How do I know if my baby is latched on well?

Look for a wide-open mouth with more of the areola showing above the lip than below, the chin pressed into the breast and the nose clear, rounded cheeks, and a rhythmic suck-then-swallow. Most of all, after the first few seconds it shouldn't hurt. If it pinches or you only see the nipple in a shallow latch, break the suction with a clean finger and try again — a good latch is the single thing most early problems come down to.

How do I know I have enough milk?

Milk supply is demand-led — the more your baby feeds, the more you make — so feed on demand and let them finish one side before offering the other. You can't really see your supply, but plenty of wet nappies and steady weight gain are the real signs it's working. Most 'low supply' worries are just normal frequent newborn feeding, but genuine supply issues exist, so get help early if weight or nappies drop.

Breastfeeding hurts — is that normal?

A few seconds of tenderness as your baby latches can be normal in the early days, but cracked or bleeding nipples, or sharp pain that lasts through the feed, usually mean a shallow latch to fix rather than push through. A hard, red, painful area of breast with flu-like aches or a fever can be mastitis and needs prompt advice. When in doubt, ask a midwife or breastfeeding supporter — early.

Breastfeeding a newborn: a good latch, positions, supply, and sore nipples

Breastfeeding is natural, but it’s also a skill the two of you learn together — and the early days can be genuinely hard before they get easier. The reassuring part is that most early problems trace back to one thing: the latch. Get that comfortable, and much of the rest follows. Here’s how, plus how to tell ordinary soreness from a problem that needs help. However you end up feeding, a fed baby and a coping you is the goal.

A good latch — the thing it all hinges on

A deep, comfortable latch is what makes milk transfer well and keeps you from getting sore. Signs it’s working:

A wide-open mouth, with more areola showing above the top lip than below.
The chin pressed into the breast, nose clear, cheeks rounded (not dimpling).
A rhythmic suck, then swallow you can hear or see.
And crucially — after the first few seconds, it doesn’t hurt.

To get there, line your baby’s nose up with your nipple, wait for a wide gape, and bring baby to the breast rather than leaning your breast to them, with their tummy turned to you. If it pinches, slip a clean finger in to break the suction and start again. A shallow latch is behind most pain and slow feeding — it’s always worth resetting.

Positions that work

There’s no single right hold — just whatever keeps your baby close and supported and you comfortable and unhunched:

Cross-cradle and cradle for everyday feeds.
Rugby (football) hold — handy after a caesarean or with larger breasts.
Laid-back (leaning back with baby on your chest), which lets their instincts do a lot of the work.
Side-lying, a lifesaver for night feeds.

Bring your baby to you; don’t curl down to them. A pillow under your arm or them can save your back.

Building and trusting your supply

Supply runs on demand: the more your baby feeds, the more you make. So feed on demand, let them finish one side before offering the other, and expect frequent feeds — including evening cluster feeds and the sudden frequency surges of a growth spurt, which are how your baby orders more, not a sign you’ve run out.

You can’t really see your supply, which is why it worries so many parents. The honest signals are at the other end: plenty of wet nappies and steady weight gain mean your baby is getting enough.

The sore-nipple stage

Some tenderness as your baby latches is common in the first days. What isn’t just “part of it” is cracked, bleeding, or toe-curling pain — that’s a sign to fix the latch, not grit your teeth. Check and reset the latch first, then a little expressed milk or a plain lanolin can soothe, and let the air get to them between feeds.

Usually settles with a latch tweak	Get help promptly
Tenderness for the first few sucks	Cracked, bleeding, or sharp pain through the feed
Frequent and cluster feeds	Baby not gaining, or fewer wet nappies
Soft breasts between feeds	A hard, red, painful area with aches or fever (mastitis)
Settling after most feeds	A stubbornly shallow latch or clicking sound

Get help early — it isn’t failure

Breastfeeding support exists for exactly these weeks. A midwife, health visitor, or breastfeeding supporter can watch a feed and fix in ten minutes what a week of guessing won’t. Ask early, especially for ongoing pain, a possible blocked duct or mastitis, a suspected tongue-tie, or any worry about weight — problems are far easier to solve before they snowball. For most, it gets much easier by around weeks four to six.

The short version

Breastfeeding is learned, not instant — be as patient with yourself as with your baby. Chase a comfortable latch, feed on demand, judge supply by nappies and weight rather than what you can see, and reach for help at the first real problem rather than the tenth hard feed. And if you end up combining it with the bottle, that’s a perfectly good way to feed a baby too.

This is general information, not medical advice. Breastfeeding support and guidance vary by country and for premature or unwell babies — follow the advice of your own midwife, health visitor, or lactation consultant, and the people who know your baby.