What to Expect in the First Week of Breastfeeding

By, Priya Khullar RD, IBCLC

The first week of breastfeeding for a mother and baby is often a learning experience. This period is when the mother and baby are becoming more familiar with each other, but it is also crucial to the production of copious milk supply. There are several tips that a pregnant woman should be informed of prenatally, and they should be reiterated immediately following birth in order to ensure breastfeeding success.
All prospective/breastfeeding mothers should be informed of the following tips for the first week post-delivery:

·       Breastfeed your baby as soon as possible after birth.

·       Putting baby skin to skin helps babies breastfeed and gain weight faster.

·       Your first milk, colostrum, is thick and yellowish. Even a very small amount has everything your baby needs!

·       New born babies have small stomachs and need to breastfeed often: about 8-12 times in 24 hours.

·       You should see baby swallow after several sucks.

·       Your nipples will be slightly tender.

·       You may experience uterine cramps in the first week when you breastfeed; this is actually a good thing. This means that the hormone, oxytocin, is being released which aids in milk production. 

·       Your breasts will feel fuller around days 2-5 and then feel less full around day 7.

·       Breastfeeding takes practice! Stay confident in your body’s ability to provide the best food for your baby.

·       The best way to tell if your baby is “getting enough” is by recording their wet/dirty diapers. The following chart, provided by the California WIC Program, is very helpful:

 

 Reviewed and edited by Sara Steelman 6/8/2015