What’s Normal in the First Month of Breastfeeding? - Ep 11
The first month of breastfeeding can feel completely unpredictable.
One day your baby feeds constantly. The next day they barely wake to feed. Your breasts feel full, then suddenly soft. And every small change can make a new mum wonder if something is wrong.
In this episode, Katie and Joh talk about what is actually normal in those early weeks.
Episode Summary
In this episode of The Latch Revolution, Katie James and Johanna Sargeant explore what typically happens during the first month of breastfeeding and why this period can feel so confusing for new mothers.
They discuss how babies often feed in very unpredictable patterns during the early weeks. Some days a baby may feed almost continuously, while on other days they may sleep more and feed far less. This variation can feel alarming to new mums, but it often reflects normal growth patterns and recovery cycles rather than a problem.
Katie and Joh explain why focusing on nappies and overall weight trends is far more helpful than watching daily changes in feeding frequency or weight. They discuss how frequent weighing can create unnecessary anxiety and why weekly weight checks are often more appropriate once feeding is established.
The conversation also explores the importance of recognising feeding cues and how easily these can be missed, especially when families are busy or when babies are more sleepy. Katie describes early, mid and late feeding cues, while Joh explains how subtle head movements and searching behaviours often signal that a baby is looking for the breast.
They also unpack what is happening hormonally in the mother’s body during the first month. In these early weeks breastfeeding is still hormonally driven, with frequent feeding stimulating prolactin and helping establish long-term milk production. As the weeks progress, the system gradually shifts toward supply-and-demand regulation.
Finally, they discuss why introducing bottles, dummies, or other feeding tools in the first weeks requires nuance. While these tools can sometimes help families in specific situations, understanding the physiology of milk production in the first month is key to protecting long-term milk supply.
In This Episode, We Cover:
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Why feeding patterns can feel unpredictable in the first month
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Why daily baby weight checks can increase anxiety for breastfeeding mums
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How nappies and output help confirm that a baby is feeding well
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The early, mid and late feeding cues newborn babies show
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Why sleepy babies can sometimes miss feeding opportunities
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What is happening hormonally in a mother’s body during the first month of breastfeeding
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How prolactin and frequent feeding help establish milk supply
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When breastfeeding shifts from hormonal regulation to supply and demand
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Why introducing bottles or dummies in the early weeks requires consideration
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How understanding breastfeeding physiology helps protect milk supply
Want More?
Courses for birth professionals:
Decoding the Suck: Gentle support for babies with sucking difficulties
thelatchrevolution.com
Breastfeeding & Lactation: The Fundamentals
katiejames.site
For pregnancy and new mums and parents:
The Feeding Couch® – Breastfeeding SOS
katiejames.site
Katie: @katiejameslactation
Johanna: @milkandmotherhood
YouTube
The Latch Revolution
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Medical Disclaimer
The content of this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for personalised medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Listeners should always seek the guidance of their own healthcare provider, midwife, or lactation consultant with any questions they may have regarding their own situation or that of their clients. Katie James and Johanna Sargeant do not accept responsibility for any decisions made based on this content.
Keywords
first month breastfeeding, newborn feeding patterns, breastfeeding frequency newborn, breastfeeding feeding cues, newborn nappies breastfeeding, prolactin milk production, supply and demand breastfeeding, early breastfeeding weeks, breastfeeding weight gain newborn, breastfeeding physiology first month
