Your breastfeeding journey is a unique path that you and your baby will navigate together. While it's a natural process, it's also a learned skill that can take time and practice. This checklist is designed to be your supportive roadmap, breaking down the experience into manageable stages. Use it to prepare, build confidence, and know what to expect as you and your baby learn and grow together.
Checklist Part 1: Before Your Baby Arrives (Third Trimester)
A little preparation can make a big difference.
- ☐ Take a breastfeeding education class (in-person or online).
- ☐ Discuss your breastfeeding goals with your doctor or midwife.
- ☐ Research and save the contact information for a local lactation consultant (IBCLC).
- ☐ Purchase breastfeeding essentials: at least 2-3 comfortable nursing bras, nursing pads, and a tube of nipple cream.
- ☐ Set up a comfortable 'nursing station' at home with pillows, a water bottle, and snacks.
Checklist Part 2: The First 24 Hours (The Golden Start)
These first moments are all about connection and practice.
- ☐ Aim for skin-to-skin contact with your baby as soon as possible after birth.
- ☐ Attempt the first feeding within the first 'Golden Hour.'
- ☐ Feed your baby nutrient-dense colostrum on demand, watching for early hunger cues (at least 8-12 times).
- ☐ Ask for hands-on help from a nurse or the hospital's lactation consultant to check your baby's latch.
- ☐ Begin a simple log to track the timing of feeds and the number of wet and dirty diapers.
Checklist Part 3: The First Week (Building Your Supply)
This week is about establishing your milk supply and monitoring your baby's intake.
- ☐ Continue to breastfeed on demand, whenever your baby shows hunger cues (8-12+ times a day).
- ☐ Notice the signs of your mature milk 'coming in' (breasts feeling fuller, baby swallowing more), typically on days 3-5.
- ☐ Monitor diaper output: by day 5, you should see at least 6 wet diapers and 3-4 yellowish, seedy stools per 24 hours.
- ☐ Attend your baby's first pediatrician appointment to ensure they are on track to regain their birth weight.
- ☐ Manage engorgement by feeding often, and using cold compresses between feeds.
A Note for Partners and Support People
Your role is absolutely vital! Here are some of the most helpful things you can do:
- Be the Protector: Manage visitors and create a calm, quiet environment for the nursing parent and baby to rest and learn.
- Be the Provider: Keep the nursing parent's water bottle full and their snack basket stocked. A breastfeeding parent is often hungry and thirsty!
- Be the Helper: Take charge of diaper changes, burping the baby after feeds, and doing skin-to-skin to give the parent a break.
- Be the Encourager: Offer words of support. A simple 'You're doing a great job' can mean the world, especially during a tough feed.
Important Medical Notes
This checklist is a general guide. Every breastfeeding experience is different. Trust your instincts. If you are experiencing pain that doesn't improve, or if you have any concerns about your baby's feeding, diaper output, or weight, do not hesitate to call your pediatrician or a lactation consultant. Getting help early is the key to overcoming most challenges.