced feeding, such as:

  • It can make switching between breast and bottle easier

  • It can reduce air intake – a potential cause of colic

  • It may improve bonding between you and your child when using a bottle

Don't forget that, if you're using a breast pump and some bottles, you will need to invest in a steriliser too.

Woman using breast pump

As well as giving you a break from exclusive breastfeeding of your baby, feeding them expressed milk allows you a bit of freedom from avoiding alcohol and certain foods. For example, if you have a night out planned, you can give your baby milk that you've expressed beforehand to eliminate any chances of alcohol entering her system through your breast milk.

Expressing can also boost your milk supply, relieve breast engorgement and help a premature baby who is yet to develop their suckling reflux.

You can find more advice and tips on expressing your milk at La Leche League GB.

Try not think about how much milk you are producing – instead, try distracting yourself by reading, listening to music or a relaxation CD, watching TV or even chatting on the phone.

Breastfeeding twins

If you're about to be the mother of twins, you may be wondering how you can feed two babies. Fear not – it is possible when you find a technique, position and routine that works for you (see the rugby hold above). You can find much more information and advice here, including help with tandem feeding and tips for feeding premature twins.

Feeding premature baby or baby in special care

If you had a premature birth or your baby is in a neonatal or special care baby unit, there are lots you can do to ensure your baby gets the great start that breast milk offers if you decide you want to give it a go.

If you want to breastfeed your premature baby, or baby in special care, make sure you let the unit staff know from the beginning so you're all on the same page.

I made sure she gained weight by feeding her on demand, sometimes every 20 minutes. Hard but worth it in the end.

Lots of very premature babies find it difficult to suck, so you may have to express milk and feed your baby using a cup or syringe to begin with.

How much should my baby weigh?

Your baby will lose some of their birth weight in their first few days but this is nothing to be concerned about. Babies are born with some extra fluid and the loss of this is entirely normal. About 80% of newborns will reach their birth weight again within their first two weeks, although this may take a little longer for some.

Baby on weighing scale

Your baby will be measured at certain ages to check that she's gaining weight at the expected rate. If her weight gain has slowed, it could be for a number of reasons, and your midwife and health visitor will be able to help you get things back on course.

Although your baby's growth will be continuous throughout their first few years, there will be growth spurts when they grow more rapidly. There are some signs to look out for other than your baby literally growing overnight, such as erratic sleep patterns and clinginess or grumpiness.

Breastfeeding problems and solutions

Uncomfortable, heavy and engorged breasts, cracked or sore nipples, blocked nipple ducts and thrush are just some of the things mums often worry about. Little niggles when you're getting started are common but they can usually be remedied.

Giving expressed milk is a good alternative to ensure you are giving your baby all the protection and nutrients she needs, and it helps to maintain your milk supply. If you find that expressing or breastfeeding is too painful, you can re-lactate once you’re ready to breastfeed again.

Nipple shields can be a useful short term tool. If you use a nipple shield, speak to your health visitor to make sure you've got the right size and that your baby is latched correctly.

How to stop breastfeeding

There is no set time for stopping, really. It's up to you to decide when to wean your baby off the breast, based on what’s best for both of you.

The consensus among experts, including the NHS and the World Health Organisation (WHO), is that babies should be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of their lives. Breast milk provides babies with all of the vital nutrients and energy they need to grow and develop. Breast milk is also considered better for a young baby’s developing digestive system than solid foods, which is why you're advised to delay weaning until at least six months.

The WHO recommends you continue to breastfeed, alongside giving your child solid foods, until they are two years old. However, for some mums, doing so for this long is either impractical or they (understandably) just don't fancy it.

The good news is that everything gets easier the older your baby gets. Not only will you both be old hands at the whole thing, but as you establish a routine and she goes for longer feeds as she grows, it all becomes a bit easier to manage. But if you feel you're ready to start weaning off the breast, you can pat yourself on the back no matter how far you got. Every little helps, as they say.

Some mums choose to feed for a longer period than average, known as extended breastfeeding. Although there is no official definition, you're generally considered to be 'extended feeding' when continuing for over a year. There are pros and cons to weigh up, such as the health benefits versus the ability to work, so deciding when to stop is a very personal choice.

Breastfeeding in public – your rights

Woman breastfeeding in coffee shop

As you can imagine, feeding in public can be daunting if you've never done it before. Once you get into the swing of things, however, it will become second nature.

Remember that you are protected by law. You can never be asked to leave the premises or refused service if you are feeding your child, so try not to let any looks or remarks put you off. Most people won't bat an eyelid but, on those rare occasions when you do feel a bit conspicuous, try to remember that your child is hungry and you are making sure they are fed – simple.

If you're planning to return to work but don't want to switch to formula feeding, it's possible to carry on by expressing. It is quite a commitment to express, but you are still providing the goodness your baby needs. Your employer is legally obliged to ensure you have a private space in which to express if you choose to.

What about the dads?

It might feel like this is something that dads can't get that involved with, but actually there is plenty your partner can do to support you while you're feeding and lots of benefits too.

What I would say is that expressing is challenging but rewarding. If you're doing it because you want to be able to have a break then go for it. But if it's only to try and make sure your DH feels involved then I'd suggest considering other ways in which he can do that (my DH used to do skin-to-skin every day, for example).

Sometimes it can feel like this is a job that's all on you, but your partner can help in lots of ways. They can make sure that you have everything you need (cushions, cuppa, TV, remote) and that the environment is conducive to a successful feed, perhaps by keeping small children or slightly overbearing new grandparents entertained so that they aren't a distraction for you.

Partners can also help by getting the breast pump ready and putting the breast milk into a storage bottle or milk bag once you’ve finished expressing.

My best tip for new BF baby's fathers not feeling left out – make sharing a bath 'his' thing. It's skin-to-skin. It's oxytocin. Babies usually hate bathing alone, but feel much calmer with dad and, as they grow, they get more and more excited about bath time. It's lovely. When I have bathed with my babies, they just want to feed which makes us both cold.

Once feeding is properly established, you can express your breast milk to allow your partner to do some of the feeds. In the meantime, if your partner is feeling left out, here are some ways they might be able to get some of that special bonding time:

  • Have some skin-to-skin time by putting the baby on his chest

  • Take a baby massage class together

  • Do a bit of baby-wearing by investing in a sling or baby carrier

  • Hand your baby over after a feed so your partner can do the winding

Where to find advice and support

Whether you're a first-time mum, or you've done it all before with your other children, no one can predict how things will turn out. If you need a helping hand, or just want some reassurance, there is a wealth of breastfeeding support available.

Start4Life has developed a handy resource that answers all your questions – hands-free – through your Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant.

UNICEF's Baby Friendly Initiative offers lots of invaluable information and support for mothers and their families.

Breastfeeding Together is a charity dedicated to providing peer-to-peer support on infant feeding.

And, of course, there's always support available from Mumsnetters over on our Feeding Talk board too.

Mumsnetters' tips

"A good breastfeeding position for nighttime feeding is on your side. Very comfortable with some good pillows."

"It shouldn't hurt if you're doing it correctly' is – in the first few weeks, anyway – a BIG FAT LIE. Even if the latch is fine, many new mothers find BF uncomfortable at first."

"Do skin-to-skin and try to feed right after birth (or as soon after as possible). Get as much help with the latch as you can while in hospital."

"HPA Lansinoh Nipple Cream on your nipples before and after every feed for the first couple of weeks helps keep your nips in good condition!"

"Late in my second pregnancy, I started going to support groups to introduce myself and get to know people. They added me to their closed Facebook group. It was them who told me my baby had tongue tie when I described our difficulties and they gave me tips to get me through till it was dealt with."

"With both DC1 and DC2 it was agony for the first couple of weeks, but then my nipples adjusted. Nipple shields are an amazing tool – don't let anyone tell you different."

Read next: Feeding diaries: a week in the life of a breastfeeding mum