Getting Breastfeeding on Track

The golden rule for successful breastfeeding? Feed on demand.
The best advice we can give? Forget the clock and tune into your baby’s signals: yawning, turning their head from side to side, sucking on their hand? That’s their way of saying “I’m hungry.”
Whether it’s been 20 minutes or two hours since the last feed doesn’t matter — offer the breast and let them nurse as long as they like. The more they nurse, the better your supply.
Good to know: Contrary to popular belief, crying is not a great hunger cue — by that point, baby is often too frustrated or tired to feed efficiently. They might fall asleep before being full and ask to nurse again very soon after.

Despite what you may have heard, burping isn't useless during breastfeeding — especially if you have a strong let-down reflex. Some babies need to burp after every feed, others not at all.
After nursing, hold your little one upright on your shoulder for a few minutes. If there’s air to be released, they’ll take care of it.

Is my milk “rich enough”?

This question worries many new moms — but the answer is very simple. The nutritional composition of breast milk varies very little from one woman to another.
The only notable difference lies in the type of proteins and fatty acids it contains.
Just be sure to follow a healthy and varied diet and your baby will get all the goodness they need!
Good to know: The composition of your milk evolves with your baby’s age to best match their needs as they grow.

One breast or both?

That depends on your storage capacity and baby’s appetite. However, it’s important to “empty” one breast before offering the second.
At the start of a feed, milk is mainly made up of water to quench baby’s thirst. The fats — which bring satiety and growth — are released gradually as the alveoli begin to empty.
If you switch breasts too soon, your baby may feel hungry again very quickly!