Feeding your newborn: what to know before day one
How often newborns feed, the cues to watch for, the basics of breastfeeding and bottle feeding, and how to tell it's going well. Help is there whichever way you feed.
However you plan to feed your baby, knowing a little before the birth makes the first days easier. Breastfeeding, formula feeding and a mix of both are all ways to feed a baby well. What matters is that your baby is fed, you're supported, and you ask for help early if something isn't working.
What newborns need
Newborns have tiny stomachs and feed often, day and night, usually at least eight times in 24 hours and sometimes more. Some feeds come close together, especially in the evening, which is called cluster feeding. Frequent feeding is normal and doesn't mean something is wrong.
Watch your baby rather than the clock. Early feeding cues include:
Crying is a late sign of hunger. A calm baby feeds more easily, so try to respond to the earlier cues. Some babies need burping during or after a feed: hold them upright against your shoulder, or sitting on your lap with their chin supported, and gently rub or pat their back.
If you breastfeed
In the first days your body makes colostrum, a thick, rich first milk that's just right for a newborn. Your milk usually increases a few days after the birth. Holding your baby skin to skin soon after birth, and feeding often, helps your supply get going.
A good latch matters. Your baby's mouth should be wide open, with their chin touching your breast, and you should see more of the darker skin around your nipple above their top lip than below their bottom lip. You may feel a strong pull, but feeding shouldn't keep hurting. If it does, ask for help early from your midwife, a lactation consultant or a breastfeeding counselor.
If you bottle feed
If you use formula, choose a standard infant formula suitable from birth and follow the instructions on the package exactly. Adding too much or too little powder can make your baby unwell. Wash bottles and nipples in hot, soapy water after every feed, and sterilize them at least once a day, or before every use if your midwife, doctor or the formula instructions say so, especially in the first months. Make each feed as the package describes, and throw away any milk left after a feed.
Paced bottle feeding lets your baby feed at their own speed, whether the bottle holds formula or expressed breast milk:
Hold your baby upright
Support their head and neck, rather than laying them flat.
Keep the bottle level
Tilt it just enough to fill the nipple with milk, and let your baby draw it in.
Pause and switch sides
Take short breaks, and swap the side you hold them on halfway through.
Follow their lead
Stop when your baby turns away, slows down or relaxes their hands. They don't need to finish the bottle.
Never prop up a bottle and leave your baby to feed alone.
If you'd like to combine breast milk and formula, ask your midwife or a lactation consultant how to do it while protecting your milk supply.
Signs feeding is going well
Your baby's diapers tell you a lot. The first poops are dark and sticky, and they should turn yellow within a few days. By around day five, expect at least six wet diapers a day. It's normal for babies to lose some weight in the first days, and most are back to their birth weight by about two weeks.
Contact your midwife, doctor or pediatrician urgently if your baby is very sleepy and not feeding well, or if they have trouble feeding, have fewer wet diapers, or have yellow skin or eyes that are getting worse. If you can't reach them straight away, go to the emergency room. If your baby is floppy, difficult to wake or won't stay awake, or not breathing normally, call emergency services. If you have a hot, red, painful area on your breast and feel feverish or unwell, contact your midwife or doctor too.
Before the birth, find out where feeding support is near you, such as a lactation consultant, a breastfeeding group or a helpline, and save the number in your phone.
For information only — not medical advice. If something doesn't feel right, contact your midwife or doctor.
Sources
NHS — Your pregnancy and baby guide (nhs.uk/pregnancy)
ACOG — Patient FAQs (acog.org/womens-health/faqs)
WHO — Recommendations on antenatal care for a positive pregnancy experience
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