Breastfeeding 101: What to Know Before Baby Arrives and Where to Find Support After Delivery

Breastfeeding is natural. But that doesn't always mean it comes naturally.

If breastfeeding your baby is more challenging than you expected, don’t panic – help is available.  

Breastfeeding your baby offers multiple benefits. But for many new moms, the first days of breastfeeding bring questions, a steep learning curve and often a few tears. A little preparation before delivery and the right support afterward can make a real difference for both you and your newborn.  

How to Prepare for Breastfeeding During Pregnancy

Preparing for breastfeeding starts well before your due date.

• Ask your OB about anything in your health history that could affect breastfeeding, such as past breast surgery.
• Learn the basics of breastfeeding positions and latch.
• Plan for skin-to-skin contact right after birth.
• Take a prenatal breastfeeding class.
• Talk with your partner or family about how they can help.

At Witham, expectant parents can attend Birth Days and Beyond, a free prenatal education program held quarterly. Sessions cover the childbirth experience, breastfeeding, newborn care and infant CPR. You can attend the full day, choose the sessions that matter most to you or take the class virtually.

What to Expect in the First Few Days

In the first days after birth, your body produces colostrum. This thick, yellowish early milk is packed with nutrients and antibodies that get your newborn off to the best possible start.

Your milk supply typically increases between days two and five. Until then, expect to breastfeed often. Experts recommend breastfeeding eight to 12 times every 24 hours, including overnight. Frequent feeding is normal. It helps establish your milk supply.

It's also normal for babies to lose a little weight in the first few days. Most are back to their birth weight by day 10 to 14. Counting wet diapers is one of the best ways to monitor if your baby is getting enough to eat. By days three to five, expect about five to six wet diapers and at least three dirty diapers a day.

What Does a Good Latch Look and Feel Like?

A good latch is the foundation of comfortable, effective breastfeeding. Signs of a good latch include:

• Your baby's mouth is wide open and covers more of the areola below your nipple than above.
• Your baby's lips are pushed outward on your nipple, like a fish.
• Your baby's chin touches your breast and their nose is clear.
• You can hear or see your baby swallowing.
• You feel a gentle tugging while your baby eats, not pinching or sharp pain.

Some tenderness in the first week is common. Pain that lasts through a feeding is not. If it hurts, gently break the suction by slipping a clean finger into the corner of your baby's mouth, then try again.

Common Breastfeeding Challenges

Even with preparation, challenges happen. The most common include:

• Sore or cracked nipples. Often a sign of a shallow latch. Adjusting position and latch is the first step.
• Engorgement. Full, firm breasts as your milk comes in. Frequent feeding and cool compresses can help.
• Low milk supply concerns. Frequent feeding or pumping signals your body to make more milk.
• Plugged ducts or mastitis. A tender lump or a red, warm area of the breast. Keep your milk moving, and call your provider if you have a fever or flu-like symptoms.
• Pumping questions. Choosing a pump, combining breastfeeding and pumping and storing milk safely.

When Should You Contact a Lactation Consultant?

A lactation consultant is a healthcare professional with specialized training in breastfeeding. Reach out if:

• Breastfeeding is still painful after the first week.
• Your baby has trouble latching or is often too sleepy to feed.
• Your baby has fewer wet or dirty diapers than expected.
• Your baby is still losing weight after day five or hasn't regained birth weight by day 14.
• You're worried about your milk supply.
• You're returning to work and need a pumping plan.

Breastfeeding Support After You Leave the Hospital

At Witham, every member of our lactation team is an international board-certified lactation consultant. Our team supports you during your hospital stay and after you go home. We work with your OB/GYN and pediatrician to create a personalized feeding plan.

Postpartum breastfeeding support at Witham includes:

• Free weekly Breastfeeding Support Group. Every Monday (except holidays), 10 to 11 a.m. in the V.I.P. Dining Room. No registration required. Includes before-and-after feeding weight checks and time with other moms.
• One-on-one consultations. Private appointments in our dedicated lactation office.
• Breast pump assistance. Help getting a breast pump through mommyxpress.com.
• Donor milk. Pasteurized human donor milk for qualifying hospital patients, through our partnership with The Milk Bank.

Care That Makes a Difference

As the only hospital providing maternity care in and around Boone County, the Witham Maternity Center offers private, family-centered rooms, a newborn nursery and postpartum support close to home in Lebanon, Indiana.

Whether you're preparing for your first baby or welcoming another, our team is here for every step. To register for a class, schedule a tour or connect with a lactation consultant, call 765-485-8411 or email lactation@witham.org.

 

Sources:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Newborn Breastfeeding Basics

American Academy of Pediatrics: Why We Support Breastfeeding for Your Baby’s Health

Office on Women’s Health: Breastfeeding Challenges

National Library of Medicine: Breastfeeding