Breastfeeding in the First Week: What to expect and How to Succeed
Your go-to guide for getting started with feeding your newborn.
Congratulations on welcoming your baby into the world! The first week after birth is full of learning—for both you and your little one. One of the biggest learning curves? Breastfeeding.
In this post, we’ll walk you through exactly what to expect during the first week of breastfeeding, how to know if things are going well, and what you can do to support your milk supply and your baby’s needs.
🕑 Feeding Schedule: Every 2–3 Hours (Yes, Even at Night!)
In the early days, your baby should feed at least every 2–3 hours. This helps:
Stimulate your body to bring in milk (usually by day 3–5)
Prevent baby from becoming dehydrated
Build a strong milk supply early on
🍼 If baby is sleepy or uninterested, wake them up by removing their clothes, doing skin-to-skin, or gently changing their diaper. If they still won’t latch, try:
Hand expressing
Offering the milk with a spoon or syringe
Trying again in an hour
💧 When Your Milk Comes In
You’ll know your milk is in when:
Your breasts feel firm, fuller, even sore
You may notice leaking or a sudden letdown
Once milk is in, you can usually begin feeding on demand, unless advised otherwise by your doctor (especially if weight gain is a concern).
👶 Reading Your Baby’s Hunger Cues
Feed your baby when you see early cues like:
Lip smacking
Rooting (turning head to search)
Fist to mouth movements
Light stirring from sleep
🚫 If you miss these cues and baby starts crying, it may be harder to latch. Avoid using a pacifier early on (except at sleep time) so you don’t miss these signals.
🍶 How Much Milk Does Baby Need?
Not a lot! At birth, baby’s tummy is only the size of a pea.
✨ Fun fact: 1 mL of colostrum = 30 mL of formula in nutrients and calories. So don’t stress over volume—colostrum is powerful.
⏱️ How Long to Feed
Aim to:
Offer one breast until it feels empty (about 15–20 minutes— But try not to get fixated on this as this can be different for everyone and every feed)
Then offer the second breast (as a dessert)
🧠 The fattier milk comes near the end of a feed. That’s what helps baby feel full and satisfied longer—so don’t rush switching sides.
✋ Feeding Techniques to Try
Getting a good latch is key! Look for:
Wide mouth
Chin tucked into breast
No clicking or smacking sounds
Rounded cheeks (not dimpled)
😣 Pain or pinching = bad latch. It might be uncomfortable at first, but pain is not normal. Break the seal with your finger and try again.
You can also:
Try hand expressing a little before feeding to get things flowing
Aim the nipple toward baby’s nose, not mouth, to stimulate the sucking reflex at the roof of the mouth
🛌 Positions to Try
Try different holds to find what works best for you and your baby:
Cross-cradle: Great for early days, gives you more control
Football hold: Ideal if you’ve had a C-section
Cradle: Comfortable once baby is latching well
Side-lying: Best for experienced parents—use with caution in early days
☀️ Vitamin D Drops
Next in the Series:
👉 Troubleshooting Breastfeeding: Pain, Latch Issues, and Supply Tips (Coming soon!)If you're exclusively breastfeeding, your baby needs 1 drop of vitamin D daily. You can:
Drop it directly into baby’s mouth
Put it on your nipple before feeding
Use a pacifier if needed
(Formula-fed babies don’t need extra vitamin D, as it's already added to formula.)
💬 Final Tip
Breastfeeding is a skill—for both of you. Be patient. Get support when needed. And trust that you're learning together.
Next in the Series:
👉 Troubleshooting Breastfeeding: Pain, Latch Issues, and Supply Tips (Coming soon!)