Breastfeeding for the first time can feel overwhelming—but the below information can help you get through it! With the right knowledge, support, and realistic expectations, nursing your baby can become a bonding, empowering experience.
In this guide, you’ll find breastfeeding tips for new moms (or moms who haven’t nursed in a while!) to help you navigate everything from hunger cues to milk storage and increasing milk supply.
Note: If your baby is not gaining weight as expected or you’re concerned about feeding, always consult your pediatrician or a certified lactation consultant. This post is for educational purposes only.
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Understanding the Hormones Involved in Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is driven by powerful hormones that tell your body when and how to produce milk:
- Prolactin: Stimulates milk production. Levels rise when baby nurses or you pump.
- Oxytocin: Causes the let-down reflex, helping milk flow from your breasts. It’s also the “love hormone,” helping you feel bonded to your baby.
Skin-to-skin contact and relaxed environments help these hormones do their job, literally! Try to find a peaceful, cozy spot to nurse or pump. If you’re pumping and don’t have baby nearby, looking at pictures or watching videos of your baby can help stimulate a let-down! I do this when dad has Oliver for the first shift of the night and I’m doing my night pump.
Recognizing Baby’s Hunger Cues
Feeding your baby on demand helps protect your milk supply and meet your baby’s needs. I personally followed feeding on demand versus scheduled feedings with Oliver. I followed his hunger cues and felt more comfortable knowing I was feeding him whenever he was hungry rather than when the clock told me to feed him. Look for these early hunger cues:
- Rooting (turning head toward breast)
- Sucking on hands or fingers
- Lip smacking
- Opening and closing mouth
- Stirring from sleep
Crying is a late hunger cue. Try to catch baby earlier for a smoother latch and calmer feed!
How to Get a Good Latch (Tips & Checklist)
A proper latch is key to a pain-free, effective breastfeeding experience. Here are some general latching tips to implement, if needed. And if you’re struggling for a good latch, I highly recommend meeting with a lactation consultant. I met with one within the first three weeks and it was so helpful!
- Baby’s nose and chin should touch your breast
- Baby’s mouth should be wide open
- Lips should be flanged outward like a fish
- More of the areola should be in baby’s mouth (not just the nipple)
You should feel tugging, not pinching or sharp pain. And just know, you may have the latch down one week, and it can totally change the next as baby grows. I swear there were two times I thought we were past latch issues, and then latching turned awful and my nipples needed a couple days to recover. This is normal! All I can say is stick it out if you can! It took us about 4 months to finally find a consistent good latch, but these are some of the breastfeeding tips for new moms I found most helpful during those early weeks of troubleshooting.
Most Common Breastfeeding Positions (and What They Look Like)
There are many different nursing positions out there; here are just a couple common positions. Try a few out and see what’s most comfortable for you and baby:
- Cradle Hold: Baby lies across your front, head supported in the crook of your arm. Classic and cozy.
- Cross-Cradle Hold: Similar to cradle, but you support baby with the arm opposite the feeding breast for more control.
- Football Hold: Baby is tucked under your arm like a football. Great for C-section recovery or small babies.
- Side-Lying Position: You and baby lie on your sides, facing each other. Perfect for nighttime feeds.
- Laid-Back or Biological Nursing: You recline while baby lies tummy-to-tummy with you. Baby uses reflexes to latch.
Each position has its benefits. Switching between positions is one of those underrated breastfeeding tips for new moms that can ease nipple pain and help baby latch better. Try different ones based on your comfort, baby’s latch, or healing needs.
What is Foremilk and Hindmilk?
What makes up breastmilk changes throughout the day and even throughout a feeding! Our bodies are so intelligent and change the makeup of milk depending on the time of day (like if your milk has more cortisol or melatonin in it) and even antibodies if your baby is actively fighting off an illness. The base makeup of milk always remains the same though, and is composed of foremilk and hindmilk.
Foremilk is the thinner milk at the beginning. It’s high in lactose (sugar) and helps quench baby’s thirst.
Hindmilk comes later in the feeding and is richer in fat, helping your baby gain weight and feel full.
You should allow your baby to nurse on one side long enough to get both. Switching sides too soon may result in baby getting more foremilk and not enough of the filling hindmilk. Switching too soon will also not “drain” your breast completely, which can signal to your body that your baby doesn’t need as much milk and this can lessen your supply.
Also, it’s totally normal if one breast produces more milk than the other! Most moms have a “slacker boob.” As long as baby is gaining weight well and diapers are being filled, these are signs your baby is eating enough and your body is doing exactly what it should.
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General Pumping Guidelines
Even if you’re nursing, pumping can help boost supply, build a freezer stash, or provide bottles for others to feed your baby (sometimes a break from nursing is nice!). I also like offering bottles if I notice the number of wet diapers go down. I can better keep track of how much Oliver’s drinking with bottles. I also like that the fore and hind milk are mixed in a bottle, so he gets a more filling snack if he only eats for a few minutes. All in all, here are some general pumping tips you may not know yet!
- Start pumping after 3–4 weeks (once nursing is well established so you don’t signal to your body to increase your supply too much)
- Pump in the morning when supply is typically higher (this is due to hormones)
- Use a double electric pump if possible for efficiency (time is precious once baby is here!)
- Aim for 10–20 minutes per regular pump session (you don’t need to pump for hours but also five minutes is probably not enough to empty your breast)
- If you want to increase your supply, try “power pumping” to stimulate production (this simulates a cluster feeding, more on that below. Also, get my free power pumping schedules here!)
Need help choosing what you need for pumping supplies? Read my post Pumping Essentials for Home or Pumping Essentials for Work if you’re needing to work while breastfeeding!
How to Store Breastmilk Safely
Storing your expressed milk properly keeps it safe for baby to eat and sets a system in place for using your pumped milk. Here are storage tips and general safety guidelines as of writing this post:
- Store in 2–4 oz portions to avoid waste (Oliver is 5 months and still never drinks more than 2-4 ounces at a time)
- Label milk with date and time pumped
- Lay flat to freeze for easy stacking
Storage timelines:
- Room temp after pumping: up to 4 hours
- Fridge (not previously frozen): up to 4 days
- Freezer: up to 6 months (12 months max)
- Once frozen milk is thawed or any milk is heated up, use within 2 hours
- Do not re-freeze milk that has been heated up or has already been frozen once before
- Always consume the oldest milk first, follow the FIFO (first in, first out) rule
Pro Tip: If you have milk leftover that your baby didn’t drink and can’t be used again, don’t toss it! Save it to add to baths for baby; it’s great for their skin! We collect the leftover undrinkable milk in a separate bag and label it “Bath” so we know not to feed it to Oliver. We either keep in the fridge or freezer depending on how much we have and when his next bath is. You’re body worked hard to make that milk, so don’t toss it!
FYI, a printable storage guide will be included in my upcoming Breastfeeding & Pumping Bundle!
Helping Low Milk Supply
If you’re worried about low supply, know that there are ways you can increase your output. In some cases, you can see an increase in a couple days! These are some of the most essential breastfeeding tips for new moms; below are some ways to increase your supply.
- Nurse or pump frequently (aim for 8–12 times/day) and completely drain your breasts
- Use breast compressions while feeding or pumping
- Stay hydrated and eat nourishing, milk-supporting foods (like oats and flaxseed)
- Avoid long stretches without stimulation (try to feed or pump at least every 2-3 hours)
For more tips, check out my full post on how to increase breastmilk supply! You can also add a “power pump” session to your day. This is when you mimic cluster feeding, which signals to your body you need more milk to keep up with the demand. If you want to try power pumping, download my free power pump schedules below!
What is Cluster Feeding?
Cluster feeding is when your baby nurses frequently in short bursts over a few hours. It’s totally normal, especially during growth spurts (like around 2–3 weeks, 6 weeks, and 3 months).
Here are some common signs your baby is cluster feeding:
- Wants to nurse every 30–60 minutes
- Is fussy or unsettled during certain times of day (often evenings)
- Calms while nursing, then fusses when unlatching
Cluster feeding can be tough mentally and physically. It felt like Oliver was constantly on me at times and I just wanted 5 minutes to myself to reset.
How are some ways to cope:
- Clear your schedule and plan to rest with baby
- Use contact naps and baby wearing for comfort
- Stay hydrated and eat a good meal beforehand
- Let others support you while you feed
Cluster feeding can be emotionally and physically tiring—but it has benefits! It boosts your supply and helps baby through their developmental leaps.
Nutrition for Nursing Moms
What you eat can impact your energy and milk production. And nutritional demands during breastfeeding are actually higher than during breastfeeding! Producing milk takes a lot of support and energy.
To support yourself nutritionally, try to eat balanced meals with:
- Healthy fats (avocado, nuts, olive oil)
- Whole grains (oatmeal, brown rice)
- Lean protein (chicken, lentils, eggs)
- Hydrating foods and plenty of water
While nursing, try to avoid or limit:
- High-mercury fish (like swordfish)
- Excess caffeine (under 300 mg/day)
- Alcohol (some people say if you drink to wait 2–3 hours before nursing or pump & dump. Others say only if you feel tipsy or drunk you need to wait or pump & dump. Be sure to make your own informed decision!)
Looking for food and snack ideas to help support your milk supply? See my post on What to Eat While Breastfeeding to Boost Milk Supply for ideas!
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Remedies for Engorgement or Clogged Ducts
Breastfeeding can come with its own challenges outside of the actual nursing part! (Wow, us moms go through A LOT). Engorgement and clogged ducts are common, especially in the early weeks.
Here are signs you may be experiencing either of these ailments and some common remedies:
- Engorgement: Breasts feel hard, full, and maybe painful. Nurse frequently and apply warm compresses before feeds, if needed.
- Clogged ducts: A tender lump that doesn’t soften after feeding. Use massage, heat, and extra nursing or pumping. Some women swear by sunflower lecithin, too!
A more serious condition that clogged ducts can lead to is mastitis: inflammation of breast tissue that can lead to pain, swelling, warmth, and redness. If you develop a fever or red streaks on your breast, call your provider! Mastitis can turn serious quickly, and may require antibiotics to treat or turn into a breast abscess if left untreated.
When to Reach Out to a Lactation Consultant
You don’t have to wait until something is “wrong” in your breastfeeding journey to seek help. Even if you feel you’re breastfeeding relationship with your baby is going well, a visit with a lactation consultant couldn’t hurt. They usually are a well of knowledge and helpful tips and tricks! At the very least, reach out to an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) if:
- Nursing is painful beyond the first few days
- Baby has trouble latching or stays hungry after feeds
- Your supply seems low or inconsistent
- You need help creating a pumping or feeding plan
Lactation consultants are trained to support you, troubleshoot problems, and reassure you through your nursing journey!
Final Thoughts
Breastfeeding is a huge journey—and no two moms or babies are the same. I personally had moments where I felt we were past latching issues, then new issues would arise. It wasn’t until almost month four where I felt like me and Oliver were consistently in a good nursing rhythm with no setbacks. Him getting bigger really helped a lot of our issues, and them growing takes time. Be gentle with yourself as you learn and throughout the whole journey. Whether you’re exclusively nursing, combo feeding, pumping around the clock, or supplementing with formula, you’re doing a beautiful thing! I hope these breastfeeding tips for new moms help you feel more prepared, whether you’re just starting or somewhere in the messy middle.
More support is coming soon in my downloadable Breastfeeding & Pumping Bundle, packed with milk storage guidelines, affirmations, and helpful tools to keep you going on your nursing and pumping journey.
Remember, you’ve got this, Mama 🤎