Breastfeeding fundamentals

A deep latch is the foundation of comfortable breastfeeding. Baby's mouth should cover a wide portion of the areola, not just the nipple, with lips flanged outward and chin pressed to breast. If it pinches, unlatch (slide a clean finger into the corner of their mouth) and try again — pain almost always means shallow latch. Milk supply builds by demand in the first weeks, so feed on cue 8–12 times per 24 hours and let baby empty one breast fully before offering the second. The wet-diaper count (6+ per day by day 5) and steady weight gain matter more than counted minutes or ounces. If pain, poor latch, or weight worries persist beyond a few days, book a lactation consultant early. Most issues are fixable with small technique adjustments; waiting turns easy problems into hard ones.