• Knowledge is power. Learn all you can about breastfeeding through classes, books, and reputable websites. We have helpful sites listed on our page as well as videos. If possible, you and your partner or support person should take a breastfeeding class. MGH offers a class in person or via zoom. There are also organizations in the community and online that offer classes. Gathering knowledge ahead of time will ease your transition as you and baby learn to breastfeed.
  • Practice skin-to-skin care immediately after birth. Skin-to-skin care is when you keep your baby dressed in only a diaper and hat against your bare skin. Do this for at least one hour initially and then as frequently as possible afterwards. During this bonding time, baby’s temperature, glucose levels, and breathing are stabilized. Continue this practice at home; baby craves this comfort and your partner or another caregiver can participate also.
  • Breastfeed within the first hour after birth. This is recommended for vaginal and cesarean births. Early breastfeeding gets baby’s nutrition off to a good start and stimulates your body to produce more milk. Hand express to start the first feed. After the first hour, continue to hand express colostrum in the early hours and days postpartum.
  • Plan to give only breastmilk. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months. This means your baby is receiving breast milk and nothing else. Planning to exclusively breastfeed will have the most benefits for baby. Achieving this goal will take effort and support from those around you. Sometimes there is a medical reason for supplementation; feeding your baby with your own expressed milk or donor milk can keep baby on an exclusively breastmilk diet.
  • Keep your baby in the same room with you at all times. Rooming-in after birth provides you the opportunity to learn your baby’s hunger cues. Infants do not feed on a schedule, but give you cues to know when to feed them. Babies need to feed frequently and being in the same room helps this process. Parents are bonding with baby and learning how to care for baby while rooming-in.
  • Avoid early introduction of bottles and pacifiers. Introducing these artificial nipples early on can keep you from recognizing baby’s feeding cues and prevent you from establishing a good milk supply. If supplementation is needed, the postpartum staff can offer alternative methods of feeding baby.

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Centers and Departments

Topics

Obstetrics Program

We provide state-of-the-art, individualized care for women and their families before, during and after childbirth.

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Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology

The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Mass General has advanced the science and the quality of care for patients since 1891.

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Quality, Safety & Equity in Patient Care

We are committed to providing the highest quality OB/GYN patient care, ensuring safety and equity in care for each patient.

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