The most useful preparation for breastfeeding isn't buying things — it's knowing what to expect and who to call. A breastfeeding class at around 6 to 7 months pregnant, a birth plan that asks for skin-to-skin contact for at least the first hour and until the first feed, and a short list of contacts for feeding help make the early days much less bewildering.
Breastfeeding is a skill you and your baby learn together, and most early problems are easier to sort out with help early. This guide covers classes, what happens in the first hour and first days, whether to express colostrum before the birth, what to buy, and how to set up a support plan.
Should you do a breastfeeding class in pregnancy?
A class is one of the best things you can do. The Australian Breastfeeding Association's breastfeeding education classes run for about 3 hours and cover practical skills such as holding positions, hunger cues and milk intake, plus common challenges. Many include a demonstration by a local mum and her baby. It suggests booking when you're about 6 to 7 months pregnant, so you have time to add breastfeeding-friendly steps to your birth plan.
Shorter online preparation sessions of about 1.5 hours are also available, including a session for parents expecting twins or more. Partners and support people can attend free, and they're strongly encouraged to come — a partner who knows how breastfeeding works can help a lot at 3 am.
In the UK, the NHS guide to antenatal classes says free NHS classes usually start 8 to 10 weeks before your due date; ask your midwife what's available locally and whether feeding is covered. Wherever you live, ask your midwife or hospital about breastfeeding classes.
What happens in the first hour after birth?
Straight after birth, your baby can be placed on your bare chest, skin to skin. The Australian Breastfeeding Association's guide to skin-to-skin and the first feed recommends continuing for at least the first hour after birth, and until after the first feed. Unicef UK's Baby Friendly Initiative gives the same standard, and the WHO recommends starting breastfeeding within 1 hour of birth.
The NHS guide to skin-to-skin says it calms your baby, helps regulate their temperature, breathing and heart rate, stimulates feeding instincts and supports your milk supply.
What your baby may do
Many babies are quietly alert in this time. Signs they're getting ready to feed include:
- moving their head from side to side
- bringing their hands to their mouth or sucking their fingers
- licking or nuzzling the breast
- gradually wriggling towards the nipple.
Some babies take a while and may rest before trying again. The Australian Breastfeeding Association says routine checks such as weighing and measuring can often wait.
Things to put in your birth plan
- Skin-to-skin straight after birth, for at least the first hour and until after the first feed.
- Routine checks delayed until after the first feed where possible.
- If you need medical care first, skin-to-skin with your partner or another adult until you're ready.
- Help from a midwife with the first feeds and with hand expressing.
If you have a caesarean, the NHS guide to the first few days says you should still be able to have skin-to-skin straight after delivery. If your baby needs special care, any amount of touch helps, and you can start skin-to-skin as soon as you're both able.
Keeping skin-to-skin safe
Unicef UK says staff should keep checking your baby's breathing, colour and tone during skin-to-skin, keep their head supported so the airway stays clear, and make sure they can't slip or become trapped by bedding or your body. You'll be semi-reclined rather than lying flat. Tell a midwife straight away if your baby's colour or breathing changes, or they seem floppy, or you feel very drowsy.
What should you expect in the first days of breastfeeding?
Knowing what's normal ahead of time helps. The NHS says:
- Colostrum is your first milk, usually thick and golden, and so concentrated that about a teaspoon per feed is enough.
- Feeds are frequent — at least 8 to 12 times in 24 hours in the first weeks, every 1 to 3 hours at first.
- Your breasts feel fuller around 2 to 4 days after birth as more milk comes in.
Before you go home, ask a midwife to watch a full feed and show you hand expressing. The WHO recommends breast milk only for the first 6 months, then continuing to breastfeed alongside solid foods up to 2 years or beyond — for as long as suits you and your baby. For the day-by-day detail, see breastfeeding in the first week and latch and positioning.
Should you express colostrum before your baby is born?
Expressing colostrum in pregnancy (sometimes called colostrum harvesting) means collecting and freezing small amounts so they're ready if your baby needs extra feeds after birth. The Australian Breastfeeding Association's antenatal expressing page says it may help:
- if you have diabetes in pregnancy, as your baby has a higher chance of low blood sugar after birth
- if your baby has a condition that may make feeding harder, such as a cleft lip or palate, or certain heart or neurological conditions.
Timing and safety matter. The Australian Breastfeeding Association's diabetes page says research shows it's safe for women with diabetes to express from around 36 weeks, and most people are advised to wait until late pregnancy. Always talk to your midwife or obstetrician before you start — they can tell you whether it suits your pregnancy and how to store and label colostrum.
Hand expressing usually works best. Collect the drops with a small syringe, spoon or cup. Amounts are very small, and collecting only a little doesn't mean you'll have problems breastfeeding later.
What do you need to buy for breastfeeding?
Less than you might think:
- Two or three comfortable bras. The NHS page on sore nipples suggests cotton, non-underwired bras so air can circulate.
- Breast pads for leaks, changed often.
- A comfortable feeding spot with back support, a footstool or cushion, and room for a water bottle and snacks.
- Tops that open easily at the front or lift from the waist.
The same NHS page advises against nipple shields and breast shells because they don't improve attachment. Many families find they can wait on a breast pump until they know whether they'll need one; your midwife or a lactation consultant can advise. See newborn essentials and the hospital bag checklist for the rest of your kit.
How do you build a breastfeeding support plan?
A support plan simply means knowing who to call and who will help at home.
- Save contacts in your phone now: your midwife, the maternity unit, your GP or child-health nurse, a local lactation consultant and a breastfeeding helpline (the Australian Breastfeeding Association on 1800 686 268 in Australia, the National Breastfeeding Helpline on 0300 100 0212 in the UK).
- Find a local support group before the birth. The Australian Breastfeeding Association suggests going to one while pregnant to meet breastfeeding educators and other parents.
- Talk with your partner about practical jobs: bringing water and food, nappies, burping, settling between feeds, and fielding visitors. See partner support.
- Plan for the evenings and nights. Frequent feeds, including cluster feeding, are normal in the early weeks.
- Agree when to ask for help — for example, if feeds hurt, your baby is very sleepy, or wet nappies aren't increasing.
When should you ask for breastfeeding help after the birth?
Call your local emergency number (000 in Australia, 999 in the UK, 911 in the US) now if your newborn is struggling to breathe, has blue, grey or mottled skin, is floppy or hard to wake, isn't feeding, or has a temperature of 38°C (100.4°F) or higher — these are emergency signs in the NHS guide to whether your baby is seriously ill.
Contact your midwife the same day if your baby has fewer wet nappies than expected, looks yellow, or seems hungry after most feeds. The NHS jaundice page says jaundice in the first 24 hours of life is an emergency — call your local emergency number (000 in Australia, 999 in the UK, 911 in the US).
Get feeding support early — your midwife, a lactation consultant or a breastfeeding helpline (the Australian Breastfeeding Association on 1800 686 268 in Australia, the National Breastfeeding Helpline on 0300 100 0212 in the UK) — if feeding hurts, your nipples are cracked, or you're unsure the latch is right. Early help usually makes the next weeks easier.
