Starting to Nurse

Beginning your breastfeeding journey can feel overwhelming, but understanding the basics can help you and your baby establish a successful nursing relationship. This guide covers the fundamentals of getting started.

The First Hours and Days

The first hours after birth are an important time for initiating breastfeeding. Skin-to-skin contact helps regulate your baby's temperature and encourages natural feeding instincts.

Colostrum: Your Baby's First Milk

In the first few days, your breasts produce colostrum—a thick, yellowish fluid rich in antibodies and nutrients. While the volume is small (typically just teaspoons), it's perfectly suited to your newborn's tiny stomach. Colostrum provides:

• Concentrated immune protection
• Essential nutrients in a highly digestible form
• Natural laxative effect to help pass meconium

Recognizing Hunger Cues

Learning to recognize your baby's hunger signals helps establish feeding on demand:

Early cues:

• Stirring and stretching
• Bringing hands to mouth
• Rooting (turning head and opening mouth)

Active cues:

• Increased movement
• Fussing
• Rapid head movements

Late cues:

• Crying
• Agitated body movements

Responding to early cues makes latching easier and feeding more comfortable for both of you.

Achieving a Good Latch

A proper latch is essential for effective milk transfer and comfort:

1. Position your baby close to your body, with their nose level with your nipple
2. Wait for a wide open mouth—like a yawn
3. Bring baby to breast (not breast to baby), aiming the nipple toward the roof of their mouth
4. Check the latch: lips should be flanged outward, and you should see more areola above the baby's top lip than below

Signs of a good latch:

• No pinching or pain after initial attachment
• Visible jaw movement and audible swallowing
• Baby's chin touching the breast
• Cheeks remain rounded (not dimpled) during sucking

Feeding Frequency

Newborns typically feed 8-12 times in 24 hours. Frequent feeding:

• Helps establish your milk supply
• Ensures adequate nutrition for your baby
• Provides comfort and bonding

Growth Spurts

Babies often have periods of increased feeding, commonly around:

• 2-3 weeks
• 6 weeks
• 3 months

These "cluster feeding" periods are normal and help boost milk production to meet your growing baby's needs.

Night Feeding

Nighttime nursing is important for:

• Maintaining milk supply (prolactin levels are higher at night)
• Providing calories and hydration
• Emotional comfort for your baby

Common Early Challenges

Engorgement

When your milk "comes in" (typically days 2-5), breasts may feel full and firm. Frequent feeding and gentle massage can provide relief.

Sleepy Baby

Newborns can be drowsy, especially in the first days. Skin-to-skin contact, gentle stimulation, and feeding at early hunger cues can help.

Sore Nipples

Some tenderness is common initially, but persistent pain often indicates a latch issue. Seeking support early can prevent worsening problems.

When to Seek Help

Contact a healthcare provider or lactation consultant if you experience:

• Persistent nipple pain or damage
• Concerns about milk supply
• Baby not regaining birth weight by 2 weeks
• Signs of jaundice (yellowing of skin or eyes)
• Fewer than 6 wet diapers per day after day 4

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know my baby is getting enough milk?

Look for adequate wet and dirty diapers, steady weight gain after the first week, and a baby who seems satisfied after feeds.

Is it normal for breastfeeding to hurt?

Brief discomfort at latch-on can be normal initially, but persistent pain is not. Pain often indicates a positioning or latch issue that can be corrected.

How long should each feeding take?

Duration varies widely. Focus on your baby's cues of satisfaction rather than the clock.

Track Your Nursing Journey with Amme

One of the most common challenges for new parents is remembering which side they last nursed on—especially during those sleep-deprived early weeks. Amme is designed to take this mental load off your shoulders.

With Amme, you can:

• Track which breast you last used so you always know where to start the next feed
• Log feeding times to understand your baby's natural rhythm
• Monitor feeding duration without having to watch the clock
• View patterns over time to share with healthcare providers if needed

When you're feeding 8-12 times a day, this simple tracking makes a real difference. Instead of trying to remember at 3 AM which side you started on, just glance at the app.

Download Amme on the App Store

References and Further Reading

• Ammehjelpen: Ammestart (Norwegian) — Comprehensive resources on starting breastfeeding
• Ammehjelpen: Hand Expression — Techniques for expressing milk by hand
• Ammehjelpen: Hunger Cues — Recognizing when your baby is hungry

This content is for informational purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice. Consult your healthcare provider for personalized guidance.