Breastfeeding basics: latch, rhythm and the first week
A skill you and your baby learn together, one feed at a time. And if you choose bottle or both, that is a good plan too.
Updated October 13, 2026 · sources checked October 13, 2026
In short
To breastfeed, hold your baby close with their nose level with your nipple, wait for a wide open mouth, then bring them to the breast chin first. In the first weeks most babies feed at least 8 to 12 times every 24 hours. Milk usually comes in 2 to 4 days after birth. WHO and the AAP recommend exclusive breastfeeding for about 6 months if possible.
Breast, bottle or both: your call
This page is for you if you want to breastfeed, or to combine. Formula feeding, combination feeding and expressing for work are all valid choices. Fed and loved is the goal. Short steps below, for reading one-handed.
The latch, step by step
The NHS describes a good attachment in a handful of moves. Practise them slowly; speed comes later.
- Get comfortable first: shoulders and arms relaxed, pillows or cushions where you need them.
- Baby close, facing you: head and body in a straight line, so swallowing is easy.
- Nose to nipple: hold your baby with their nose level with your nipple.
- Wait for the wide mouth: let their head tip back a little so their top lip brushes the nipple. Avoid holding the back of the head.
- Chin first: bring the baby to the breast, not the breast to the baby. The chin touches the breast first, the nose stays clear.
- Check: more of the darker skin around the nipple shows above the top lip than below the bottom lip, and the cheeks look full and rounded.
If your baby keeps falling asleep before the deep, slow swallowing part of a feed, ask your midwife or health visitor to check the attachment.
The first week, day by day
| Days | What to expect | What helps |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 to 2 | Colostrum, thick and golden, about a teaspoonful per feed; feeds may come every hour | Skin-to-skin, frequent short feeds |
| Day 2 to 4 | Breasts feel fuller as the milk comes in | Feed often; night feeds build supply |
| Day 3 to 7 | Fewer but longer feeds start to appear | Responsive feeding, breast pads changed often |
| Weeks 2 to 6 | A pattern slowly forms; supply settles | Ask for help early if feeds hurt or baby is unsettled |
Two NHS points if you want to build your supply. Night feeds help, because more prolactin is made at night. In the early weeks, formula top-ups or a dummy can lower supply. If you want to combine, your midwife can help you plan it.
What the research says
The 2016 Lancet series on breastfeeding pooled decades of research. It found protection against child infections, higher intelligence scores, and probable reductions in overweight and diabetes in children; for mothers, protection against breast cancer and better birth spacing (Victora et al., Lancet 2016). WHO recommends starting within the first hour after birth, and WHO and the AAP both recommend exclusive breastfeeding for about 6 months, then continuing alongside solid food.
Those are averages across populations, not a verdict on any one family. Your health and your sleep count too. Combination feeding or formula are respected choices, whatever the reason.
Is this normal? When to call
Normal: very frequent feeds in the first days, nipple tenderness in the first few days, fuller breasts around days 2 to 4. Call your midwife, health visitor or pediatrician the same day: pain at every feed, cracked or bleeding nipples, a hot, painful area with flu-like aches, or if you worry your baby is not getting enough. Emergency: a baby who is floppy and will not wake or stay awake, has pauses in breathing, or blue or grey lips or tongue: call 911 (US) or 999 (UK). Unsure in the UK? NHS 111.
Common problems and first steps
| Problem | First steps | When to call |
|---|---|---|
| Sore or cracked nipples | Have someone watch a feed and check the attachment; flattened or white nipples after a feed are a clue | Pain at every feed, cracks or bleeding |
| Uncomfortably full breasts | NHS: offer a feed; hand express if feeding is too painful | A swollen, hot, painful area that does not settle |
| Mastitis signs (swollen, hot, painful area, a hard lump, flu-like aches or temperature) | NHS: keep feeding as often as the baby wants, wear a comfortable supportive bra, avoid tight clothing | See your GP if not improving; mastitis may need antibiotics |
| Worried baby is not getting enough | Note feeds and wet and dirty nappies | Speak to your midwife or health visitor the same day |
Gear that makes feeding easier
- A firm nursing pillow to bring your baby to breast height, used for feeds only.
- Two or three soft nursing bras that open with one hand.
- Breast pads, water within reach, and something to eat for the long cluster feeds.
For your partner
You cannot feed from the breast, but you can make every feed easier.
- Bring her water and a snack at each feed.
- Set up the pillow, then hand over the baby.
- Do the burping, the nappy and the settling after feeds.
- Take one night feed with expressed milk or formula, if that is part of your plan.
- Learn the latch checks above, so you can spot when to call for help.
Where to get help
- UK: your midwife or health visitor, and the National Breastfeeding Helpline, open 24 hours a day on 0300 100 0212.
- US: your pediatrician, your OB or midwife, or the lactation consultant at the hospital where you gave birth.
Feeding struggles can weigh on your mood. If you feel low for more than two weeks, read about postpartum depression and where to get help.
Questions parents ask
How often should a newborn breastfeed?
The NHS gives a rough guide of at least 8 to 12 feeds every 24 hours in the first few weeks, sometimes every 1 to 3 hours in the first days. Feed whenever your baby shows early hunger cues; you cannot overfeed a breastfed baby.
Is breastfeeding supposed to hurt?
The NHS says nipple pain is common in the first few days. If a nipple hurts at every feed, or starts to crack or bleed, the attachment usually needs adjusting: ask your midwife, health visitor or breastfeeding supporter to watch a feed.
How long should I breastfeed?
WHO and the AAP recommend exclusive breastfeeding for about the first 6 months, then continuing alongside solid foods for up to 2 years or beyond, for as long as you and your baby want.
Where can I get breastfeeding help at night in the UK?
The National Breastfeeding Helpline is open 24 hours a day on 0300 100 0212, according to the NHS.
Sources
- NHS, Breastfeeding, positioning and attachment checked October 13, 2026
- NHS, Breastfeeding, the first few days checked October 13, 2026
- WHO, Breastfeeding (health topic) checked October 13, 2026
- AAP (HealthyChildren.org), Why we support breastfeeding for your baby's health checked October 13, 2026
- NHS, Sore or cracked nipples when breastfeeding checked October 13, 2026
- NHS, Mastitis checked October 13, 2026
- NHS, Bronchiolitis (when to call 999 for a baby) checked October 13, 2026
- Victora CG et al., Breastfeeding in the 21st century, epidemiology, mechanisms, and lifelong effect, Lancet 2016 (PMID 26869575) checked October 13, 2026
Mamavela explains; it does not replace your midwife, doctor or pediatrician, who know your situation. If something worries you, call them. In an emergency, call 911 (US), 999 (UK) or 112.