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34 alaska parent winter 2025/26 AlaskaParent.comLike many new skills facing first-time mothers, breastfeeding is a learned ability that gets much easier with practice. Here are a few time-tested tips to make the transition easier.1. Start Preparing Well Before Your Due Date: Educate yourself and consider attending classes offered by your hospital or birthing center months before delivery. La Leche League leader Wanda Daniels says attending an LLL meeting while pregnant answered many important questions and made her comfortable calling her own leader for support.2. Some Discomfort Is Normal, But Help Is Available: While your breasts may initially feel tender, they shouldn%u2019t be consistently painful. Initial nipple discomfort is usually normal, but severe, ongoing soreness may indicate a problem. Certified lactation consultant and pediatric nurse Lucille Harrington says most problems can be fixed quickly, so moms needn%u2019t endure pain. Many hospitals and birthing centers offer telephone counseling or an in-person consultation with a lactation consultant. This service is usually free.3. Find Ways to Lighten Your Load: Newborns typically nurse 8 to 12 times per day. Plus, experts recommend feeding your baby on cue at any sign of hunger. A nursing sling can be a great way to keep your baby close and allow you freedom, privacy, and mobility. Learning to nurse lying down can also help with nighttime feedings so you and baby can quickly return to sleep.4. Avoid Assumptions: Many new mothers think that babies who want to nurse frequently aren%u2019t getting enough milk, but this is rarely true. As long as your baby is producing at least 6-8 wet diapers and 2-3 daily bowel movements for the first few weeks after your milk comes in, he%u2019s likely getting the nutrients he needs. Babies nurse for comfort as well as hunger. Frequent 10 Breastfeeding Tips - Before Baby is Born By Shannon Dean