You can meet your breastfeeding goals with a little planning, support, patience and these checklists!
The World Health Organization and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend that infants only breastfeed or consume breast milk for the first 6 months of life. These same experts also encourage you to nurse your baby for at least one year and into their second year and beyond, as you both desire.
Breastfeeding is normal and natural, yet you’ll need additional support to overcome any challenges along the way. Use these breastfeeding success strategies and recommendations to achieve the nursing you desire with baby.
During Pregnancy
- Talk to your family and friends about your breastfeeding success plan.
- Ask for their encouragement and support with your other children, housework, and meals.
- Talk with your nurses at your pregnancy care provider’s office.
- Get their advice on breastfeeding success, including finding a breastfeeding class, nursing support group, and a breastfeeding friendly pediatric care provider for baby.
- Take a breastfeeding class that includes your partner.
- Learn about breastfeeding with other moms who share your goals.
- Choose a “Baby-Friendly” hospital or birthing center where healthcare providers are committed to helping you breastfeed your baby.
- Ask how you’ll be supported to start and continue breastfeeding where you plan to birth.
- Read their policies on beginning breastfeeding at birth (including cesarean birth), and during “rooming-in” when baby is kept in the room with you instead of in a nursery.
- Get familiar with your changing breasts.
- You may start making your first milk, colostrum, as early as 16 weeks.
- Check your health insurance benefits to see what’s covered to support breastfeeding.
- Many plans cover breast pumps, milk storage bags, bottles and other supplies.
- Register for products that will support your breastfeeding lifestyle in order to receive the items at your baby shower.
- Nursing supplies like pump parts, breast pads, nipple cream, and breastfeeding pillows
- Body pillows to help you sleep or relax, bras, nightgowns, shirts/tops
At Baby’s Birth
When your baby is born, hold them skin-to-skin right away; your partner can do this too when you’re sleeping or relaxing. Ongoing skin-to-skin care is the perfect way to start and sustain breastfeeding.
If your baby hasn’t had medication through labor and birth, they’ll likely be born awake, alert and ready to feed in that first “golden hour.”
- Hold your baby skin-to-skin to keep them warm, help them hear your heartbeat, feel your breathing, and smell your milk.
- Ask your nurses to delay weights, measurements, and medications until after baby’s first feeding or for at least the first hour after birth.
When you’re tired and need to rest, the safest place for baby is in their bassinet beside your bed.
- Rooming-in will help you stay close to learn when baby is hungry; you’ll learn their hunger clues so that you can respond to their needs.
- Feed baby every time they’re hungry and allow them to remain at the breast for as long as they desire.
- During the early days, your baby needs to nurse about 8-12 times every 24 hours. You may even need to rouse baby if he’s slept more than 3-4 hours without waking to feed.
Your nurses will help you find comfortable nursing positions, particularly if you’re also recovering from cesarean.
- The best position is the one that feels best to both you and your baby. Help baby into position, watch for a deep latch with a tugging feeling at your breast.
- Ask your nurses to watch baby latch and begin to feed; they want to help you get the best possible start and are eager to share their expertise.
- Delay a pacifier for 3-4 weeks; this lets baby learn how to breastfeed and helps your milk come in.
- If you’re separated from your baby for any reason, support your milk supply by expressing your milk with your hands or a breast pump as regularly as baby was nursing at the breast.
Begin Breastfeeding at Birth For Success
- Breastfeed as soon as possible after birth, including cesarean birth.
- Keep your baby close to you, skin-to-skin and rooming-in.
- Breastfeed frequently—every 2-3 hours.
- Learn baby’s hunger signs and cues.
- Ask your nurses and lactation consultants for help and information.
- Try different nursing positions.
- Delay pacifiers and bottles until breastfeeding seems natural to you and baby.
- Join an online breastfeeding support group.
Sustaining Nursing
Getting through the first few days and weeks can be tough. You’ll be tired, may have visitors, and adjusting to new routines. Your breasts are suddenly full, and your baby’s eating patterns may change. You may question whether you have enough milk, or if you should begin pumping because you have so much. Breasts can get tender and nipples sore.
This is the time to call on your support system! Partners can burp baby, change diapers, and make sure you have plenty of food, water, and rest. Keep a feeding and diaper log. Follow your baby’s hunger signs to regulate your milk supply through nursing. Talk to other moms online or call your nurse or lactation consultant.
You’ll want to get out of the house, so do! Breastfeeding is convenient on the go. Your breast milk is always the perfect temperature, and you don’t have to worry about extra supplies or pumping.
Most experts recommend waiting 3-4 weeks before pumping regularly to ensure baby has the hang of breastfeeding. If you’re returning to work or school, plan to take pumping breaks throughout the day and know your rights regarding these breaks. State and federal laws exist to protect nursing moms. Plan for a place to store your milk and clean your supplies.
At Home & Beyond
- Accept help from loved ones
- Continue to breastfeed on demand
- Keep a feeding and diaper journal
- Allow baby to regulate your milk supply
- Gather with other nursing mothers for support
- Use nursing covers or tops at your preference to nurse in public
- Ask about medication and birth control
