Hold the baby so his or her head is comfortably supported and near your breast. You can use a boppy pillow, or a regular pillow under your arm to help with this position, and so your arms don't get tired.
Help your son or daughter latch on to the breast. Babies will instinctively turn their heads and open their mouths if they know a breast is near by. Try brushing your nipple on their bottom lip, and your baby should respond. Make sure that your nipple and most of your areola is sealed in your baby's mouth. When there is proper latch on, it stimulates your milk glands to produce milk.
There shouldn't be any pain. If there is, try the latch on technique again. If all else fails try a different position or switch sides. Be patient.
Once you have found proper latch on, it will take anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes for your milk to “let down“. The best way to tell if your baby is getting milk is to listen for sounds of swallowing, or if your baby is acting satisfied. You may also feel a tingling sensation, mild uterine cramping, and milk may leak out of your other breast. These are all positive signs that your milk is being released.
When your baby is finished on the first breast, generally around 10 to 20 minutes, break the suction by gently sticking your finger into the side of your baby's mouth and pulling it towards your baby's ear. This will help break the suction. Don't just pull it out, this can damage your nipples and hurt them for future feedings.
Burp your baby to get rid of any air that your baby may have swallowed. There are many techniques for this. You can place the baby on your shoulder and gently pat their back while supporting their head. You can also do the same thing while the baby is in a sitting position, or lying on their tummy ( for older infants). “Tummy time” is a great way to stimulate gas release due to the pressure on the baby's stomach. While lying on his or her back you can also to the “bicycle” with their legs, this can help release stubborn gas. Mylicon gas relief drops can also help, and are safe to use at every feeding.
Switch to your other breast . You can usually tell when one side has “run out”, because your baby will begin to suck harder. So it's always important to alternate which breast you offer first at every feeding. This helps to keep both breasts equally stimulated.
Because milk production continues even when your baby's not feeding. It is important to consider using a nursing pad, such as Johnson's Nursing Pads, that easily and discretely fit into your bra. You can also use Medela's breast shields.
