How to recognise a good breastfeed

What a good feed looks like

Many mothers’ worry if their baby is getting enough milk because they cannot see the volume of a feed. For reassurance, check through the steps below to guide you.

• Your baby detaches from the breast spontaneously
• You notice wet and dirty nappies – see baby’s red book for quantity
• Each feed is between 5-40 minutes, baby decides for himself each feed
• Your baby is feeding 10- 12 times within a 24 hour period
• Your baby is settled after a feed
• They also wake for the next feed
• Your nipples aren’t sore and haven’t changed shape following a feed (they may be longer)

It is important to know that it is not the length of a feed that indicates how much milk your baby is taking but what he is doing at the breast. It is helpful to observe your baby’s sucking pattern during a breastfeed.

What you may typically see when your baby feeds and is deeply latched at the breast

• Sucking pattern starts with rapid sucks to release the hormone oxytocin which stimulates the milk to let down (you may not feel this or it can feel like a tingling sensation/sharp)
• Once the milk has let down, the sucking pattern changes to deep, rhymical sucks as the ducts fill with milk
• At this stage, baby’s mouth fills with milk & baby swallows every 1 to 2 sucks – This is active feeding
• Active feeding may be heard as a soft ‘’kah’’ sound as baby swallows
• Baby may have frequent rest periods during this active feeding phase
• As feed progresses, milk volume decreases, fat content increases & the sucking pattern changes to more of a quiver (the fat rich milk moves down the ducts)

This Facebook video demonstrates what active feeding looks like and the signs that baby is deeply latched to your breast.

Feeding helplines and digital advice tools

• National Childbirth Trust (NCT) – breastfeeding and antenatal support, including information about their breastfeeding helpline, open every day from 8am – 10pm: 0300 3300 770
• The Breasthttp://Tel: 0844 412 4665feeding Network – breastfeeding helpline, open every day from 9.30am – 9.30pm: 0300 456 2421
• Bengali/Sylheti supporter line: 0300 456 2421
• Drugs in breastmilk helpline: 0844 412 4665 (answerphone on the line)
• La Leche League – 24 hour breastfeeding helpline: 0845 120 2918
• Association of Breastfeeding Mothers (ABM) – breastfeeding helpline: 0870 401 7711
• Unicef’s Baby Friendly Initiative
• Start4Life – Breastfeeding

If you are unsure whether your baby is breastfeeding well please contact us via the contact details below.