Breastfeeding in the early days
Feeding a newborn is a skill you and your baby learn together. It is completely normal for it to take time.
In the first days your breasts make colostrum. A small amount of rich first milk that is all your baby needs. Frequent feeding (eight or more times in 24 hours) helps your milk come in and settles into a rhythm over the first week or two.
Signs feeding is going well
- Your baby is having plenty of wet and dirty nappies
- You can hear or see swallowing during feeds
- Your baby is content after most feeds and steadily gaining weight
Support is always there
We visit you at home in the weeks after birth to support feeding and answer questions. If you would like extra help, there are free lactation consultants and breastfeeding services across Auckland, and your Well Child provider such as Plunket continues that support after we hand over at around six weeks.
Talk it through with your midwife.
Every pregnancy is different. If you have questions about anything you have read, we are always happy to talk.