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Written by

Gina Conley, MS

Breastfeeding Tips for New Moms: An IBCLC’s Simple Guide

  • Breastfeeding, Motherhood, Podcast

Table of Contents

Becoming a breastfeeding parent can feel like embarking on an entirely new adventure—especially in those first few weeks postpartum. Between understanding your baby’s hunger cues, nailing the perfect latch, and decoding diaper output, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. In Episode 116 of the MamasteFit Podcast, lactation consultant Andrea Syms‑Brown IBCLC shares practical, streamlined guidance to help you feel confident and supported every step of the way. Here’s a detailed recap of her top breastfeeding tips for new moms.

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1. Preparing to Breastfeed: Build Your “Pro” & “Home” Teams

Before your baby arrives, set yourself up for success with these three key actions:

  1. Take Every Class You Can
    From hospital-based sessions to online workshops, flooding your brain with diverse perspectives helps you feel prepared. Think of it like researching a vacation destination—each resource reveals new tips and tricks.

  2. Have the Conversation with Your Care Provider
    Let your obstetrician, midwife, or doula know your goals around skin‑to‑skin time and immediate breastfeeding after birth. When the whole team is on the same page, they’re more likely to support your preferences in those first critical hours.

  3. Assemble Your Teams

    • Pro Team: OB/midwife, doula, newborn nurse, and—crucially—an IBCLC, who can offer gold‑standard lactation support.

    • Home Team: Friends, family, or neighbors who can run errands (diapers, maxi‑pads, snacks!) so you can focus on your baby.

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2. The First Latch: Comfort Is King

Early soreness is normal, but painful “pinchy” latch signals need an adjustment. Andrea’s simple litmus test:

  • Look at Your Baby: Do they appear relaxed, with a wide, fish‑lip–style mouth and full cheeks?

  • Check Your Body: If you were in your baby’s exact position drinking, would you be comfortable? (Andrea jokes that if tequila makes you tip your chin up, a hungry newborn will lift theirs too!)

If the answer is “no,” ask for help—at the hospital, home birth setting, or via a virtual IBCLC consult—right away. A small reposition can often eliminate nipple damage and prevent clogged ducts.

3. How to Know Your Baby Is Eating Enough

Without a bottle full of milk to measure, rely on these tried‑and‑true indicators:

  1. Diaper Output: Number of wet and soiled diapers should roughly match your baby’s age in days (e.g., five diapers by day 5).

  2. Breast Softness: After feeding, the breast near your nipple should feel noticeably softer—an easy way to tell milk transfer happened.

  3. Baby’s Behavior: A “milk‑drunk” baby who drifts off nursing with relaxed limbs is a good sign that they’re satisfied.

Mom‑Hack: Instead of logging every feed and diaper change, drop a stack of 10 diapers in the nursery each morning—count what’s left at night for a quick tally!

4. Troubleshooting & Red Flags

  • Normal “Growth Spurts”: Baby may nurse nearly nonstop for a few days—totally expected as their appetite develops.

  • When to Seek IBCLC Support:

    • Persistent nipple pain or damage beyond day 4.

    • Baby isn’t gaining weight by week 2–3 despite seeming to feed.

Early intervention prevents “red‑flag” scenarios of excessive weight loss or long‑term supply challenges.

5. Simplifying with the “Comfort Rule”

Across all stages, Andrea’s golden principle holds true:

“If your baby looks comfortable and you’d be comfortable in their exact position drinking, trust the latch.”

By focusing on ease and relaxation—rather than rigid bullet points—you can intuitively solve most feeding hiccups.

6. Supporting an Extended Breastfeeding Journey

If your goal extends beyond the newborn phase—whether three months, six months, or longer—plan for:

  • Pumping Strategies: Build a freezer stash or allow caregivers to bottle‑feed your milk.

  • Quality Gear: Invest in non‑compressive, supportive bras (like Bodily’s Everything Bra) and comfortable underwear to prevent clogged ducts and ease nursing sessions.

  • Ongoing Education: Virtual drop‑in classes and community groups can keep you motivated and informed.

Final Breastfeeding Tips for New Moms

“The best thing you can do for a successful breastfeeding journey is educate yourself in advance. Search for ‘breastfeeding class near me’ (or online!), and let trusted professionals guide you through those first four to six weeks.” —Andrea Syms‑Brown IBCLC

Embrace the simplicity of observing comfort, tracking output, and reaching out for support when things hurt or stall. With the right mindset, team, and tools, you—and your baby—can enjoy a confident, joyous breastfeeding experience.

Explore Our Postpartum Fitness Programs

Additional Resources

Learn more about Andrea’s prenatal and lactation classes at babyinthefamily.com.

Discover supportive, evidence‑based nursing wear and supplements from Bodily. Use code MAMASTEFIT20 to save on orders over $135

Breastfeeding in the Early Postpartum: Overcoming Challenges with Dr. Morgan MacDermott

Breastfeeding Tips & Essentials for New Moms: Gina’s Journey with Baby #4

Breastfeeding and Fitness Tips: Maintain Your Supply and Exercise

MamasteFit Podcast Ep 13: Breastfeeding Journeys: Exclusive BF, Pumping, & Struggles w/Nursing

My Top 3 Nursing-Friendly Workout Bras

How to Prevent Clogged Ducts While Breastfeeding: Tips and Strategies for Nursing

Frequently Asked Questions

How to ensure successful breastfeeding as a first time mom?
The biggest thing you can do is educate yourself before baby arrives — take every class you can and let your provider know you'd like skin‑to‑skin and early breastfeeding. Build a "pro team" (your OB or midwife, doula, newborn nurse, and an IBCLC for gold‑standard lactation support) and a "home team" of friends or family who can run errands so you can focus on feeding. From there, let comfort be your guide: if baby looks relaxed and you'd be comfortable in their position, the latch is likely working. And don't wait to ask for help if something hurts — early support prevents most early problems.
Do's and don'ts when breastfeeding?
Do watch for a relaxed, fish‑lip latch with full cheeks, and check in with your own body — if you wouldn't be comfortable drinking in baby's position, reposition. Do track wet and dirty diapers (they should roughly match baby's age in days) and notice when your breast feels softer after a feed — both are reassuring signs baby is getting enough. Don't push through a painful, "pinchy" latch or nipple damage that lingers past day 4; that's your cue to reach out to an IBCLC. And don't get bogged down logging every single feed — a simple trick is setting out 10 diapers each morning and counting what's left at night.
What is the hardest month of breastfeeding?
For many parents, the first few weeks postpartum are the steepest part of the learning curve — you're decoding hunger cues, dialing in the latch, and may hit growth spurts where baby wants to nurse nearly nonstop for a few days (which is completely normal as their appetite develops). Most professionals focus their support on those first four to six weeks for exactly this reason. It usually starts to feel more intuitive after that as you and baby find your rhythm, so leaning on your team early can make that first month much more manageable.
What foods increase milk supply fast?
Some foods called galactagogues — like oats, brewer's yeast, and flaxseed — may help support your milk supply, which is why they show up in our lactation power ball recipe. That said, food is a smaller piece of the puzzle than how much milk is actually being removed: baby's latch and frequent, effective milk removal influence your supply far more than any single snack. A lactation‑support snack is a great way to get extra calories and nutrition when eating feels hard with a newborn — just don't expect it to be a quick fix on its own.