Feeding Your Newborn: The First Few Days
From sleepy feeding to milk coming in
For those of you following along from my most recent blog, What No One Tells You About Feeding in the First 48 Hours – welcome back.
You survived the start of cluster feeds, the tears, the lanolin, and the endless midwife checks. It’s a wild ride.
But then comes Day 3.
The milk.
The meltdowns.
The moment your boobs turn into over-inflated beach balls and you start wondering if this is still “normal.”
And just when you think you’ve found your rhythm, your body throws the next curveball – your milk comes in.
Let’s walk through what to expect in these next few days – from sleepy feeds to full-blown milk arrival – and how to survive it without losing your mind (or your sense of humour).
Day 3–4: When the Milk (and the Feels) Arrive
I remember waking up on Day 3 thinking, why do my boobs feel like they are about to explode?
I was engorged, leaking through my nursing pads, towel on the bed, and somehow both proud and panicked at once.
Thad was still learning to latch, I was still learning to breathe, and every feed felt like a negotiation between us and gravity.
When your milk “comes in,” everything ramps up.
Your breasts go from soft and sleepy to firm, full, hot and leaky (hi there, watermelons 
).
It can be uncomfortable, emotional, and honestly – confusing.
You might feel:
- Engorged (like your boobs grew three sizes overnight)
- Sore, especially if baby’s latch isn’t deep yet
Leaky… all. the. time.
- Sore, especially if baby’s latch isn’t deep yet
- Emotional, because hormones are surging and sleep is a rumour!
Inside the mamalinc app I walk you through using heat, cold packs, hand expression and a silicone breast pump to ease pressure without tanking your supply.
Think “Draining”, Not “Timing”
The goal in these early days isn’t to feed on a clock – it’s to keep the milk moving.
Every time you drain the breast, you’re telling your body, hey, keep making more!
Here’s what helps:
- Feed on demand (every 1 – 3 hours is totally fine)
- Use the nappy-change-halfway trick to wake baby and switch sides
- Try gentle breast compressions when baby slows down
- Start the next feed on the side you ended on
When Overwhelm Creeps In
This is the part where many mums start second-guessing everything:
Is my baby getting enough milk? Why won’t they sleep longer than 45 minutes? Is this cluster feeding or am I just a snack bar now?
Deep breath, mama – this is all normal newborn behaviour.
Your baby is regulating your supply, growing by the hour, and learning the world.
And yes, it’s hard when you’re still stitched, sore and running on fumes.
The Little Things That Save Your Sanity
When everything feels chaotic, having the right gear within reach can change your whole day.
That’s why we’ve bundled the practical stuff for you inside the app:
Hospital Bag Checklist: so you’re not begging for a peri bottle at 2 a.m.
Breastfeeding Checklist: nipple balm, pads, hydration station = peace.
After-Birth Recovery Checklist: because you need care too.
AND, you can find all three of these and more inside your FREE 7-day mama ultimate trial.
Final Word: You’re Doing Enough
If no one’s told you yet today – feeding your baby with your body is brave.
It’s powerful, exhausting, leaky and beautiful all at once.
You are not failing if it doesn’t feel natural. You’re not behind if it takes time. You’re just human – healing, learning, and loving in real time.
That’s why I built mamalinc — so you never have to Google at 3 a.m. or cry through every feed alone.
You’ve got this, mama.
And when you don’t — mamalinc’s got you.
