The First Week of Breastfeeding

Did you know that ‘normal breastfeeding during the first week is different from normal breastfeeding during the second week and beyond’? In their book Breastfeeding Made Simple: Seven Natural Laws for Nursing Mothers, Nancy Mohrbacher and Kathleen Kendall-Tackett explain the journey from the days following birth, to the second week of nursing and beyond.

This is what they say:

‘During these first few days, there is one thing that will make all the difference: more breastfeeding at first means more milk later. You may be concerned that following this tenet will make your nipples sore. Despite, what you have heard, if your nipple is in your baby’s comfort zone, frequent breastfeeding doesn’t cause nipple pain.

Although mothers are sometimes still told to limit breastfeeding in the first few days so that they won’t become sore, research has found that this strategy makes no difference (de Carvalho, Robertson, and Klaus 1984.)

Without making sure the baby takes the breast deeply, postponing breastfeeding simply postpones sore nipples.

But with your nipple in your baby’s comfort zone, you can breastfeed twins and even triplets and not worry about nipple damage. The best way to put breastfeeding firmly on track is to relax, respond to your baby’s feeding cues, and feed frequently.’

Next post: A Baby’s Transition After Birth