In the first hours and days after delivering your baby, you and your child will learn to breastfeed together.  Breastfeeding should provide relaxation and enjoyment for both the mother and baby, however sadly pain and discomfort are more common experiences.  These are NOT a normal part of breastfeeding.  If you feel pain at any time please reach out to an IBCLC or CLC in your area for help as symptoms such as these mean there's an issue with the latch or possible oral restrictions present.

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Ideally, the newborn is held skin to skin on their mother's chest for the first hour of life, where hunger cues can be closely observed.  Allow the baby to find the breast and self-attach.  Just like baby sea turtles find the sea on their own, you'd be amazed at how these little tiny wonders will inch and crawl their way to the breast!  This may take your baby a while to achieve, which is totally normal.  You will move gradually from self-attached breastfeeding to collaborative breastfeeding, meaning as the infant seeks the breast the mother gently assists.

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Hunger cues begin during the active sleep state which is identified by the presence of REM (rapid eye movement).  As the baby becomes hungrier and more awake, those hunger cues become more obvious.  The baby will begin to bring his/her fist to the mouth, extend the tongue, move the head from side to side, or rooting for the breast.  Crying is a very late feeding signal.  Byt the time babies cry, they have usually become very disorganized and do not feed as well.  When the baby demonstrates cues, respond by bringing baby to the breast without delay.

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Bring your baby to your breast (never breast to the baby) and line up their nose to your nipple.  Move baby back 1-3 inches allowing baby to gape, opening their mouth very wide as the head tilts back.  Move baby back towards the nipple, allowing the tongue and lower lip seal first to the breast, followed by the upper lip.  The latch should look asymmetrical.  Meaning it will appear off centered from the areola.

 

Do not force the infant to the breast, as doing so may stress the baby out, decrease willingness to nurse at the next feeding, and cause the infant to place his/her tongue on the roof of the mouth.  There should be no pressure against the back of the infant's head from the mother's arm, hand, or pillow.  Doing so prevents baby from being able to tilt their head back in order to gape and achieve a good latch.  Instead, try supporting baby's neck and lower part of their head.

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The breast should fall at its normal angle.  How you support your breast will influence the direction of your nipple.  You can roll a towel under your breast for support.  If you must hold your breast, try to hold the breast still and not obscure the place where baby's lips will seal to the breast.

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Baby's arms should not cross over his/her body, but rather should embrace the breast.  In the early days of life, their hands will knead the breast while nursing.  This promotes oxytocin to be released and help milk production.  Hands should not be held away or swaddled.  Baby's body should be rotated towards your body, we call this tummy to tummy.  If you can see the logo on your baby's onesie, they are facing too far upward and will have a harder time achieving a comfortable deep latch.  Imagine standing in front of a water fountain, but your body is facing to the right.  It would be difficult to drink that way!

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Breastfeeding sessions are best ended by the infant.  When baby has had enough milk, the hands and body are relaxed.  You should not feel any pain during or after nursing.  Your nipples should not be misshapen, bruised, cracked, or blanched.  These are all signs of an improper latch.  If this is occuring, gently remove baby from the breast, and relatch.  Continue to do so until you have a comfortable latch.

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You want baby to nurse on demand 10-12 times a day.  If baby goes over 12 times that's totally ok!  What we don't want is baby nursing under 10 times a day as it will negatively affect your supply and baby's weight gain.  Remember, your body was made for this!  You've got this momma!