Starting breastfeeding - best position for breastfeeding and husband support

Breastfeeding during first few days: Each time your baby feeds, they are letting your body know how much milk it needs to produce. The amount of milk you make will increase or decrease in line with your baby’s needs. Around days two to four, you may notice that your breasts become fuller and warmer.

This is often referred to as your milk ‘coming in’. To keep yourself as comfortable as possible, feed your baby as often as they want. Your milk will vary according to your baby’s needs. It will look quite thin compared with colostrum, but gets creamier as the feed goes on. Let your baby decide when they have had enough.

Sometimes, breast milk may leak from your breast – try gentle but firm hand pressure on your nipple whenever this happens.

This usually helps very quickly.

If you decide to buy breast pads, it is necessary to change them at each feed. Plastic-backed ones can make you even soggier.

In the beginning, it can seem that you are doing nothing but feeding, but gradually your baby will get into a pattern of feeding and the amount of milk you produce will settle. Your baby will be happier if you keep them near you and feed them whenever they are hungry. This will quickly help your body to produce the amount of milk your baby needs. At night, your baby will be safest sleeping in a cot in the same room as you. This will make feeding easier and will reduce the risk of cot death. Try to take each day as it comes. If you are very uncomfortable or sore, ask for help.

Breastfeeding best positions     

You can breastfeed in a number of different positions. Finding one that is comfortable for both of you will help your baby feed as well as possible.

If you are lying back in a well supported position with your baby lying on your tummy, they will often move themselves onto your breast and begin to feed. Remember at all times to keep your baby safe.

You can try feeding lying on your side or in a chair, supported in an upright position. This will make it easier to hold your baby so their neck, shoulders and back are supported and they can reach your breast easily. Their head and body should be in a straight line.

Breastfeeding and husband support   

As a partner, you can bond with your baby in lots of different ways, like bathing, changing nappies and carrying your baby in a sling close to you. You can also help by bringing your baby to their mother when it’s time for a feed. Some parents worry that breastfeeding will make it harder for their partner to bond with the baby. But this doesn’t have to be the case.

You have an important role to play in supporting your partner, for example by preparing meals or providing extra help so she can get some rest. You can do small, practical things like making sure she has a cool drink to hand while she is feeding, and later you can even give some feeds yourself, using expressed milk.