It may take several weeks before breastfeeding becomes fully established. Breastfeeding your baby as soon as possible after birth is helpful, but sometimes this is not practicable when either mother or baby are unwell. Expressing breastmilk every few hours will ensure that your supply is maintained until you are able to start regular breastfeeding. Most babies will settle themselves into a routine of breastfeeding, and it helps not to be too rigid with the timing of feeds. Rather, try to flow with your baby’s rhythm; most babies will settle eventually to a pattern of 3-4-hourly feeds. Some do not, and appear to take a long time to establish a predictable pattern of sleeping and feeding. Night feeds in particular help to boost your milk supply, so do not be in a hurry to cut these out before your baby is at least 3 months old. If possible, avoid giving your baby formula feeds during the first few weeks of breastfeeding. Offering a complementary feed may in fact only serve to decrease your milk supply. If you think that your baby is still hungry after feeds, speak to your maternal and child health or community nurse.

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