Feeding guide
Preparing to breastfeed
before birth
You cannot predict every part of feeding before your baby arrives, but understanding the early days can make unfamiliar experiences easier to interpret. Preparation is about knowledge, support and flexibility—not achieving a perfect start.
Learn what the first days may look like
Newborns usually feed frequently across the day and night. Early milk, called colostrum, is produced in small amounts suited to the early days. Feeding is a skill that you and your baby learn together, and needing help does not mean you have failed.
Recognise early feeding cues
Babies may show that they are ready to feed by stirring, bringing their hands to their mouth, licking their lips, opening their mouth or turning their head. Offering a feed at early cues can be calmer than waiting until crying, which is a later cue.
Understand positioning and attachment
Useful principles include holding your baby close, supporting their whole body, allowing their head to tip back, bringing their nose level with the nipple and waiting for a wide-open mouth. Effective attachment should support comfortable feeding and milk transfer.
Plan for skin-to-skin contact
UNICEF UK Baby Friendly guidance explains that skin-to-skin contact after birth supports babies as they adapt and can help initiate breastfeeding. Your maternity team should advise what is safe and possible in your particular birth and postnatal circumstances.
Build a support plan, not just a feeding plan
Before birth, identify who you can contact: your maternity team, health visitor, GP, local NHS feeding service, an IBCLC and the National Breastfeeding Helpline. Discuss how your partner or family can protect rest, food, hydration and time to focus on feeding.
Antenatal expressing needs individual advice
Some maternity teams recommend antenatal hand expression of colostrum in particular circumstances. Ask your midwife when or whether this is appropriate for you rather than starting on the basis of general online advice.
Common questions
Frequently asked
questions.
Do I need to buy a breast pump before birth?
Not everyone needs a pump immediately. Your likely needs, feeding goals and circumstances can help determine whether a manual pump, electric pump, hand expression or no equipment is the most sensible starting point.
Should my partner attend antenatal feeding preparation?
It can be very helpful. Partners can learn feeding cues, signs that feeding is effective, practical ways to support you and when to help seek further advice.
Can I prepare if I had a difficult feeding experience before?
Yes. Preparation can focus on what happened previously, what you want to approach differently and how to put support in place earlier this time.
Does an antenatal session guarantee breastfeeding will work?
No. Birth, health, anatomy, milk production, your baby and many other factors can affect feeding. The aim is to improve understanding, confidence and access to appropriate support.
Evidence and further reading
Sources used for this guide
Health guidance changes over time. These direct links lead to the official sources reviewed for this page.
- NHS: Breastfeeding in the first few days
- NHS Best Start in Life: Latching on
- UNICEF UK Baby Friendly: Skin-to-skin contact
- NICE: Postnatal care recommendations
This guide provides general information and does not replace individual medical advice, diagnosis or emergency care.