Breastfeeding is a skill you and your baby learn together, and the first couple of weeks
are usually the hardest. Most of what feels worrying, from feeding every hour to sore
nipples, has a simple explanation and often a simple fix.
However you feed your baby, by breast, bottle or both, a fed baby and a supported parent
are what matter. This guide covers the breastfeeding part.
A comfortable latch
1
Get comfortable first
Sit or lie with your back and arms supported by pillows, shoulders relaxed. Have a
drink nearby.
2
Baby close, facing you
Their head, shoulders and body in a straight line, tummy towards you, nose level
with your nipple.
3
Let their head tip back
Support their neck and shoulders rather than the back of their head, so their top
lip can brush your nipple.
4
Wait for a wide mouth
When they open wide, bring them to the breast, chin first. Bring baby to breast,
not breast to baby.
5
Check the latch
You should see more of the darker skin above their top lip than below. Their
cheeks look full and rounded.
Signs it's going well
A few quick sucks, then slower, deeper sucks with pauses
You can hear or see them swallowing
Their cheeks stay rounded, not sucked in
After the first few sucks, it doesn't hurt
They let go on their own and seem content
If it hurts
Some tenderness in the first days is common, but pain that lasts through a feed, or
cracked and bleeding nipples, usually mean the latch needs a small change. Gently slide
a clean finger into the corner of their mouth to break the suction, and try again. Ask
your midwife, health visitor or a breastfeeding supporter to watch a feed early on; it's
what they're there for.
Four positions to try
Try a few and see what suits you both. Whatever the position, baby's head and body stay in
a line, and they come to you.
Cradle hold
The classic. Baby lies across your lap, facing you, their head on your forearm.
Most popularSitting up
If you've had a caesarean it can press on the scar; try the rugby hold or lying
down.
Rugby hold
Baby tucked along your side, under your arm, hips close to your hips, nose level with
your nipple.
After a caesareanTwins
No pressure on your tummy, and you can see the latch clearly.
Lying on your side
You and baby lie tummy to tummy, their ear, shoulder and hip in a straight line.
After a caesareanNight feeds
Keep pillows away from their face, and move any rolled blanket once you're done.
Laid-back
You recline on a sofa or bed and baby lies on top of you, tummy down, finding the
breast themselves.
First daysAfter a caesarean
Baby can lie across you, away from a caesarean scar.
Don't feed your baby while they're in a sling or carrier; take them out first.
How often newborns feed
More often than most people expect. In the first weeks, most babies feed
at least 8 to 12 times every 24 hours, and in the first few days it can
be every hour or two. Feed whenever they show they're hungry: rooting, sucking their
hands, turning towards you. Crying is a late sign.
Evening cluster
Cluster feeding
Some stretches, often in the late afternoon or evening, your baby may want to feed
again and again, as often as every hour. It's normal and it passes.
It isn't a sign your milk is running out. Frequent feeding is how your supply builds.
The clock shows one example day, not a schedule. Every baby's day looks different.
Is my baby getting enough?
You can't see how much milk they take, but their nappies tell you. A rough guide to the
first days:
First 2 days
2 or 3 wet nappies in total
Colostrum, your first milk, is only about a teaspoon a feed. That's all their
tummy needs.
From day 4
2 or more soft, yellow poos a day
Some weight loss in the first 3 to 4 days is normal. Steady gain comes after.
From day 5
6 or more heavy, wet nappies a day
And still at least 2 yellow poos a day for the first few weeks.
Alert and content when awake
Call your midwife, health visitor or doctor today if
For your baby
Fewer wet nappies than the guide above, or dark pee
Yellow skin or eyes in the first 24 hours, or jaundice that's getting worse
Pale, chalky poos
Very sleepy, hard to wake for feeds, or not feeding
For you
A hot, painful, swollen or red area on your breast, especially with a fever or
flu-like aches
Nipple pain that isn't easing, or cracks that bleed
Feeling you can't keep going. Help is there, and asking early makes a
difference
If your baby is floppy, struggling to breathe, or you can't wake them, call
emergency services.
Common questions
How often should a newborn breastfeed?
Often. In the first weeks most newborns feed at least 8 to 12 times every 24 hours,
sometimes every hour or two at first. Feed whenever they show they're hungry; you
can't overfeed a breastfed baby.
How long should each feed take?
There's no set time. Early feeds can be long, and they tend to get quicker as you
both get the hang of it. Let your baby feed for as long as they want on the first
side, then offer the second if they still seem hungry.
What is cluster feeding, and how long does it last?
Cluster feeding is when your baby wants to feed again and again over a few hours,
often in the late afternoon or evening. It's normal, especially in the first weeks,
and each stretch of it usually passes. It isn't a sign your milk is running out.
Is breastfeeding supposed to hurt?
Some tenderness in the first days is common. Pain that lasts through the feed, or
cracked nipples, usually mean the latch needs adjusting. Ask your midwife, health
visitor or a breastfeeding supporter to watch a feed.
How do I know my baby is getting enough milk?
Count the nappies: from day 5, at least 6 heavy, wet nappies and 2 yellow poos a
day. You'll also hear swallowing during feeds, and your baby will seem content after
most feeds and gain weight steadily after the first few days.
General information, not medical advice. Your midwife, health visitor or a breastfeeding
supporter can watch a feed and help in person. Last updated October 2026.