Breastfeeding seems like too much work for new moms and women considering getting pregnant.
It is a lot of work, but it isn’t too much work.
Let me reassure you by answering some of the most pressing questions.
Top 10 Breastfeeding FAQ
Timeline
How do I know when it’s time for my baby to feed / how can I tell if the baby is hungry?
Cues: When babies are hungry, they involuntarily begin bringing their hands & fingers to their mouths. Your baby will look very alert and start bending their arms & legs1.
Be careful not to wait too long to feed them (crying is a late cue that they are hungry and latching can be harder at this point).
Here is a chart with more cues:
Your baby will show that they are full by closing their eyes while relaxing their legs & arms (that “milk drunk” limp position).
Here is a table with more cues:
How often does my baby need to breastfeed?
It is recommended that you feed your baby every 2-3 hours. (8-12 feedings per day). Of course, this begins to vary as they get older and sleep windows change (this should be timed from the start time of one feeding to the next start time).
How long a baby breastfeeds will vary as well. Most will feed on each breast for 10-15 minutes (totaling 20-30 minutes per session). However, they could also feed for 1-2 hours each breast OR just one breast. This depends on your baby’s eating speed. Look for the cues of a full baby to determine how long each feeding should be for your baby.
Clusterfeeding will also come around at certain points during your baby’s growth. See this post for more details.
How soon will my baby start breastfeeding after giving birth?
Almost immediately. This will depend on your delivery, but most babies will feed an hour after they are born. This is easier done if mom and baby do skin-to-skin. (this varies as well with every delivery being unique).
Milk production will come in three stages:
Colostrum → This is the thick first milk your breasts make & it starts to produce during the third trimester for some women but may take until the day of birth. It will be your supply for the first 1-3 days2.
Transitional Milk → “Lactogenesis II begins at 2 to 3 days postpartum and is often called transitional milk.3” This will be the milk between colostrum and mature milk supply (thus the name, transitional milk). This phase usually lasts between days 2-6 postpartum.
Mature Milk → This is the milk in its final composition. Usually establishes by days 6-15 postpartum.
Foremilk → This is the milk that flows at the start of a feeding. It is watery, high in protein and lactose, and low in fat - its purpose is to quench your baby's thirst.
Hindmilk → This is the milk that flows as your breast empties. It is richer in fat, high in calories, and its purpose is to satisfy your baby's hunger.
How long *should* I breastfeed my baby?
It is recommended to breastfeed for at least the first 6 months, and continuing up to 1 year is highly encouraged as new foods are being introduced. Even if you stop breastfeeding after 6 months, it is encouraged to supplement your baby with an alternative to breastmilk. Ask your doctor/practitioner for more info.
One thing we can do here is pump and collect a milk supply (freeze milk) as we transition to solid foods (if considering stopping early) that way your baby still has bottled milk & you can take away the stress of breastfeeding (if that is a concern). This is IF you don’t plan on switching to formula.
You can breastfeed as long as you want to. There are women that will breastfeed their kids for years. The decision will always be up to the mom.
The longer your baby breastfeeds, the greater the health benefits.
Mother’s Consumption
What kind of things should I avoid while breastfeeding?
These are quite simple → no smoking or vaping, little or no drinking, & limit caffeine intake.
Smoking isn’t good in general, but especially for breastfeeding mothers. Secondhand smoke increases the risk of SIDS.
Not drinking at all is the best option BUT, if you choose to drink, it should be limited to 1-2 drinks (wait at least 2 hours after a single drink before you breastfeed → 2 hours per drink)4. This is for a standard US drink.
As the alcohol leaves your bloodstream, it leaves your milk → therefore, it isn’t necessary to “pump and dump”. The highest alcohol levels in milk occur 30 to 60 minutes after an alcoholic beverage, but food delays the time of peak milk alcohol levels.5
There are test strips that can be used to test your breast milk before feeding your baby if you aren’t sure when you can return to breastfeeding.
Sidenote: if you plan to drink, have some extra milk pumped just in case your baby gets hungry, you have backup!
Caffeine in small amounts can be acceptable (200-500 mg daily, stick to lower amounts) as higher amounts can cause your baby to be jittery, extra fussy, or cause poor sleep patterns.6
How do I know if I can take certain medications while breastfeeding?
There are plenty of things we can take → if you don’t know and can’t contact your doctor/provider, there are apps out there that tell us what we can and can’t consume.
Here are a few good sources: LactRx, MommyMeds, InfantRisk LactMed7
Benefits
How does breastfeeding benefit me (mom)8?
When we breastfeed our babies, oxytocin is released and causes the uterus to contract → this aids in returning the uterus to its normal size (faster than if we were not planning on breastfeeding). It can also reduce the amount of bleeding we experience during postpartum (lochia).
Everyone always says that breastfeeding makes the weight come off faster, but that isn’t true for every woman. However, very anecdotally, in my personal experience, it has helped.
It is also possible that breastfeeding may reduce the risk of breast and ovarian cancer.
It also reduces stress. Oxytocin baby.
What are the benefits of breastfeeding for my baby9?
Breast milk is perfect for our babies → It has just the right amount of fat, sugar, water, protein, and minerals necessary for growth and development.
The best part is its adaptability. As our babies grow, breast milk changes to adapt to the baby’s changing nutritional needs & breast milk is easier to digest than formula.
Babies that breastfeed have a lower risk of SIDS.
Breast milk can mitigate and reduce the risk of many of the short-term and long-term health problems that can affect preterm babies.
Best of all, breast milk contains antibodies that protect infants from certain illnesses → this includes, but is not limited to ear infections, diarrhea, respiratory illnesses, and allergies.
General Lactation Info
How long will it take for my milk production to establish & regulate?
This is going to vary from woman to woman.
Milk supply will start to come in between 4-15 days after your baby’s birth → "Colostrum is replaced by transitional milk during 5–15 days postpartum, and from 15 days postpartum mature milk is produced10.”
Once your milk is established, there are three things to expect → a) breasts won’t feel as full/engorgement happens less. b) leaking and letdowns happen less frequently. c) milk supply may decrease
This usually starts to happen between Weeks 6-12 postpartum.
How do I know if I need to supplement additional milk with my breastmilk for my baby / How do I know that my baby is getting enough milk?
Signs your baby is getting enough milk/is satisfied after feedings:
Diapers are full & they have between 6-8 wet, and 3-5 dirty diapers daily.
Your baby is always gaining weight (check at home by measuring your weight & then your weight while holding them & record your findings daily if worried).
Your baby seems relaxed during feedings.
Your baby unlatches from your breast on their own at the end of feedings.
Their mouth looks moist after feeds.
Your baby appears content and satisfied after most feeds.
If your baby isn’t doing the above (especially not gaining weight) you may need to supplement. Ask your doctor/practitioner for more insight.
FIN
This should clear up the many concerns associated with breastfeeding.
The first few days can be tough.
And sometimes the timeline isn’t what we expect or isn’t happening as fast as we want…
But, breastfeeding is much easier once we get the hang of things.
And so very worth it.
Your friend,
- BowTiedHeifer
Disclaimer
I am not a licensed personal trainer or pre/postnatal specialist—these are simply my personal experiences and things I have witnessed to work for many others. This is not legal, medical or financial advice. Please speak to a professional before starting any new programs, applying any new diet plans, or supplement protocols.
Anatomy, Colostrum → First milk
Anatomy, Colostrum → Transitional Milk
Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®) → Caffeine
Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed®) → List of Medications