Breastfeeding Basics: Latch, Building Supply, and Fixing the Common Problems

Breastfeeding gets called "the most natural thing" — but natural doesn't mean easy. Nearly every early difficulty is solvable, once you know where the problem actually is.

1. Latch: pain is almost always positioning

Correct feeding shouldn't hurt continuously. A few seconds of tugging is normal; persistent stabbing pain, a flattened or blanched nipple, cracking and bleeding almost always point to a shallow latch.

What a good latch looks like:

A wide-open mouth (like a yawn), lower lip flanged out
Not just the nipple but much of the areola — more of the underside than the top
Chin pressed into the breast, nose just touching or clear
Rhythmic swallowing sounds, not clicking
The nipple comes out round, not flattened or creased

To fix it: line your baby's nose up with the nipple, wait for the wide gape, then bring baby swiftly to the breast (bring baby to breast, not breast to baby). If it hurts, break the suction gently with a finger at the corner of the mouth and start again. Don't tough it out.

2. Supply: driven by demand, not by broth

Milk production follows one rule: the more milk removed, the more made. Only three things genuinely help:

Feed frequently: 8–12+ times daily in the newborn period, including at night — prolactin peaks overnight, so don't skip feeds chasing sleep
Remove milk effectively: a good latch, and finishing one side before switching (the later milk is fattier)
Look after yourself: enough calories, fluids and rest

Rich soups don't make milk — fat isn't the raw material. Another feed beats another bowl every time.

3. Judging "is she getting enough?"

Not by bottle markings — by these three:

Nappies: from day 5, six or more heavy wet nappies daily
Growth curve: tracking steadily along baby's own centile (up to 7% weight loss in the first week is normal, back to birth weight by around 2 weeks)
Demeanour: relaxed and satisfied after feeds, alert and lively when awake

If all three are good, it's enough — even if you no longer "feel full." Softer breasts after supply regulates is normal, not a shortage.

4. Common problems, quick fixes

Engorgement: warmth or hand-expressing a little before feeding to soften the areola (so baby can latch), cold compresses after to reduce swelling. Don't massage aggressively — it causes tissue oedema and makes things worse.

Cracked nipples: fix the latch first (that's the cause), then express a drop of milk onto the nipple and air-dry; medical-grade lanolin helps. Pump temporarily if the pain is severe.

Blocked ducts: feed more often on that side, position baby with their chin pointing toward the lump, and stroke gently toward the nipple. Fever, redness and flu-like aching suggest mastitis — see a doctor.

Refusing the breast / nipple confusion: avoid dummies and bottles in the first 4–6 weeks where possible; if it's already happened, bridge with cup or finger feeding and plenty of skin-to-skin.

5. When to get help

Poor weight gain, unrelenting pain, mastitis symptoms, a baby who can't latch, or suspected tongue-tie — see a lactation consultant or paediatrician, and sooner rather than later. One early professional session often saves weeks of struggling alone.

One last thing

Breastfeeding has real benefits, but how you feed is not a scorecard for how much you love your child. Low supply, medication, exhaustion, returning to work — a mother who chooses formula or mixed feeding for any reason owes no one an explanation. A fed baby and a mother who is still standing: that's the goal.

Compiled from mainstream lactation practice. It doesn't replace individual assessment by a lactation consultant or doctor.