How soon after birth should you initiate breastfeeding? How often should you breastfeed after giving birth? How long should a breastfeeding session be? Is there an ideal breastfeeding schedule? Here’s what you can expect on your first breastfeeding after giving birth.
The first breastfeeding after birth is that part of the birth that can either go two ways: that your baby is going to latch right away or your baby will struggle to. Well, that’s all most movies tell us, at least. It turns out there are a bit more that we can expect during these first few minutes of our meeting with our babies.
In this article, we will give you a breakdown of all the need-to-know information about breastfeeding for the first time.
First Things First
Breastfeeding is a common challenge among new mums. Some are pretty natural about it, some are not. So, if your time comes to shine and you struggle, don’t be too hard on yourself. Do not think you did not prepare enough for it or think that you are a bad mother for it. Breastfeeding is just truly a struggle for many women. So, don’t stress out if your experience is not as magical as some women’s.
Why Breastfeed After Birth
Many studies have already confirmed that breastfeeding immediately after birth helps with the abundance of a mum’s milk supply. And low milk supply is just one of the few concerns many mums have with breastfeeding. So, any way you can increase your milk supply is definitely a tip worth trying.
Top that off with the benefits of early nursing on lowering babies’ risk for low blood sugar and lining their stomachs with immunoglobulins to help them fight infection. Another study also found that babies who were breastfed immediately after birth have the lowest risk of ailments and death.
First Time to Breastfeed – What It Will Feel Like
It’s hard to imagine what breastfeeding feels like when your only experience with it is when you watch it being done on TV or on video. Most newbie mums ask if the feeling is painful. Most mums’ general description is a tingling, warm feeling against your breast. The reason for this feeling is the let-down reflex.
So, is breastfeeding painful for the first time? The first day won’t be. But, as time goes on, your nipples will feel sore from all the sucking – pretty much the same way your hands would get wounds if you do the laundry several times in a row. The hard part is when your baby starts growing teeth. Breastfeeding can get nasty, but that’s for another article.
The tingling feeling is not only because of that tiny mouth sucking on your nipples but their soft nails lightly caressing your breasts. Again, it will feel uncomfortable, but the adjustment period won’t take you long.
How long should a breastfeeding session be?
The duration of a breastfeeding session can vary from baby to baby, and there isn’t a strict rule about how long each session should be. Generally, newborns tend to breastfeed for about 10 to 45 minutes per session, but some babies might feed for shorter or longer periods.
It’s important to focus on your baby’s cues and feeding patterns. Newborns may feed more frequently for shorter durations, while as they grow, they might nurse for a bit longer but less frequently. The key is to ensure that your baby is latching well, swallowing, and seems content after the feed.
Trusting your instincts and observing your baby’s behaviour can help guide you in determining the appropriate duration for each breastfeeding session.
Image Source: iStock
The First Letdown – What You Will See
The fluid that you will see come out of your breasts during the first breastfeeding after birth is going to look either clear or yellowish and rather thick in consistency. This fluid is called your ‘colostrum.’ This thick fluid is highly concentrated, so your baby will need only a few of it to get themselves full.
The more you breastfeed, the thinner your milk will become. It will also change colour from clear or yellowish to creamy white or bluish-white.
Now, on the occasion you do not see milk coming out of your breasts, there are a few things you can try to get the milk flowing out: (1) massaging your breast or hand-expressing to let the milk come out, (2) using a breast pump, (3) adding heat on to your body, and (4) drinking lots of water.
Breastfeeding After Birth: A Timeline
Get ready for a rollercoaster ride of emotions and experiences as you dive into breastfeeding after giving birth. From those first hours to the end of the first month, here’s what to expect:
1. First Few Hours: In the moments after birth, your baby’s instincts kick in. They’re on the hunt for that liquid gold! Expect your little one to latch within the first hour if possible. Your body’s got this, providing colostrum—a concentrated, nutrient-rich substance that’s your baby’s first meal and a superhero for their immune system.
2. First 2 Days: Colostrum is your baby’s early bird special. It’s thick and packed with all the good stuff to kickstart your baby’s growth. During these first couple of days, feedings might be frequent, as your newborn’s stomach is just a small pouch. Think 8 to 12 feeds daily, and remember, it’s okay if it feels like you’re nursing nonstop.
3. First Week: Around day 3 or 4, your milk production shifts gears and your breasts might feel fuller. This might be exciting or slightly uncomfortable but don’t worry, your body’s adjusting. Feeding continues to be frequent—think 7 to 9 times a day. Baby might be more awake and alert too.
4. First Month: Building a Routine By now, you and baby are starting to get into a groove. Feeds might become slightly more predictable—about 7 times a day. But brace yourself for growth spurts! Around 2 to 3 weeks and again around 6 weeks, your baby might act like a bottomless pit, nursing more often. Totally normal, and it helps your milk supply catch up with their growth.
Is There An Ideal Breastfeeding Schedule
Breastfeeding schedules can be as unique as your little one’s personality. As your baby grows, their needs change, making flexibility key. Let’s break down some general guidelines to help you navigate breastfeeding from the early days to toddlerhood.
Newborns (0-2 Months): Feed on Demand
In the beginning, your newborn calls the shots. They’re building their tiny tummy and growing rapidly, so expect frequent feeds—anywhere from 8 to 12 times a day. Watch for hunger cues like rooting, smacking lips, or putting hands to mouth. Remember, it’s all about nourishing and bonding during these early days.
Babies (3 Months and Up): Establishing a Loose Routine
Around 3 months, you might notice your baby falling into a bit of a pattern. Feedings may reduce to 7 to 9 times daily. Aim for longer, more satisfying feeds as your baby’s tummy capacity increases. But stay flexible—growth spurts and developmental leaps might lead to a temporary feeding frenzy!
Babies (6 Months and Up): Introducing Solids
As solids enter the picture, breastfeeding remains crucial. Aim for 5 to 7 nursing sessions daily, along with appropriate solid foods. Keep in mind that your baby’s nutritional needs are still largely met by breast milk, so nurse before offering solids.
Toddlers (1 Year and Beyond): On-Demand Comfort and Nutrition
Toddlers are little explorers, so they might be too busy to stop for scheduled feeds. Embrace on-demand nursing—around 3 to 4 times daily—and enjoy these moments of connection. Breast milk continues to provide comfort, nutrition, and antibodies as your toddler grows and explores the world.
Breastfeeding Tips for First-Time Mums
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Insist Skin-to-Skin Contact After Birth
Image Source: iStock
Skin-t0-skin contact not only has relieving and therapeutic effects, but it most importantly helps your baby latch on to your breast faster.
Why? Because upon leaving the comfort of your womb, they first start using their senses – their sense of smell – for instance. And in exploring this sense, they look for the scent they are most familiar with – your breasts. So, the faster they familiarise themselves with the smell of your breasts, the easier it is for them to latch on.
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Try Different Breastfeeding Positions
Image Source: iStock
Did you know that the cradle position is not the only position you need to use when you breastfeed? Although it is the most common, it can leave your body feeling sore. And, you want to be comfortable when you are breastfeeding, so trying different positions is not a bad idea at all.
If you want to know if the amount of milk you’re feeding your baby is enough, check if they are going through 6 to 8 a day. That means they’re consuming enough milk.
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Always Breastfeed at Night
Sleeping time is usually when you produce hormones (or prolactin) which help in milk production. So, the more you breastfeed at night, the more breastmilk is produced.
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Do Not Be Ashamed to Ask For Help
The long hours of tending to a demanding newborn can take a toll on your energy. Moreover, you really need to focus on finding the best position for breastfeeding your baby. So ask your partner to take over the cooking, taking care of your other children or other chores that you usually do. You will need all the help you can get to nourish your newborn and for your own mental health.
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Wear Breast Pads or Use a Manual Pump to Catch the Letdown
Once you’ve gotten the hang of breastfeeding, your nipples are going to leak from the amount of milk you’re producing. If you want to avoid leaking through all of your tops, you can use breast pads. So many different kinds of breast pads are already on the market. So, just take your pick.
If you don’t want your liquid gold to go to waste on breast pads, you can also opt for a Haakaa pump. Simply attach this apparatus to your breast, and it will collect the milk that did not go through your little one’s tiny mouth yet.
Breast milk is easily digestible. That’s why an hour or two after your first feeding, your baby will start crying and want more. Yes, it’s going to be tiring, but frequent feedings also equal higher milk production, which is what we all want.
Also, this on-call kind of breastfeeding isn’t going to take forever. By your baby’s 2nd month, you will have noticed them following a particular pattern. So, as time passes, they will get used to breastfeeding, and the duration and frequency will lessen.
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Alternate Between Breasts
It’s easy to stick to just one breast, yes, but once the other gets engorged, you’re going to want to train yourself to feed from both breasts. Because of the amount of milk they’re producing on their own, engorged breasts can feel really painful. So, the only way you can relieve them is to feed your baby.
To avoid engorged breasts, you can switch breasts in the middle of feeding or choose one side in one feeding then feed on the other breast the next. Clipping a ribbon on your bra strap can be a pretty useful way of remembering which boob you fed your baby on.
And, there you have it. An ultimate guide to your baby’s first feed. Remember that the first time breastfeeding after birth will be quite challenging. But the rewards will be worth it. Moreover, if you have any questions or concerns about nursing your baby, do not hesitate to ask your child’s doctor or a lactation counsellor in your area.
Here at theAsianparent Singapore, it’s important for us to give information that is correct, significant, and timely. But this doesn’t serve as an alternative for medical advice or medical treatment. theAsianparent Singapore is not responsible for those that would choose to drink medicines based on information from our website. If you have any doubts, we recommend consulting your doctor for clearer information.
