March 24, 2026
At Denver Health, we are committed to supporting you every step of the way on your breastfeeding journey. While breastfeeding is a natural and rewarding experience, it can also come with questions and challenges – especially in the early days. With the right preparation, guidance, and encouragement, you can build confidence and create a strong foundation for success. The following tips are designed to help you prepare for breastfeeding, support your baby’s health and development, and foster a meaningful bond from the very beginning.
1. Become Familiar with Your Breasts Before Birth
If your Denver Health provider determines that it is safe, you may begin hand expression at approximately 37 weeks of pregnancy. This practice is generally recommended only for individuals with low-risk pregnancies. Hand expression can help you become familiar with collecting colostrum and develop a useful skill for the early postpartum period. Always consult with your physician or midwife before beginning.
2. Get Comfortable
Creating a comfortable breastfeeding environment can significantly enhance your experience. Consider arranging a supportive seating area with a footstool and pillows. Additionally, prepare clothing that facilitates easy access for breastfeeding and skin-to-skin contact, such as pajamas, front-button shirts or scoop-neck tops.
3. Participate in Prenatal Education
Prenatal breastfeeding classes can offer valuable information to help you feel prepared. At Denver Health, educational classes are available to support expectant parents. Lactation assistance is also provided in the hospital shortly after birth. Ongoing breastfeeding education and support services are offered at many Denver Health clinics across the city and through the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program.
4. Request Early Skin-to-Skin Contact
For uncomplicated vaginal deliveries, immediate skin-to-skin contact is recommended following birth and should continue until after the first successful latch or for at least one hour, whichever is longer. Early skin-to-skin contact promotes oxytocin release, which aids uterine contraction, reduces postpartum bleeding, and supports bonding and breastfeeding initiation. Denver Health provides the opportunity for skin-to-skin in the first hour whenever it is safe to do so.
5. Continue Skin-to-Skin Contact at Home
Skin-to-skin contact remains highly beneficial when you arrive home. While family and friends may wish to hold the newborn, it is important to prioritize this practice, as it supports breastfeeding and helps regulate the baby’s temperature, breathing, oxygen levels, blood glucose, and stress. When possible, hold your baby chest-to-chest with minimal clothing during the early days. You may consider limiting visitors if it interferes with this practice.
6. Practice Rooming-In in the Hospital
Denver Health supports “rooming-in,” meaning that healthy parents and infants remain together throughout their hospital stay. Routine examinations, testing, and bathing are conducted in the same room. This approach has been shown to enhance bonding and improve breastfeeding outcomes.
7. Delay the First Bath
The World Health Organization recommends delaying a newborn’s first bath until at least 24 hours after birth. Early bathing may increase stress and fatigue in infants and can interfere with successful latching. Skin-to-skin contact before and after the bath is strongly encouraged.
8. Stimulate Feeding Every 2–3 Hours on the First Day
It’s common for newborns to be sleepy during the first 24 hours. If your baby is unable to latch effectively, breast stimulation through massage, nipple stimulation, and hand expression should be performed every 2–3 hours. Any expressed colostrum may be fed using a spoon or syringe. Even if no colostrum is visible, this stimulation promotes the release of hormones essential for establishing milk supply. Most infants become more alert between 18–24 hours and may begin cluster feeding.
9. Room Share at Home
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that infants sleep in the same room as their parents for at least the first six months. Placing a basinet or crib near the bed can facilitate nighttime feeding, which is important for maintaining milk supply.
10. Seek Support When Needed
Challenges such as nipple pain, poor weight gain, excessive sleepiness, or feeding difficulties may require professional lactation support. The Family Connects program offers up to three in-home nurse visits for participating families. These visits may include feeding support, infant weight checks, health assessments for both parent and baby, guidance on postpartum recovery, and referrals to additional resources as needed. This program is available to families delivering at Denver Health who reside in Denver, Jefferson, or Arapahoe County. To learn more, visit our Family Connects webpage. Denver Health is proud to offer Family Connects visits to support new parents, whether they choose to breastfeed or not.
