As a midwife of over a decade and now a specialist lactation midwife, I’ve been lucky enough to be part of many new mothers’ feeding journeys. Feeding on the boob, on the bottle, and everything in between—I’ve seen it all. Yet I’m still in awe of women’s resilience, strength, and persistence in doing everything they can to nurture their little ones, regardless of their feeding choice.
Not everyone chooses to breastfeed, but for those who do, the journey ahead can seem daunting. Challenges such as engorgement, blocked ducts, mastitis, and over- or undersupply can arise. However, take heart: with the right support, your feeding journey doesn’t have to be a perilous one! My hope is that this article provides expectant mummas with simple, practical tips to help get breastfeeding off to a great start.
Preparation During Pregnancy
Let’s begin by considering what you can do to prepare for breastfeeding before your baby is born. You may have noticed changes in your breasts during pregnancy—these hormonal shifts are a good sign that your body is getting ready to nurse. For many women, these changes lead to the secretion of small amounts of yellow milk called colostrum.
Collecting colostrum from 37 weeks and storing it in the freezer means it can be given to your baby after a breastfeed, or if you and your baby are separated (for example, due to illness), it can be used alongside freshly expressed milk. Your colostrum is unique to you and is rich in protein, antibodies, and immunoglobulins—it’s truly liquid gold!
Not all women are able to express much colostrum before birth—and that’s normal. Once your baby and placenta are delivered, your hormones shift dramatically to begin colostrum production. Even if you can’t collect much beforehand, hand expressing is still a valuable exercise. It helps you become familiar with your breasts and how they respond to stimulation. Bonus: nipple stimulation can also act as a natural way to encourage labour!
Skin-to-Skin at Birth
Skin-to-skin contact offers countless benefits. One of my top recommendations is to initiate skin-to-skin with your baby as soon as possible after birth and stay that way for as long as you can. This practice supports bonding, regulates your baby’s heartbeat and temperature, and helps calm them.
Research shows that babies who experience prolonged and uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact are more likely to breastfeed sooner, more frequently, and for longer durations overall. If breastfeeding is your goal, talk to your midwife or obstetrician ahead of time and include your wishes for skin-to-skin in your birth preferences.
Keep Your Baby Close
Skin-to-skin naturally leads into my next tip: keep your baby close. This means avoiding long separations, such as time in the hospital nursery, and rooming in with your baby once you’re home. Keeping your baby nearby helps you notice early feeding cues and enables responsive, on-demand feeding. It’s much easier to latch a baby who’s showing early hunger signs than one who’s already crying from hunger.
Feeding on Demand
Feeding your baby on demand (rather than on a strict schedule) supports the establishment and regulation of your milk supply. Aiming for at least eight feeds in 24 hours is a good starting point, though some babies may feed up to 16 times a day.
Cluster feeding—when a baby feeds frequently over a short period, especially in the evenings—is common and normal. It can be exhausting in the early days when sleep is limited, but it helps build your supply and meet your baby’s needs. Frequent and effective breast emptying reduces the risk of engorgement and mastitis.
Don’t Fall into the Volume Trap
Many women understandably worry about how to know their baby is getting enough milk when breastfeeding. As a lactation midwife, I completely empathise. My advice: focus on the bigger picture. If your baby is weeing and pooing as expected, seems settled between feeds, and is gaining weight appropriately, these are all excellent signs.
If you’re unsure, always reach out to a midwife or lactation consultant who can assess your baby and provide guidance and reassurance.
Always Ask for Help!
This is the tip I can’t stress enough: seek feeding support from a midwife or lactation consultant—both in hospital and once you’re home. You don’t need to be struggling to ask for help. Getting guidance early can prevent bigger issues that often lead women to stop breastfeeding sooner than planned.
Everyone deserves up-to-date, evidence-based support from a trusted professional. Whether it’s your first baby or your fourth, if you’re wondering whether to reach out—that might be your sign to pick up the phone. In over ten years of experience, I’ve never met anyone who regretted asking for help. We’re here to listen (even if it’s a big moan or a good cry), reassure you, answer all your questions, and yes—make you a hot cuppa.
You’ve got this, mumma.
