10 Breastfeeding Tips Every New Mom Should Know for a Confident Start

Research finds that more than 3.5 million women give birth each year, and about 84% initiate breastfeeding. And the discussion around breastfeeding often comes across as if it’s a natural thing a new mom will pick up. But it’s not always that simple. Many new moms have to prepare for this adjustment, might have lots of questions and may experience a mix of emotions. 

Breastfeeding isn’t a one-size-fits-all situation. Every mom’s experience may be different. Here are 10 breastfeeding tips to help you feel better about the process.

1. Latch Techniques

A proper latch technique is key. The right positioning will make your breastfeeding experience easier for you and your baby. What’s considered the “standard” latch technique is when your baby’s mouth is wide open and covers most of the bottom part of your areola, and some of the top part of your areola should be visible above your baby’s upper lip. 

If you do skin-to-skin contact on your stomach with your baby directly after birth, they’re more likely to naturally self-attach to your breasts for feeding. After a few seconds, irritation and pain can persist even after your baby latches on. If that’s the case, then just adjust your positioning until it feels right. Finding the right position might take some time.

“Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” —Maya Angelou

2. Feeding Routines

In the first few days, your baby won’t need much milk. Typically, you will need to feed them every two to four hours. As your baby grows, they will be able to drink more milk. On average, your newborn will breastfeed about eight to 12 times daily. If they stick to a consistent schedule of feed times, it helps new moms build milk supply. 

Make sure to pay attention during your breastfeeding sessions. Too long or too short a session matters. A typical breastfeeding session lasts 12 to 67 minutes, and within that, 10 to 15 minutes per side is usually best for a newborn. Missing feed times because your baby is sleeping through the night sounds good. However, that’s a sign that your baby isn’t getting enough milk to properly gain weight. 

“Doing the best at this moment puts you in the best place for the next moment.” —Oprah Winfrey

3. Milk Delay

Don’t worry if you’re waiting for milk to come. It might take you a few days to produce breast milk. When your baby is first born, and you breastfeed, they are being fed colostrum, a form of breastmilk that’s high in nutrients to help build your newborn’s immune system. 

If you’re not seeing your breast milk come in after five days, it could be due to the following maternal health factors:

• Too much bed rest during pregnancy

• Extreme stress

• C-section delivery 

“I am strong. I am powerful. I am beautiful.” —Serena Williams

4. Building Your Milk Supply

Preparation begins before you give birth. Your breasts have milk ducts and glands, which are tissues that expand throughout your pregnancy. It’s a signal to your body to begin producing colostrum, then your “mature milk.” 

After birth, as the milk demand grows from your newborn, you have to maintain your milk supply. Keep in mind that lactation burns calories. So it’s important to make sure you’re eating enough and staying hydrated. The CDC recommends an additional 330 to 400 calories per day for breastfeeding mothers. 

“Nothing will work unless you do.” —Maya Angelou

5. Cluster Feeding

Around two weeks after giving birth, your newborn experiences their first growth spurt. When your newborn is nursing more than usual, it’s known as cluster feeding. It’s the first milestone in the growing phases of having a child. Know that it’s temporary, and the unusual behavior and cravings will pass. 

Prolactin is the hormone that actually triggers lactation. During cluster feeding periods, it can actually increase your milk supply. The occasional increase in nursing is an alert to your body to produce more milk. 

“There is no limit to what we, as women, can accomplish.” —Michelle Obama

6. Pumping Isn’t A Replacement

A study led by Deanna Nardella, MD, found that about “91% of participants reported using a pump to extract breast milk” instead of breastfeeding. Pumping isn’t a substitute for breastfeeding. It’s meant to be an alternative option. Mainly, when you need to release milk but are away from your newborn. Or it might just seem quicker and more flexible than breastfeeding.

Choose which option works best for you. Just keep in mind that breastfeeding reduces the risks of several long-term health issues for both mom and newborn. 

“At the end of the day, we can endure much more than we think we can.” —Frida Kahlo

7. Resting

Getting rest is detrimental to your breastfeeding experience. Obviously, new moms will experience sleep disruptions due to feeding schedules. New moms average about 4.4 hours of sleep. This can affect not only your energy levels but also your milk production. The prolactin hormone that causes lactation also carries “side effects” that make new moms more drowsy and tired.

Having a newborn brings a new lifestyle with big adjustments. So finding a solution to rest might be a challenge, but learning to find a balance is helpful. 

“Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.” —Mother Teresa

8. Seek Support

Don’t be afraid to get help with this new experience. Many women start breastfeeding, and almost 50% of mothers stop breastfeeding after six months. Joining support groups and meeting with lactation consultants and nurses during your pregnancy provides early education. As stated before, you might experience many things while breastfeeding. If there’s anything you notice that seems strange, you’re confused about or you want a new strategy for breastfeeding, then find that help. 

“We need to remember across generations that there is as much to learn as there is to teach.” —Gloria Steinem

9. Check Your Environment

Breastfeeding provides infants with optimal nutrition and immune protection. With such a huge responsibility, new moms need to be mentally and emotionally prepared to breastfeed. There are many places you can breastfeed, especially with a lactation room app like Mamava. A 2025 JAMA Internal Medicine study shows maternal mental health is declining at a concerning rate.

Wherever you are, you have to feed your newborn, so you have to feel safe and comfortable in order to do so. 

“Done is better than perfect.” —Sheryl Sandberg

10. It Gets Easier

There’s no definitive timeline for being a breastfeeding expert. But eventually things will get easier. Nicole Peluso, IBCLC, manager of lactation services and education at Aeroflow Breastpumps, emphasizes the six-week mark as a manageable milestone in breastfeeding. She says, “By then, your milk supply is well-established, baby has started to find a rhythm and your confidence is growing.”

In the beginning, it’ll take time to adjust. A study states many moms stop breastfeeding early because of “physical pain (32%), low milk supply (31%), or lack of hands-on help (27%).”

Breastfeeding is an adjustment that you will get used to. Having a community, using best practices and good environments can make the breastfeeding process easier. 

“A mother’s arms are more comforting than anyone else’s.” —Princess Diana

Featured image credit: Krakenimages.com via Adobe Stock