Take Action!
Try to nurse your baby right away.
Tell your doctor, midwife, or nurse that you want to breastfeed within 1 hour of your baby’s birth. After the first hour, your baby will be sleepy.
At first, your milk will be yellow. This is called colostrum (“coh-LOSS-trum”), and it’s very good for your baby. Your regular milk will come in after a couple of days, and your breasts will feel full.
Nurse your baby whenever he wants to eat.
Newborn babies need to nurse often (about every 2 hours). Watch your baby for signs of hunger, such as:
- Moving his head from side to side (called rooting)
- Being more alert
- Acting fussy
