Tips and Advice for Getting Breastfeeding Off to a Good Start
Give yourself time to find your rhythm with your baby
Breastfeeding is a beautiful journey… but it takes time, patience and practice. In the beginning, it is completely normal to need time to adjust and find what works best for you and your baby.
Newborns need to feed very frequently—usually around every 2 to 3 hours, which means approximately 8 to 12 feeds per day. This rhythm may feel intense, but it plays an essential role.
Why? Because every feed sends a signal to your body to produce milk.
The first few days are therefore especially important: they help establish and regulate your milk supply according to your baby’s needs, whether you choose to breastfeed for a few weeks or several months.
The First Moments Matter
Immediately after birth, your body produces a very special type of milk called colostrum—often referred to as “liquid gold” because of its golden colour and exceptional nutritional value.
This first milk is:
- Extremely rich in nutrients.
- Packed with antibodies that help protect your baby.
- Perfectly suited to your baby’s still-developing digestive system.
The more your baby breastfeeds, the more milk your body produces. It is a natural and positive feedback process.
Breastfeeding also stimulates the production of oxytocin, a hormone that promotes bonding with your baby and helps strengthen your confidence as a mother.
Skin-to-skin contact also helps regulate your baby’s:
- Body temperature.
- Heart rate.
- Breathing.
- Blood sugar levels.
Référence:
Your guide to breastfeeding. OWH (office women health). www.womenshealth.gov
