Breastfeeding/Chestfeeding: Working Through the Challenges

First published December 2015
Updated April 2026

There are many benefits of breast/chestfeeding, for both parent and baby. Anyone who has fed their baby in this way is also familiar with the struggles and joys that can accompany it. If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, here are some things to know.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive human milk for the first 6 months of life. Babies who directly breast/chestfeed have the following:

• Higher IQs (as much as 7 IQ points higher)
• Fewer infections
• Decreased risk of asthma and allergies
• May have a lower risk of developing diabetes

Breast/chestfeeding has also been shown to decrease the risk of SIDS and strengthen parental-infant bonding. Parents who provide milk have decreased risk of breast and ovarian cancer, return to pre-pregnancy weight faster, and may have decreased risk of heart disease later in life.

Many parents have no trouble breastfeeding; after the baby is born, they can latch easily; the milk supply comes in without any problem, and they are off and running. AND some parents experience challenges that were either not anticipated or underestimated

As a new parent, consider seeking out and attending a lactation support group. It is important to know that a lot of problems are common and fixable in the early days. It is helpful to hear from other parents who are experiencing, or who have successfully overcome similar problems. These peers, along with a lactation professional who can give appropriate advice, can offer unique support and understanding for these challenges.

Common problems that parents may encounter include:

• Excessively sleepy babies
• Jaundice
• Delay in milk coming in
• Engorgement
• Nipple pain

Many new parents report nipple discomfort during the first week of lactation, but you should never feel pain! If you are concerned about any of these common problems or have any questions, it is important for you to seek help from a qualified lactation consultant and your pediatrician as soon as possible.

When feeding is going well, the baby should be awake every 2-3 hours to nurse, with one wet diaper and one stool for every day of life during the first week (for instance, when the baby is 3 days old, there should be 3 wet diapers and 3 stools). Some babies will eat more or less frequently, but every baby should nurse at least 8-10 times in 24 hours and not go more than 4 hours between feeds in the first 4 weeks. Many babies will be comforted by skin-to-skin contact during these early weeks, and this can be a useful strategy for calming fussy infants.

Human milk offers the best nutrition, but there are some instances when your milk is not available or medically appropriate. We are fortunate to have formulas available as a safe alternative. Lactation does not have to be all or nothing. Many benefits of human milk are “dose-dependent” meaning some exposure to your milk is better than none – every drop counts. Some parents feed their baby a combination of human milk and formula for a number of reasons. While your milk remains superior to formula, a new parent’s focus should be to love and feed their baby.

You can find certified lactation consultants in your area by contacting your delivery hospital, La Leche League or the International Lactation Consultant Association; you can also ask your pediatrician or obstetrician for a recommendation. It takes 6-8 weeks for lactation to become established which is why it is important to have good support during this time.

Read our breastfeeding tips or contact our Clinical Nutrition and Lactation team for more information about breastfeeding.