Breastfeeding Tips for New Moms: Getting Started

The United States saw breastfeeding initiation reach 86% of newborns by 2022, up from 73% in 2004 — yet roughly 60% of mothers stop breastfeeding before they intended to, according to the CDC Breastfeeding Report Card. That gap is not about willingness; it is almost always about unmet support needs in the first critical days. This guide gives you the practical foundation — latch, positioning, supply signals, nipple care, maternal nutrition, and the moments that call for professional help — grounded in real evidence and written for the first weeks, when it matters most.

This article is general educational information, not medical advice. Talk to your care provider or a board-certified lactation consultant (IBCLC) for guidance specific to your situation and your baby's needs.

How Do You Get a Good Latch?

The latch — the way the infant attaches to the breast — is the single most consequential variable in early breastfeeding. A shallow latch (nipple-only) causes pain, limits milk transfer, and can derail supply before it is established. A deep latch is the opposite: the infant takes in a wide mouthful of breast tissue, with the nipple reaching the back of the mouth where it is protected from friction.

Step-by-step for a deep latch:

1. Hold the infant tummy-to-tummy against your body, ears-shoulders-hips aligned (no head-turning required to swallow).
2. Support the breast with your hand in a C-shape — four fingers beneath, thumb on top — without squeezing inward toward the areola.
3. Tickle the infant's upper lip with your nipple to trigger a wide mouth opening (the gape reflex).
4. When the mouth opens wide — like a yawn — bring the infant quickly onto the breast, aiming the nipple toward the roof of the mouth and leading with the lower jaw.
5. The infant's lips should flange outward, the chin should press into the breast, and the nose should be lightly touching or nearly touching the breast surface.

A correctly latched infant's cheeks will look rounded and full during active sucking, not dimpled or hollowed. You should hear a rhythmic, audible swallow — not clicking. If you feel a sharp, pinching pain that continues beyond the first few sucks, use a clean finger to break the suction gently (insert your fingertip into the corner of the infant's mouth) and try again. Initial tenderness in the first few days is normal as the nipple tissue adapts; pain that persists throughout the entire feed is not.

Nursing Positions That Help

Four positions work reliably in the newborn period:

• Cross-cradle hold: The arm opposite the nursing breast supports the infant's head, giving you precise control. Most IBCLCs recommend this for the first two to four weeks while you and the baby are both learning.
• Cradle hold: Head in the crook of your same-side arm. More relaxed once the latch is established.
• Football hold: Infant tucked under your arm, body along your side, facing upward. Ideal after a cesarean and for mothers with larger breasts.
• Side-lying: Mother and infant lying face-to-face. Practical for nighttime feeds and postpartum recovery.

A firm nursing pillow reduces shoulder strain and brings the baby to breast height. Lactation consultants frequently cite the My Brest Friend Super Deluxe Nursing Pillow as their first recommendation for newborns — its wraparound strap prevents the pillow from rotating, eliminating the gaps that cause positional instability in early nursing. The Boppy is softer and more portable, and transitions well into a tummy-time and sitting support once the infant reaches four months.

How Do You Know If Supply Is Enough?

Supply anxiety is one of the most common reasons mothers stop breastfeeding — and most of the time, supply is not the real problem. Milk production operates on a demand-and-removal basis: the more completely and frequently the breast is emptied, the more milk it produces. Understanding the output signals helps separate real low supply from normal perception gaps.

Reliable signs of adequate supply and intake:

• Six or more wet diapers per day after day four or five
• Stooling three to four times per day in the first weeks (though frequency varies widely in older exclusively breastfed infants)
• The infant regains birth weight by days ten to fourteen
• Active, rhythmic swallowing at the breast
• The infant is alert and calm between feeds

Signs that do not indicate low supply: soft or non-leaking breasts, short feeds (some infants are efficient), the absence of engorgement, or not seeing milk spray visibly. Pumped output is also not a reliable gauge — a well-latched infant can extract substantially more milk than even a hospital-grade pump.

To protect and build supply: aim for eight to twelve feeds in 24 hours in the first weeks. If supplementing with formula becomes necessary for medical reasons, work with your provider and IBCLC on a plan that preserves stimulation. Skipping feeds or offering formula without clinical indication are the most common causes of supply decline.

What Helps With Nipple Soreness, and When Is Pain a Warning Sign?

Nipple soreness in the first week of breastfeeding is nearly universal. As the skin adapts and latch improves, tenderness typically peaks around days three to five and resolves within two to three weeks. The two most widely recommended nipple care products address this transition period:

Nipple Cream Comparison: Lansinoh vs. Earth Mama Organic

Product	Key Ingredient	Best For	Approx. Price	Remove Before Feeding?
Lansinoh Lanolin Nipple Cream	Ultra-purified medical-grade lanolin	Most mothers; No. 1 physician-recommended in the U.S.	~$15.74	No — safe for infant contact
Earth Mama Organic Nipple Butter	Organic shea, cocoa, mango butters (lanolin-free)	Mothers with wool/lanolin sensitivity; NICU-selected	~$10–$14	No — certified food-safe ingredients

Apply a pea-sized amount after each feeding or pumping session. Both are HSA/FSA eligible. Women with a wool allergy should note a potential cross-reactivity to lanolin and choose Earth Mama Organic instead.

What Should You Eat While Breastfeeding?

Breast milk is not a static fluid — a 2025 systematic review published in Nutrients examining 20 studies found that maternal dietary patterns significantly affected milk fatty-acid composition, and that micronutrient intake — particularly iodine, omega-3 fatty acids, and key vitamins — was linked to infant neurodevelopment and reduced atopic risk. Optimizing maternal nutrition during lactation is among the highest-leverage interventions for infant health.

Priority nutrients during lactation:

• DHA (omega-3 fatty acids): Milk DHA levels decline during lactation as maternal stores are transferred to the infant without adequate replenishment. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a minimum of 200–300 mg/day. Fatty cold-water fish (salmon, sardines, mackerel) two to three times per week is the food-first approach; algae-derived DHA supplements provide a plant-based alternative.
• Choline: The adequate intake for breastfeeding women is 550 mg/day — substantially above the U.S. average and above what most prenatal vitamins deliver. Egg yolks, liver, and beef are the richest food sources. If you do not eat these foods regularly, a separate choline supplement is worth discussing with your dietitian or provider.
• Iodine: Essential for infant thyroid hormone synthesis and cognitive development. Iodine content in breast milk is highly sensitive to maternal intake. Many prenatal vitamins do not include iodine; the CDC advises providers to assess whether breastfeeding mothers need iodine supplementation.
• Vitamin D: Breast milk is typically low in vitamin D regardless of maternal status. The AAP recommends direct infant supplementation at 400 IU/day — this is standard guidance, not a sign of dietary failure.

A whole-food dietary pattern — colorful vegetables, quality proteins, healthy fats, and minimal ultra-processed food — provides the broadest nutritional foundation. For mothers following plant-based diets, the combined deficiency risk for omega-3, vitamins A, D, and B12, zinc, iodine, selenium, and choline is meaningful and warrants systematic supplementation with your provider's guidance.

When Should You Reach Out to an IBCLC?

An International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) is the credentialed specialist for hands-on breastfeeding assessment and intervention. ACOG confirms that lactation support is covered under most insurance plans as a preventive service. Call or visit an IBCLC if:

• Pain continues beyond the first two to three weeks or is sharp and shooting at any point
• The infant is not regaining birth weight by days ten to fourteen
• Feeds regularly last longer than 40–45 minutes without the infant seeming satisfied
• You hear clicking or smacking sounds during nursing (often a latch or tongue-tie signal)
• Signs of mastitis develop: a firm, red, warm area of the breast accompanied by fever and flu-like symptoms
• A care provider has mentioned infant tongue-tie or other oral anatomical concerns

Early intervention — ideally within the first 48 to 72 hours home — is far more effective than waiting for problems to compound. Many hospitals offer IBCLC visits before discharge; if yours does not, ask for a referral at your first postpartum appointment. You can find a credentialed IBCLC through the International Lactation Consultant Association directory at ilca.org.

Insurance and Getting a Breast Pump

Under Section 2713 of the Affordable Care Act, all non-grandfathered health insurance plans are required to cover breast pump equipment and lactation support at no cost-sharing — no copay, no deductible. Most insurers allow ordering to begin in the third trimester (commonly around 28–32 weeks). The three largest DME suppliers — Aeroflow Breastpumps, Edgepark Medical Supplies, and Byram Healthcare — handle insurance verification and paperwork directly and ship the pump to your home. Submit an eligibility form at aeroflowbreastpumps.com/insurance-eligibility around week 28 to avoid delays. Premium wearable pumps such as the Elvie Stride or Willow Go are often covered with a modest upgrade fee of $0–$85.

Flange sizing is the most consequential technical decision in pumping. A 2025 peer-reviewed pilot study in the Journal of Human Lactation found that the most commonly needed flange sizes in clinical populations range from 13 to 21 mm — substantially smaller than the 24–28 mm flanges packaged as defaults. An IBCLC consultation includes flange-fit assessment and is covered by most major insurers under the same preventive-services mandate.