What to Know About the First Days of Breastfeeding Baby

Baby is here, and you finally get to learn about and bond with each other, starting with breastfeeding. The first hours and days post-birth are a critical time to establish the foundation for your breastfeeding journey and breast milk supply. However, breastfeeding doesn't always happen easily and naturally for everyone, and you may not know what to look for or expect. So, here's a rundown of what you can expect when it comes to the first week of breastfeeding after baby arrives. But as always, you can expect the unexpected. No two babies are alike!

The First Hour

If possible, have skin-to-skin contact and begin breastfeeding within the first hour after birth. Skin-to-skin contact has been proven to have many benefits for both mom and baby, including (but not limited to) lowered stress levels, body temperature regulation for baby, and an increased chance of breastfeeding initiation and exclusive breastfeeding.1 If you have trouble breastfeeding in these first moments, that's okay! This is a no-pressure breastfeeding session where you and baby are just getting introduced to each other and creating a strong bond. You can think of it as your first practice.

If you can't have immediate skin-to-skin contact or baby is unable to breastfeed, you can hand express and/or use a breast pump to help kickstart your milk supply.

Days 1 & 2

For approximately the first 1-5 days you will produce colostrum, which is different from regular breast milk. Colostrum is usually a golden yellow color and very nutritionally dense; it's all baby needs when they're still tiny. Your little one's stomach is only about the size of a cherry when they're born, so it doesn't take much to fill them up.

Baby will want to feed often in the first days, usually about every 1-3 hours, and will eat about ½ oz of colostrum at each feeding.2,3

Breastfeeding Days 1 & 2

And you will start to pick up on their hunger cues like:

  • Fussiness
  • Sucking on their hand or fingers (or your hands, fingers, and nose!)
  • Rooting – when they turn their head and open their mouth searching for the breast

Try to feed them when these cues begin, otherwise you'll be dealing with a VERY hungry and upset baby, making them more difficult to feed.

Days 3-6

Your colostrum will become transitional milk. Your breasts will become fuller – referred to as your milk "coming in" – and milk will become a bluish white hue. Baby will continue to feed often and will eat a little more at each feed, about 1-2 oz of milk.3

Breastfeeding Days 3-6

Diaper Tracking

A good way to make sure baby is eating enough is by tracking dirty diapers. Here is an easy guide for how many dirty diapers baby should have in the first few days:3

Diaper Tracking Chart

Ask for Help!

If you give birth in a hospital, you can ask to have a lactation consultant help you breastfeed. They can help you get a proper latch, teach you different breastfeeding positions, how to express milk, use a breast pump, and more. Just ask!

If you need help breastfeeding at home, you can contact a lactation consultant at any time.

DISCLAIMER: THIS CONTENT DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE
The information contained is for informational purposes only and is NOT intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. You should not rely solely on this information. Always seek the advice of your healthcare provider.


Sources

  1. Widström, Anne-Marie, Brimdyr, Kajsa, Svensson, Krista, Cadwell, Karin, and Nissen, Eva. "Skin‐to‐skin contact the first hour after birth, underlying implications and clinical practice." 13 March 2019. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6949952/
  2. NHS. "Breastfeeding: The First Few Days." Last reviewed 1 February 2023. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/baby/breastfeeding-and-bottle-feeding/breastfeeding/the-first-few-days
  3. de Bellefonds, Coleen. Babycenter. "How much breast milk does a newborn need at each feeding?" 21 November 2022. https://www.babycenter.com/baby/breastfeeding/how-much-milk-does-a-baby-need-in-the-first-few-days_8892