What makes the first week special
In the first days it is not about routine but about establishing things. Your baby is learning to suck, swallow and breathe together. Your body shifts from pregnancy hormones to producing and releasing milk. In this week breastfeeding can be very frequent without this automatically indicating a problem.
Many parents look for a single number to provide reassurance. There are rough guidelines, but what matters is the overall course: how well your baby feeds, how nappies and weight develop, and how you are coping physically. For a framework of what is normal in the first days, the NHS page is a good basis. NHS: Breastfeeding the first few days
Colostrum
Why small amounts are normal
Colostrum is the first milk in the first days. It is concentrated and matches the small stomach capacity of a newborn. Many people mistake the small volume for insufficient supply. At this stage the frequency of feeds and whether the baby feeds effectively usually matter more than millilitres.
What to focus on rather than millilitres
- Your baby is offered the breast regularly or shows signs of hunger.
- There are periods of calm, rhythmic sucking with pauses to swallow.
- Nappies and stools develop in the right direction over time.
A concise, German-language overview on getting started with breastfeeding and the hormonal processes can be found here. kindergesundheit-info: Starting breastfeeding (in German)
Milk coming in
When it typically begins
The transition to fuller milk production usually occurs between day two and day four, sometimes a little later. Some people notice warmth, tingling or marked fullness, others hardly feel anything. Both can be normal if the baby feeds effectively and the overall course is good.
If the breast is very full
A very full breast can make latching harder in the short term because the areola is firmer. Small adjustments often help more than forcing it: offering the breast more frequently, changing position, brief manual express or massage to soften the areola so the baby can latch.
What you should not ignore in this phase
- Severe pain that does not ease quickly while feeding.
- Markedly increasing cracks or bleeding.
- Fever, shivering or a strong feeling of being unwell.
How often to breastfeed and why hunger cues matter more than crying
Frequency as a guide
Many babies feed very frequently in the first week, sometimes at short intervals. This is often normal and supports milk production. Rough benchmarks are useful, but what matters more is that feeds happen regularly and that the baby feeds effectively.
Early hunger cues
- Rooting with the head, opening the mouth, smacking.
- Hand to mouth, restless turning, soft noises.
- Alert eyes and a desire for closeness.
Why this makes starting breastfeeding easier
With early cues the baby is often calmer and latches more easily. When a baby is crying hard it is often already too aroused for an easy latch. This is a common reason why breastfeeding can suddenly feel much harder on some evenings.
Clusterfeeding and the second night
What it means
Clusterfeeding means your baby wants to feed repeatedly over several hours, often in the evening or during the early nights. It can feel like nothing is enough, but it is often a normal phase that usually passes.
Practical things that help
- A dedicated feeding spot with water, a snack, a cloth and a charger.
- Skin-to-skin contact and as few interruptions as possible.
- Relief from a second person so you can get short sleep breaks.
A clear explanation of why this feeding marathon can be normal is available here. Netzwerk Gesund ins Leben: Clusterfeeding (in German)
Latching and positioning
A quick check for a good latch
- The mouth is wide open and the chin is close to the breast.
- The lips are flanged outward, not tucked in.
- You notice swallowing during calm feeding periods.
- Pain is not severe and does not increase from minute to minute.
Pain is a warning sign
Mild sensitivity can occur at the start. Severe or persistent pain usually indicates that the latch or position should be corrected. This is not about enduring pain but about adjustment and early support. A very practical resource with images and guidance on positioning and attachment is the NHS page on positioning and attachment. NHS: Positioning and attachment
How to tell if enough is getting through
Signs during feeding
- Rhythmic sucking with pauses to swallow.
- The baby becomes calmer over the feed and sometimes detaches on their own.
- You feel more relaxed than stressed after feeding.
Signs over the day
- Nappies become more regular and wet over time.
- The stool changes in the first days from dark meconium to lighter transitional stools.
- Wakeful periods become clearer and the baby seems more alert between feeds.
A single evening of clusterfeeding says little about overall milk supply. If nappies are noticeably few, the baby is hard to rouse or feeds very weakly, a prompt assessment by a midwife or hospital is advisable.
Common problems in the first week
Sore nipples
Sore nipples usually result from repeated friction due to a shallow latch or poor positioning. Skincare products can help, but the most effective measure is almost always a better latch. Every pain-free feed helps healing.
Very sleepy baby
Some babies are very sleepy initially. If this leads to infrequent feeds, a cycle of poor feeding and increased sleepiness can develop. Skin-to-skin contact, feeding at early cues, gentle waking and a clear plan with the postnatal team can help.
Very full breast, blocked duct, early inflammation
A local hard, tender area can be a blocked duct, often around the time the milk comes in and with exhaustion. If fever, shivering or a strong feeling of illness occur, prompt medical assessment is needed.
Expressing and supplementary feeding
As a bridge, not a battle
Expressing can be useful when direct breastfeeding is temporarily not effective or when stimulation is needed. Supplementary feeding can be medically appropriate when a specialist team recommends it or the course is unstable.
What matters then
- A clear reason and a clear goal.
- A plan for how the breast will continue to be regularly stimulated.
- A short review to see whether the measure truly helps or simply shifts the stress.
Myths and facts
- Myth: Frequent feeding automatically means not enough milk. Fact: Especially at the start, frequent feeding is often normal and supports milk production.
- Myth: Colostrum is too little. Fact: Colostrum is concentrated and physiologically appropriate for the first days.
- Myth: Pain is part of breastfeeding. Fact: Severe or persistent pain usually indicates that something should be corrected.
- Myth: Clusterfeeding means the milk is insufficient. Fact: Clusterfeeding can be a normal phase that often passes.
When to proactively plan for support
Arrange help early if pain is severe or not improving, if your baby is hard to rouse and feeds little, if nappies are noticeably few, or if you feel you cannot cope mentally. In the first week early correction often achieves more in hours than enduring problems does in days.
Breastfeeding should be manageable. Sometimes a small latch correction is enough. Sometimes a clear plan with support is needed. Both are normal.
Conclusion
The first week of breastfeeding is a window to establish feeding: colostrum, milk coming in, frequent feeds and clusterfeeding can all be normal. Key factors are a good latch, visible signs of milk transfer and a stable course for nappies and weight.
If you take one thing away: pain and persistent uncertainty are signals to seek support, not reasons to tough it out. With good help breastfeeding often becomes easier quickly.
