How to Get Your Breastfeeding Journey Off to the Best Possible Start

When you're preparing for a new baby, there's no shortage of things to learn. You research strollers, compare car seats, organize the nursery, and pack your hospital bag. But one of the very first things you'll do after your baby is born - feeding them - is often the thing that parents feel least prepared for.

Breastfeeding may be a biologically "normal" process, but it's also a learned skill for both you and your baby. While babies are born with instincts that help them feed, they may take a few days to master the latch or transfer milk effectively. Likewise, your body is remarkably designed to make milk, but understanding how lactation works can make a tremendous difference in the confidence and decisions you make during those early days.

As both an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) and pediatric dietitian, one of the biggest misconceptions I see is that successful breastfeeding is simply something that either happens naturally or just...doesn't. In reality, a little preparation and an understanding of what's happening inside your body can go a long way toward helping you get your breastfeeding journey off to the best possible start.

Milk Production Actually Begins During Pregnancy

Many parents are surprised to learn that your milk supply doesn't emerge after delivery- it begins during pregnancy.

By around 16 to 22 weeks of pregnancy, your body has already entered the first stage of lactation and is producing colostrum. Colostrum, often called "liquid gold," is your baby's first milk. It's thick, highly concentrated, and packed with antibodies, immune cells, growth factors, and nutrients that help support your baby's transition to life outside the womb.

Because colostrum is produced in small amounts, many parents worry it won't be enough. But those small volumes are exactly what your newborn is designed to receive. Their stomach is only about the size of a marble on the first day of life, and colostrum is perfectly matched to meet those early nutritional needs.

Some parents also choose to collect colostrum during the final weeks of pregnancy (around weeks 36-37 after approval from their healthcare provider). Antenatal colostrum collection can help parents become more comfortable with hand expression before their baby arrives and provide valuable supplemental milk to bring to your birth if baby needs a little extra volume or is not latching effectively.

Understanding What Happens When Your "Milk Comes In"

You've probably heard someone say, "My milk came in on day three." Or even, "My milk never came in." These are common phrases, but they can unintentionally reinforce one of the biggest misunderstandings about breastfeeding: that your body isn't making milk until several days after birth.

Your body has already been making milk - colostrum - for months. When people say their milk "comes in," what people are actually referring to is the transition from colostrum to larger volumes of transitional and eventually mature milk (so from the thick, sticky, yellow drops of colostrum to the more watery, white, abundant amounts of breastmilk).

After your baby and placenta are delivered, levels of progesterone, the hormone that supported your pregnancy, drop rapidly. This hormonal shift signals your body to increase milk production, and over the next few days, milk volume rises significantly.

This is often when parents notice their breasts suddenly feeling fuller, heavier, or even swollen. This temporary swelling, called engorgement, is a normal part of early lactation, although it can sometimes make breastfeeding uncomfortable or make it more difficult for a baby to latch.

One of the best ways to move through engorgement is by continuing to remove milk frequently. Nursing, hand expression, or pumping (if needed in place of nursing) helps relieve fullness while continuing to send the message that milk is needed. Because engorgement is largely inflammatory, gentle lymphatic massage, ice between feedings, and anti-inflammatory medications if recommended by your healthcare provider are often more helpful than applying heat.

The First Few Days Are More Important Than Most Parents Realize

If there's one thing to understand about milk supply, it's this:

The first few days after birth play a huge role in establishing your long-term milk supply.

Think of those early days as your body's "training period."

After your baby and placenta are delivered, your pregnancy hormones shift dramatically, signaling your body that it's time to transition from making colostrum to making larger volumes of milk. But hormones alone don't determine how much milk you'll make; your body also needs information from your breasts.

Every time milk is removed - whether by your baby, hand expression, or a pump - your brain gets the message:

"This milk is needed. Keep making more."

In response, your brain releases prolactin, the hormone responsible for milk production. During those first several days after birth, your breasts are especially responsive to prolactin, making this a critical window for establishing your milk-making capacity.

In other words, the more often milk is removed effectively during those early days, the stronger the signal your body receives to build and maintain a healthy milk supply.

That's why we recommend removing milk at least every two to three hours, or at least 8-12 times every 24 hours, including overnight, during the early weeks.

Many parents understandably assume that once their hormones change after birth, milk production will simply happen on its own. Hormones absolutely make lactation possible, but they aren't the whole story. Frequent, effective milk removal is what tells your body how much milk your baby needs, helping those hormonal changes translate into a healthy, established milk supply for the weeks and months ahead.

It's Not Just About How Often Your Baby Nurses

Frequency of milk removal is only half of the story, though. Milk also needs to be removed effectively. In addition to frequency of stimulation, your body also relies on feedback from milk removal to determine how much milk to continue making.

A baby who transfers very little milk because of a shallow latch or oral feeding difficulty sends a much weaker signal than a baby who feeds efficiently. Similarly, an ineffective pumping session or a poorly fitting flange may remove less milk than expected, even if you're pumping regularly.

This is one reason why persistent nipple pain, poor weight gain, or concerns about milk transfer deserve evaluation rather than simply encouraging parents to "keep trying." If baby is struggling to remove milk or you're experiencing pain (often indicating a poor/shallow latch), this can quickly affect milk supply and needs addressed.

Learn What's Normal Before Your Baby Arrives

Learning what's normal and what is actually cause for concern can help you have confidence in your milk supply and manage breastfeeding correctly. (See also: link to milk supply article).

Newborns typically feed 8 to 12 or more times every 24 hours. Many want to nurse every one to two hours, especially during the first few weeks. Babies also cluster feed. Cluster feeding is when a baby wants to nurse repeatedly over several hours, often in the evening. It can feel like your baby is constantly hungry or that you aren't making enough milk. In reality, cluster feeding is one of the ways babies naturally help stimulate milk production to meet their growing needs.

Likewise, newborns are expected to wake overnight. Frequent overnight feedings aren't a sign that your milk isn't satisfying your baby, rather, they're a normal part of newborn biology and an important part of establishing and maintaining milk production.

Understanding these patterns before your baby arrives can help prevent unnecessary worry during those emotional first days and weeks at home.

Learn Hand Expression Before You Need It

Hand expression is one of the most valuable breastfeeding skills you can learn before birth to increase your confidence in breastfeeding.

Hand expression can be helpful for:

• collecting colostrum during pregnancy

• encouraging milk flow during the early postpartum period

• relieving engorgement if your breasts become overly full

• providing milk when your baby isn't latching effectively

• increasing breast stimulation if additional milk removal is needed

Unlike pumping, hand expression requires no equipment and can be especially effective during the colostrum stage, when milk volumes are naturally small.

There Is No Magic Food or Supplement for Milk Supply

While some supplements may have a role in certain situations under the guidance of a knowledgeable healthcare professional, there is no tea, cookie, smoothie, or supplement that can replace the biology of milk production.

The foundation of establishing and maintaining milk supply is still frequent and effective milk removal. If milk isn't being removed regularly, no supplement can fully compensate for that.

Likewise, if you're concerned about your milk supply, it's important to first understand why your supply may be lower than expected. Is milk production actually low, or is your baby having difficulty transferring milk? Is breastfeeding management affecting supply? Is there an underlying medical condition contributing?

Before spending money on products that promise to boost milk production, it's often more valuable to have a feeding assessment with an IBCLC who can identify the root cause of the concern and develop a plan tailored to your goals.

Don't Wait Until You're Overwhelmed to Find Support

Many breastfeeding challenges are much easier to address when they're identified early, but often parents wait to seek out help until they're exhausted, discouraged, or convinced breastfeeding simply isn't going to work.

A shallow latch can often be corrected before significant nipple damage develops.

Concerns about milk supply can frequently be addressed before they affect your baby's growth.

Small adjustments early on can prevent much bigger problems later.

Before your baby arrives, take a few minutes to identify where you'll turn if you need help. Know how to contact an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), ask about lactation services available through your hospital or pediatrician's office, and familiarize yourself with your insurance coverage if applicable. Even better, consider meeting with an IBCLC prenatally to make a plan, get your questions answered, and ensure you feel adequately prepared for when baby arrives.

The Bottom Line

We can't possibly anticipate every possible challenge or become an expert overnight. You don't have to memorize everything there is to know about breastfeeding. However, arming yourself with the general knowledge about your milk supply and how to manage those early days of feeding, as well as where to find support, can make all of the difference in your journey.

Focus on understanding a few key principles:

• Your body begins making milk during pregnancy.

• Colostrum is the perfect amount for your baby's belly.

• The first few days after birth play an important role in establishing milk production.

• Frequent and effective milk removal is the foundation of a healthy milk supply.

• Asking for help early can dramatically improve your experience

Remember, you and your baby are both learning together, and support is always available when you need it.