Breastfeeding Your Baby

Getting Started

Steps for Starting Breastfeeding

breastfeeding a baby
  • It is important to put your baby on your bare chest, especially in the first few days after birth. This is called skin‑to‑skin.
  • Offer your breast soon after birth. Most babies will show readiness to feed in the first 30 to 60 minutes after birth.
  • Feed your baby frequently – 8 or more times a day.
  • In their second 24 hours, babies wake up a lot to feed – 8 or more times a day and in the beginning, very often during the night.
  • Look for signs that your baby is ready to nurse. These are called feeding cues. Feeding cues may include bringing hands to mouth, rooting (moving head as if looking for your nipple), mouth opening, lip licking, sucking, clenching fingers and fists over chest and tummy, bending arms and legs, or fussiness. Crying is a late cue – this means you have not noticed the other feeding cues.
  • When your baby is full, your baby may fall away from your breast, decrease sucking, extend arms and legs, straighten arms along her or his sides, relax fingers, or fall asleep.
  • In the first three to four days after birth, your baby may lose some weight. This is normal. To learn about signs of good feeding, click here.
  • Give your baby only your breast milk. The small amount of colostrum (first milk) your baby gets in the first two to three days is perfect until the amount of your milk increases.
  • Be sure you are in a comfortable position to nurse and get your baby on your breast well. This is called a good latch. For more information about latch, click here.
  • Support your breast with your free hand. You can usually let go of the breast once your baby is latched on and sucking.
POINTS TO REMEMBER

Look for signs that your baby is ready to nurse. These are called feeding cues. Feeding cues may include bringing hands to mouth, rooting (moving head as if looking for your nipple), mouth opening, lip licking, sucking, clenching fingers and fists over chest and tummy, bending arms and legs, or fussiness. Crying is a late cue – this means you have not noticed the other feeding cues.

Getting Help with Breastfeeding

A new baby can be overwhelming and exhausting. It is important to have people around you to talk with or help with your concerns. If you are having difficulties with breastfeeding, such as sore nipples, or are tired or having emotional difficulties, call for help right away. Your public health office or HealthLink BC (dial 8‑1‑1) can help with your breastfeeding questions. Many health offices and hospitals have breastfeeding clinics where you can go and have a nurse help you while you are feeding. If you have a midwife, she will help you with breastfeeding. The La Leche League is also a valuable resource. For more information about the support they offer, visit the La Leche League website.

Warning about Codeine and Breastfeeding
Medications with codeine (like Tylenol 3) may not be safe during breastfeeding. For some breastfed babies, the mother’s use of codeine puts the baby at risk of side effects or even death.

If you need pain medication after birth, talk with your health care provider about taking a medication that does not have codeine. There are other pain medications that will help you. For more information about medication safety during breastfeeding, visit the Motherisk website.

Be Careful with Herbal Products
Herbal products are drugs. They can produce side effects. Be careful with the use of all herbal products. They are not regulated and have limited information available. For example, ingredients may be different from crop to crop.

Check with a pharmacist about a specific herb and if it’s safe to use while you are breastfeeding.