For the first 2-5 days after your baby is born you will make a small amount of colostrum, which is sufficient for a healthy term baby. Colostrum is rich in nutrients. Around day 3-5 your milk will come in. First time mothers' milk often comes in about a day later than mothers with more than one child.

It is common to experience some nipple tenderness in the first few days after birth, however, if nipple pain persists, assessment by your care provider or a lactation consultant is beneficial.

Babies will show several cues to let you know they are ready for breastfeeding. Early feeding cues include waking, mouthing, soft sounds , rooting & hand-mouth activity. Crying is the last cue. Feeding your baby when he or she is calm and demonstrates these early feeding cues generally leads to a more successful & enjoyable breastfeeding experience.

Because breastfeeding is innate, most babies will eventually latch & feed. Some babies latch enthusiastically, while others only with a great deal of patience & encouragement! It may help to first stimulate your baby's inborn feeding behaviours. Patience and persistence are key!

There are multiple reasons why mothers provide breast milk alternatives to their baby's. Any breast milk you can provide to your baby is beneficial!

Relactation is possible! The most important strategy is frequent breast stimulation & milk removal by breastfeeding and/or milk expression. For some mothers, galactogogues (a food, herb, or medication to stimulate milk production) may be necessary.

If you know in advance when the baby is expected, you can spend some time before the baby comes stimulating milk production. There are a few 'induced lactation protocols' available. A lactation consultant can help you customize a personalized plan based on your specific needs while taking into consideration your health & fertility history.

Weaning is considered for many reasons, and the approach is often determined by the mother's specific reasons for wanting or needing to wean. There are 2 main approaches. Child-led: your child gradually shows less interest in breast feeding and eventually stops over time. Parent-led: the parent starts by decreasing number breastfeeding sessions every few days or according to breast comfort. Some milk expression may need to be done during this time.

One of the most important principles of milk production is: More milk out = more milk being made! Breastfeed more frequently when you are with your baby, and either hand express or pump every few hours while away. Some moms find it beneficial to add a 'power pumping' session to increase/maintain their supply.

Some factors to consider are: having an appropriate pump, a correct pump flange size, an adequate number and length of pumping sessions, and using breast massage & compression with pumping to name a few.

Most medications are perfectly safe to take while breastfeeding, however it is important to check reliable resources for up to date information and have these discussions with your care provider. InfantRisk Center and La Leche League International are 2 great resources for extra information on medication safety while breastfeeding.