The first breastfeed.

Lots of mums start out intending to breastfeed their babies.  Sadly though, only a minority end up doing so for more than a few days.  How can mothers-to-be improve their chances of getting breastfeeding off to a good start?


Top of the list when it comes to starting out right is having skin to skin and giving the baby access to your breast as soon as possible after birth.

A study undertaken in 1990 showed that 24 out of 38 mother/infant dyads who had immediate contact after birth were breastfeeding effectively within 1 hour.  Pairs who were separated (20 minutes after birth for a 20 minute duration) fared very differently.  Only 7 out of 34 suckled effectively.  (Righard and Alade) 


The study recommended that:

'contact between mother and infant should be uninterrupted during the first hour after birth or until the first breast-feed has been accomplished'.

Interestingly the same study also recommended that the use of drugs such as pethidine should be restricted due to their sedative effect which impedes newborn suckling.  Other studies identify the same problem concerning the use of pethidine.    

The relationship between early initiation of breastfeeding and sustained breastfeeding is also strong.  

This WHO document states that: 

'Early contact increases breastfeeding both soon after delivery and 2-3 months later.... As little as 15-20 minutes of contact in the first hour may be beneficial... skin-to-skin contact should start as soon as possible after delivery.'

Studies done into 'breast crawl' show clearly that the newborn has a strongly developed instinct to nurse after birth.  After unmedicated births, babies are hormonally programmed to be alert, and this is the ideal time to initiate breastfeeding.

This is a subject which is close to my heart.  My first child was delivered by ventouse after becoming distressed.  I had taken pethidine twice during the labour, she was badly positioned in the birth canal and I had been pushing for 3 hours.  My baby was not breathing properly, her cord was cut immediately and she was taken to neo-natal within minutes.  I wasn't able to breastfeed her for 11 hours.  


We missed all that important early skin to skin contact, I wasn't shown how to express milk and my daughter was given formula milk without our knowledge or consent.  All this makes me even more thankful that we were able to breastfeed at all.  


Often when a mother and baby are separated in such a way breastfeeding is massively undermined and never recovers.  Mothers frequently encounter poor breastfeeding support when their babies are in SCBU despite the risks of formula feeding - especially to preemies.  With good support it doesn't have to be this way.  

'kangaroo skin-to-skin contact, peer support, simultaneous breast milk pumping, multidisciplinary staff training and the Baby Friendly accreditation  of the associated maternity hospital have been shown to be effective.' 

~ http://www.hta.ac.uk/pdfexecs/summ1340.pdf 

This is a picture of our first breastfeed:

With baby number two I was determined not to be separated from my child at any cost.  I had our second child at home into water.  For the most part I used natal hypnotherapy as pain relief and a small amount of gas and air at the end.  No pethidine!  My baby breastfed within minutes of her birth, and before her placenta was delivered.  We had a physiological third stage and delayed cord clamping.  It was a world away from my previous experience.  This time my baby was attached to her placenta - not to a machine.  I was later able to witness her 'breast crawl' for myself (something which, sadly, her sister never did).  Seeing a helpless newborn's intact instincts at work like that is really quite amazing. 

Gradually the idea that mothers and their babies should be allowed uninterrupted skin to skin contact straight after birth is becoming a reality.  This is thanks in no small part to the UNICEF/ Baby Friendly Initiative.  Having your baby in a place where they will receive skin to skin contact straight after delivery gives you and your baby the best possible chance of getting breastfeeding off to a good start.


However, myths abound about what is, and is not possible when it comes to that all-important first feed!


Some members of DBM have kindly given me permission to share photos of their first breastfeeds.

Think you can't breastfeed straight after a c-section?  Think again!

image © Sophie Malcolm Kempe

Vicki's baby breastfed twenty minutes after being born:

Emily breastfed her newborn just after her VBAC.

Rachel also fed her newborn straight after birth:

Tricia breastfed her brand new daughter Sofia whilst still 'rigged up':

Emma's daughter Florence initiated their first breastfeed after a 'quick, stress and drug free, natural delivery':

And Sarah expressed her milk for baby Sophia who was born at just 30 weeks gestation.  Initially Sophia was fed through a nasogastric tube, but:  

'I made it known I was eager to put her to the breast...  The nurses kept saying it wouldn't be worth it yet as she was too premature to have the 'suck, swallow, breathe' instinct, but I was adamant!  So, when she was exactly 2 weeks old (or 32 weeks gestation) I finally got my wish after the paediatrician said it would do no harm.  With the nurse's help I got her in place and straight away she latched herself on, requiring no help.  After a second she started to suck.  The nurses all seemed to stop what they were doing and the doctors doing the ward round all came to look.  They were all astonished.'

For me, the look of determination in this little lady's eyes says a lot.  Babies want to breastfeed! 

So if you're having a baby and want to breastfeed - don't be scared to put your baby to your breast as soon as you possibly can!  Use your child's natural instincts to help you on your way.  And remember - even if the circumstances of their birth aren't 'ideal' - it can still be done!

Massive thanks to all the mums who sent their precious pics to me for this blog.