Breastfeeding Your Newborn: Dr Sonali Santhanam's Practical Tips

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MotherhoodIndia Team

Trusted guidance on women’s health, pregnancy and child care from the MotherhoodIndia team, helping families make informed healthcare choices.

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Breastfeeding a newborn is natural, but it does not always feel easy from the beginning. In the first few days, many mothers need time to find a comfortable position, achieve a deep latch and understand their baby’s feeding cues. Drawing on her clinical experience supporting new mothers, Dr Sonali Santhanam shares practical guidance to make the early breastfeeding period feel more manageable and less overwhelming.

Best Breastfeeding Positions for a Newborn

There is no single best position for every mother and baby. The right position is the one that allows your baby to latch deeply, feed effectively and stay comfortable while you remain well supported.

Common breastfeeding positions for a newborn include:

• Cradle hold: Your baby lies across your front and is supported by the arm on the same side as the breast being used. This position often becomes more comfortable once the latch is established.
• Cross-cradle hold: Your baby is supported with the opposite arm, giving you greater control over the head and neck. This can be particularly useful when learning how to position a newborn for a deeper latch.
• Football or rugby hold: Your baby is tucked alongside your body under your arm. The football hold can be useful after a caesarean birth because it keeps pressure away from the abdomen.
• Side-lying position: You and your baby lie facing each other on your sides. This can be comfortable during recovery after birth and for feeds when you need more physical rest.

Whichever position you choose, bring your baby towards the breast rather than leaning your body towards the baby. Good positioning should support an effective latch without persistent nipple pain.

For a broader understanding of feeding in infancy, you can also read about newborn nutrition and breastfeeding.

Is Side-Lying Breastfeeding Safe for a Newborn?

Side-lying breastfeeding can be a useful feeding position when both mother and baby are positioned comfortably and the baby is actively feeding. The important safety consideration is what happens if either of you falls asleep.

After the feed, the safest place for a newborn to sleep is on a separate, firm and flat sleep surface without pillows, loose blankets, soft toys or other items around the baby. Avoid leaving your baby unattended on an adult bed after a side-lying feed.

If you frequently become very sleepy during night feeds, discuss safer feeding and sleep arrangements with your paediatrician or lactation consultant.

What to Expect in the First Days of Breastfeeding a Newborn

The first few days of newborn baby breastfeeding are a period of adjustment for both mother and baby. Difficulty with positioning or latch is common early on and does not necessarily mean breastfeeding will remain difficult.

The first milk produced after birth is colostrum, a thick and concentrated milk that is naturally suited to a newborn’s early nutritional needs. Over the following days, milk production gradually increases and transitions towards mature breast milk.

Newborns usually feed frequently, often every two to three hours or more. Some babies also go through cluster feeding, where several feeds happen close together, particularly at certain times of the day.

Frequent feeding helps stimulate milk production and does not automatically mean your baby is not getting enough milk. In the early weeks, it is more useful to look at feeding effectiveness, your baby’s behaviour, wet nappies and weight gain together.

For more practical guidance beyond feeding, these essential newborn care tips for first-time parents cover common concerns during the first weeks at home.

Dr Sonali’s Top Practical Tips for New Mothers

These breastfeeding newborn tips focus on the issues that commonly make the biggest difference during the early weeks.

1. Focus on a deep latch

   A good latch technique means your baby takes more than just the nipple into the mouth. The baby’s mouth should be opened widely, the lips should turn outward and the chin should remain close to the breast. Persistent pain throughout a feed is a reason to have the latch checked.

2. Feed according to your baby’s cues

   Feeding on demand can help support milk production and allows the baby to feed according to hunger. Very young or sleepy newborns may sometimes need to be woken for feeds, particularly before they have regained their birth weight. Your paediatrician can advise based on your baby’s growth.

3. Recognise early hunger cues

   Rooting, opening the mouth, lip smacking and bringing the hands towards the mouth are common hunger cues. Crying is usually a later sign of hunger and can sometimes make settling and latching more difficult.

4. Make your own position comfortable

   Support your back and arms, keep your shoulders relaxed and bring the baby towards you. Repeated feeds in an uncomfortable position can contribute to back, neck and shoulder strain.

5. Give yourself time to learn

   Breastfeeding is a skill that mother and baby learn together. Needing help with positioning, latch or milk supply in the first few days is common and is not a sign that breastfeeding has failed.

6. Accept practical support

   A partner or family member can help with burping, nappy changes, meals and household responsibilities so that you have more time to feed, rest and recover after birth.

If you want a broader overview of feeding benefits and techniques, the full guide to breastfeeding covers the wider breastfeeding journey beyond the first newborn days.

When to Call Your Doctor or a Lactation Consultant

Some early breastfeeding difficulties improve as positioning and feeding become more familiar. Others are better assessed rather than simply waiting for them to resolve.

Speak with your doctor, paediatrician or lactation consultant if:

• Breastfeeding remains painful throughout feeds
• Your nipples are persistently cracked or bleeding
• Your baby repeatedly struggles to stay latched
• Your baby appears unusually sleepy and difficult to wake for feeds
• There are concerns about poor weight gain
• Your baby has fewer newborn wet diapers than expected for their age
• You are worried that your baby is not feeding effectively

Sometimes a simple adjustment in positioning or latch is enough. In other cases, the feeding team may need to assess your baby’s mouth, sucking pattern, weight gain or milk transfer.

If you have questions about feeding, sleep, nappies or other early concerns, these FAQs on newborn care provide additional guidance for the first weeks with your baby.

Motherhood Hospitals also provides specialist newborn care through its neonatology services when babies require additional medical assessment or support after birth.

FAQs on Newborn Breastfeeding