A Guide to The Four Stages of Breastfeeding and How It Gets Easier Over Time -

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You should always seek medical advice from a physician or other qualified health provider for any questions pertaining to breastfeeding and milk storage. Any information found in this post, on this blog, and shared on any resources created by Mom Wife and Everyday Life is based on my personal experience as a mom and should not be taken as professional advice. The contents of this website are for general informational purposes.

Breastfeeding a newborn on day one versus a twelve-month-old on day 365 is a completely different experience.

If you are on day one of breastfeeding and ready to quit I urge you to first read this article and understand that over time breastfeeding will drastically change in many different ways.

Take a look at the evolution and what you can expect during a typical breastfeeding journey over time.

I am breaking down breastfeeding into 4 main categories or phases.

Newborn Birth to 3 weeks

Infant 3 weeks to 3 months

Baby 3 months to 12 months

12 Month+ 12 months and beyond

These are the times I believe you experience the most changes during breastfeeding and how I would best divide the experience overall.

One major positive is that breastfeeding gets easier over time. I would honestly say the first week is the hardest. Therefore if you can make it through that you will do just fine!

For those mommas that want to be successful with breastfeeding, I hope this information is an encouragement to you.

Newborn: Birth to 3 weeks old

Let’s first talk about your first introduction to breastfeeding. I think the first time you nurse your baby can go many different ways. Some mommas may find it very natural and comfortable. Others though will find it strange and foreign.

I remember thinking I don’t really know what I am doing here, but I guess let’s just go for it!

Your nurses will be very helpful and encouraging at first if you need assistance or feel a bit lost.

My advice would be to put your initial feelings aside and just go for it.

When you first start nursing your baby you probably won’t have a large milk supply and will be feeding your baby colostrum. This is the yellow early milk, later it will look more like traditional milk.

Your baby doesn’t need a ton because colostrum is extra fatty and nutritious to get your baby by until your milk fully comes in.

During this phase, I didn’t feel like I was feeding my baby much. It sort of felt like we were just practicing, if that makes any sense.

Sometime around day 2 to day 5 your milk will come in. You should be prepared for this. It can come in fast and you can experience engorgement. My recommendation is to frequently feed your baby. While doing so make sure to massage out any lumps you may feel.

You also need to make sure you are wearing an appropriate bra. Your breasts could drastically change in size quickly. A bra that is too tight will be absolutely miserable. This is why I advise if you are between sizes on nursing bras or not exactly sure what to get size up. Never size down and try to squeeze into a bra.

As far as actual nursing goes you are going to experience some pain at first. People that say pain equals a bad latch are right to a certain point, but also do not expect breastfeeding to be completely pain-free.

When you first latch your baby to your breast expect a little bit of pain. Give it a chance though and don’t freak out. If things are going well, the pain will disappear. If the pain does not go away after a minute or two the latch is likely bad and you should try restarting.

During the newborn phase, your nipples are going to be sore and tender. They simply are not used to the act of breastfeeding. I recommend using a nipple balm after every feeding in the beginning. You want to do everything possible to avoid dry, cracked, or bleeding nipples.

Breastfeeding is difficult enough. Take care of your body to keep it in the best shape possible with a nipple balm.

When you first start breastfeeding your milk is not regulated. Your body is trying to figure out exactly how much to produce. You will experience leaking at times, which makes it very helpful to use breast pads to catch any moisture and help keep your bra dry. You can find disposable and reusable breast pads.

Now let’s talk about your baby and a few things you can expect during the newborn phase.

Your baby is going to need to most support and assistance during this phase. Later they will become an expert. Right now though they need a lot of head support. They may need you to shove your breast in their mouth and hold it just right for them. You should always make sure their nose is clear for breathing while nursing.

Your baby may fall asleep often while nursing. It is up to you exactly how rigid you are about this. Some moms are comfortable letting them stay on the breast all day. I was cautious about this. I wanted to make sure to give my nipples breaks to avoid pain.

I wanted to nurse my baby and get them off to get that break.

If your baby is falling asleep during nursing sessions you can do different things to keep them awake. I would change their diaper and help wake them up with the cold wipes. Some people undress their baby and put a wet cloth on them. You can even tickle their toes. This is up to you entirely.

It is important though that your baby is eating and not just sleeping all the time. Your baby needs to gain weight.

Nursing a newborn can take a while. They are typically their slowest during this phase. With time they will usually get more efficient.

The time it takes to nurse a newborn can vary greatly. It is dependent on your baby as well as your milk production and letdown.

A newborn could nurse anywhere from 15 to 45 minutes. I think 20 to 25 minutes is the sweet spot, but again this will be unique to mom and baby.

Pay attention to your baby’s body language. If they start to lose interest or you see them relaxing this could mean they are full.

Over time you will learn your baby more and more.

These first three weeks are going to be a lot to handle. There will be sleepless nights and tears. If you can push through the first 3 weeks of breastfeeding that’s great. You are likely going to be successful with breastfeeding.

If you are not able to make it through them that is ok! A fed baby is a happy baby. If breastfeeding does not work out for you give yourself grace and move on.

It is more important to be a sane, happy mom that gets to love on her baby rather than one that is consumed only by the struggle to breastfeed.

Infant: 3 weeks to 3 months old

If you are hitting the infant stage then you survived the first 3 weeks. Things are going to get a bit easier at this point.

Your milk is not completely regulated yet. Usually, this happens around month 3 however it is going to start moving in that direction. You will likely experience a lot less leaking.

When you do find yourself leaking during feedings take the opportunity to collect that milk with the Haakaa. Learn more by reading The Haakaa: a Simple, Affordable, and Effective tool for Breastfeeding Moms.

By now your nipples have toughened up a bit. You are probably still using your nipple balm, but it isn’t necessary after every feeding. Maybe you still use it regularly or maybe just a couple of times a day. Either way, as you use it less you have one less step to worry about.

By now you know if your baby is gaining weight and thriving. If that is the case you should be feeling more confident in your abilities to feed your baby. Back when your baby was an infant you may have experience self-doubt at times.

During the infant period, your baby is starting to grow stronger and get more head control. They are likely getting more efficient during nursing sessions and decreasing the time necessary. This is helpful in your breastfeeding sessions.

During this time you are finding your rhythm with your baby and starting to get comfortable with breastfeeding.

Baby: 3 months to 12 months old

This third phase of breastfeeding I call the baby stage. We are talking about the range of 3 to 12 months old.

This is what I consider the prime time of nursing.

Your milk should be regulated. You likely rarely if at all experience any leaking.

Your baby is getting stronger all the time.

You have truly found your rhythm and you know exactly what works for you and your baby.

The main challenge you will experience is teething. All babies react differently. Some will bite you. This is terrifying as the momma.

I hate to even think about it. There are different strategies you can take when it comes to experiencing biting. You can look further into that and find what you are comfortable with.

The other major milestone during this period is the introduction of solid foods.

Make sure to introduce food slowly so that you don’t lose your milk supply.

Personally, my goal was to make it to 12 months of breastfeeding so it was important to me to keep my supply up.

12+ months old

If you made it to this point congratulations! You have done a full year of breastfeeding.

You are a fully experienced breastfeeder….not sure if that is an actual word.

At this point, your baby is probably eating a good amount of solid food. Your breastmilk is still fully nutritious, but it is not as essential as it once was.

Some babies will start to use nursing more so as a comfort or a snack.

They are old enough to literally tell you that they want to nurse.

Breastfeeding can become more of an emotional attachment.

Breastfeeding beyond the first year is great. Weaning at a year is also great.

You are amazing for sharing your body with another being for this long.

At some point this phase of breastfeeding will come to an end with weaning. If you want to read more about that check out my article How to Stop Breastfeeding and Gently Wean Your Baby.