Breastfeeding Basics for New & Expecting Mothers

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If you’re here as a brand-new mom wondering how something so “natural” can feel so confusing, exhausting, and straight-up emotional… breathe, friend. You’re in the right place to learn helpful breastfeeding basics.

Breastfeeding isn’t an instinct you’re magically supposed to know on day one; it’s a skill that both you and your newborn baby learn together. And in those early days, it can feel like a lot.

And remember, even if you decide to formula-feed your baby instead or become an exclusive pumping mom, there is absolutely nothing wrong with you. A fed baby is a happy baby and I want you to ingrain that into your soul.

This guide is here to give you a better understanding of your baby, your body, and what those first days and weeks of breastfeeding actually look like.

You’ll learn how milk supply works, what a proper latch should feel like, how often newborns really need to eat, and the best way to support your baby’s health during those early days. Literally, all of the basics to help you feel confident as you begin your breastfeeding journey.

This post may contain affiliate links from which I receive a commission if you click or make a purchase. This article is for informational and educational purposes only and is not intended to replace medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. See my full policy for more information.

Breastfeeding Basics Every New Mom Should Know

1. Understanding the Different Types of Breast Milk

You might not realize this yet, but your body is magical. It can grow a human and then create food for you to nourish them. If that isn’t the coolest thing ever, I’m not sure what is. Your body is producing something called mother’s milk (a common older term for breast milk), which changes and adapts to your baby’s needs in the first days, weeks, and beyond. What’s important to know is that there are three main phases of breast milk.

Colostrum (“First Milk”)

In those first hours and days, your body is producing colostrum, sometimes called the “first milk.”

This golden/yellowish, thick substance is packed with nutrients, antibodies, and protective nutrients.
Even though the amount you produce early on might look tiny (we’re talking teaspoons, not full cups), that’s enough milk for their needs at this stage.
Its role is huge: helping your baby’s immune system and supporting a healthy gut, all while your sweet baby is learning how to become an effective little nursing baby.

Transitional Milk

Around day 2–5 postpartum (often when moms say “my milk has come in”), you’ll start to move from colostrum into transitional milk.

This milk is higher in volume and richer in things like fat, lactose, and water-soluble vitamins compared to colostrum.
Your breasts will feel much heavier, and you may experience engorgement as this transition happens; that’s your milk production ramping up.

Mature Milk

By about the end of the second week (around day 10-15), your milk production will be in what’s called the “mature milk” phase.

Mature milk is often thinner and bluish-white at first (that’s the foremilk), then becomes creamier (hindmilk) as your baby nurses and the fat content kicks in.
It’s roughly 90 % water (which is great hydration for baby!) with the remaining delivering the fats, proteins, vitamins, and minerals your baby needs to grow.

2. Understanding Your Milk Production Process

Your body is doing something incredible, mama, but the science behind your milk production doesn’t need to be complicated. Here’s the easiest way to understand what’s happening behind the scenes every time your newborn baby latches.

Right after birth, your levels of prolactin rise. This is the hormone that tells your body, “Hey, it’s time to make milk.” Oxytocin jumps in too, helping your let-down reflex, which is what allows milk to actually flow through your milk ducts and into your baby’s mouth. Think of prolactin as the maker, and oxytocin as the gentle “release” button. From there, your baby drives your milk supply.

This is the part that surprises most new moms: The more often your baby feeds (usually 8–12 times in a 24-hour period), the more milk your body will make. This is why frequent feeding in the early days sets you up to have the best start in your breastfeeding journey.

Skin-to-skin contact also matters. Holding your baby close, especially in those early days, helps boost oxytocin, encourages your baby’s sucking reflex, and supports a stronger, more stable milk supply. It also helps you read their tiny hunger cues before they’re in full meltdown mode.

A Good Latch = A Good Start

When your baby has a proper latch, they’re able to remove milk effectively, and that removal is what signals your body to make more. Here’s what to look out for when evaluating your baby’s latch:

It shouldn’t feel painful. While the early days of nursing may be a bit uncomfortable, a proper latch is not painful.
Your baby’s lips should be outward, with a wide mouth-latch. Their lips shouldn’t be tucked in, nor should just your nipple be in their mouth.
You can hear swallowing, not clicking. If you hear a clicking type sound or if the baby keeps unlatching, it could be a sign to seek help from a lactation consultant.

Some babies struggle to nurse due to a shallow latch. A shallow latch can lead to:

Less milk removed
More nipple pain & soreness
Eventually, less milk will be produced due to a decrease in demand

This is why getting help from a board-certified lactation consultant can make such a huge difference in the early days of breastfeeding, even if you don’t have any specific concerns.

3. Familiarize Yourself with Lactation Support Near You

Consider consulting with a lactation specialist or consultant during pregnancy or shortly after birth. IBCLCs (International Board Certified Lactation Consultants) can offer a wide range of assistance, including guidance on correct latching techniques, advice on managing common breastfeeding challenges such as sore nipples or engorgement, and solutions for increasing milk supply.

This has to be one of the best tips for any new mother wanting to breastfeed. Hiring a lactation consultant offers numerous benefits to new breastfeeding mothers — their expertise extends beyond the basics, as they can help address more complex issues such as tongue-tie, low milk supply, or pumping and storing breast milk effectively.

In fact, many lactation consultants even offer support for mothers who opt to use infant formula. They will help you determine an ideal, high-quality baby formula, which baby bottle is best, and much more!

4. Feeding Frequency: How Often Should a Newborn Eat?

Since you can’t see how much milk your newborn baby is drinking, it’s completely normal to feel unsure. The good news? Your baby’s body gives you plenty of clear signs — and once you know what to look for, you’ll feel so much more confident during these early weeks postpartum.

Here are the most reliable signs your breastfed baby is getting what they need:

Plenty of Wet and Dirty Diapers (according to the AAP and CDC):
- Babies should have 6+ wet diapers a day by days 4-5 after birth.
- More wet diapers generally mean your baby is taking in enough milk and your milk supply is responding well.
You Can Hear or See Swallowing
Your Baby Seems Content After Most Feeds
- Not every feed will end in a peaceful milk-drunk nap (wouldn’t that be nice?), but in general, babies who are getting enough breast milk will show subtle cues they’re satisfied, such as relaxing their hands, softening their body, and unlatching on their own after a feed.
Weight gain. If the baby is continuously gaining weight at their check-ups, that’s an excellent sign they’re consuming more than enough milk!

5. Keep Yourself Hydrated & Rested

Drink plenty of water throughout the day and ensure you get enough rest. Breast milk is rich in essential nutrients, including water-soluble vitamins. Dehydration can lead to a decrease in milk supply. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), inadequate fluid intake can affect milk production, making it important for breastfeeding mothers to consume enough fluids to meet the needs of both themselves and their infants.

It’s also important to note that breastfeeding mothers tend to have higher fluid requirements than non-breastfeeding women, and these hydration needs can vary depending on factors such as environmental temperature, activity level, and individual differences. Thus, staying hydrated by consuming a variety of fluids like water, milk, and other non-caffeinated beverages is recommended.

How to Handle These Common Breastfeeding Challenges

No matter how prepared you feel, breastfeeding can come with a few bumps in the road. Knowing how to approach and handle them is a big help.

Breast Engorgement

In the first week, especially as your transitional milk turns into mature milk, your breasts may feel overly full, swollen, or even warm. This could be due to engorgement, milk that should be pumped or expressed out.
What helps with lactation engorgement:

Feed your infant frequently (8–12 times in 24 hours)
Try a brief warm compress before feeding to help your milk flow
Use cool compresses after feeding to help reduce swelling and inflammation
If your baby struggles to latch onto your full breast, try hand expressing or using a Haakaa to empty out some milk, then try to latch baby.

Engorgement is incredibly common, and with consistent milk removal, it usually settles within a few days. If not, it can turn into something more serious called mastitis, which you’ll want to consult your healthcare provider about.

Plugged Milk Ducts

These can feel like small, tender lumps under the skin of your breast. They are often times pretty painful or uncomfortable.
What helps get rid of plugged milk ducts:

Frequent feedings
Try a variety of nursing positions so milk drains in different directions, specifically, try dangle feeding if you have a tough plug to get out.
Use a warm compress + gentle massage to try and massage out the plugged milk.
Make sure your nursing bra is supportive, but not too tight. I found Kindred Bravely nursing bras to be the absolute best during my breastfeeding journey.

Nipple Soreness

Some tenderness in the early days can be normal, but cracked, pinched, or severe pain usually signals a latch or positioning issue.
What helps soothe sore nipples:

Try adjusting your baby’s position so that baby’s chin and baby’s mouth are wide and deep when latched.
Experiment with positions like football hold or cradle hold
Seek help from a board-certified lactation consultant if pain continues
To alleviate discomfort, you can try hydrogel pads or silver nursing shields.

You should never feel like you have to “push through the pain.” A good latch should feel like a gentle tug, not a sharp pain or pinch.

Mastitis

This uncomfortable problem occurs when your breast becomes inflamed and infected, typically due to a clogged milk duct. It will feel warm, swollen, and painful to the touch; many times, you can see the redness on your breast as well. Mastitis can often be accompanied by a fever if left untreated.

What helps with mastitis:

Contact your healthcare provider immediately for treatment.
Self-care remedies can sometimes help alleviate discomfort, but not in fighting off the infection.

Fast Let-Down or Slow Let-Down Reflex

A strong let-down might make your baby cough, gag, or pull off while feeding. A slow one may make them frustrated. I dealt with both (slow and fast letdown) with each of my breastfeeding experiences and neither of them is a fun problem to have.
What helps a fast let-down:

Try nursing in a laid-back position so that gravity can help you out a bit.
Let the initial let-down spray into a milk catcher or burp cloth, then latch your baby to finish their feeding.

What helps for slow let-down:

Gentle breast massage before and during your feeding
Relaxation, deep breathing, or skin-to-skin contact to try and boost oxytocin
A warm compress before feeding to improve milk flow

Over time, your baby will likely be able to adjust to your milk flow. If your flow is causing a continuous issue in baby being able to effectively nurse, seeking help from a lactation consultant is best.

Online Resources for Breastfeeding Parents

While seeking in-person care can be incredibly beneficial to your breastfeeding journey, we realize not every family can do so. Sometimes, you might just need some simple guidance in navigating certain issues that aren’t pressing, so below you can find some great online resources about breastfeeding:

Stock Up on Breastfeeding Supplies

Finally, make sure you stock up on the essentials you’ll be using daily while breastfeeding. I’m talking about things like:

Nipple butter (for soothing relief of dry or cracked nipples)
Comfortable nursing bra
Comfortable pumping bra (for moms planning to pump frequently)
Breastmilk storage bags
Colostrum collectors (just for the first few days)
Silver nursing cups (to protect irritated nipples between feeds)
Nursing friendly tops
Milk collecting shells
Breastfeeding Pillow

if you’re a first time mom wishing to breastfeed, you can set yourself up to a great start by using these basic breastfeeding tips. Remember that every mother and baby is unique, and it’s important to be patient with yourself and your little one as you navigate this new journey together.

With the right support, knowledge, and resources, you can set your exclusive breastfeeding journey up for success!

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