Advice after your nerve block for surgery
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In the first few days, your baby is getting used to the world. Many babies are very sleepy in the first day. Some babies feed soon after birth, and others need a little more time to learn. The steps below can help your milk to start coming in and can help your baby learn to feed.
6-24 hours old
- Keep your baby on your bare chest (skin- to- skin). This helps them feel warm, safe, and ready to feed.
- Look for signs your baby wants to feed. They may lick their lips, turn their head, suck their fingers, or look at you.
- Try gently waking your baby and offering the breast..
- If your baby still doesn’t want to feed, ask a midwife to show you how to hand express colostrum (your first milk).
- Give your baby any colostrum you collect.
- A midwife will check your baby’s health, including their temperature, colour, and how they respond. If you are worried, talk to a midwife or doctor.
- If your baby is still slow to feed, keep trying the above every 2-3 hours.
24-48 hours old
- Keep doing skin to skin .
- Offer the breast every 2–3 hours.
- If your baby still isn’t latching, hand express every 1–2 hours.
- Give your baby 5–15 ml of expressed breast milk at each feed. If you cannot express 5 mls of breastmilk, you may offer 10-15mls of formula in a cup (Ask your midwife to show you how to cup feed safely)
48-72 hours old
- Keep doing skin to skin.
- Offer the breast every 2–3 hours.
- If your baby still isn’t latching, you may be shown how to use a double breast pump for 10–15 minutes.
- Give your baby 15–30 ml of expressed breast milk at each feed. If you cannot express 15 mls of breastmilk, you may offer 20-30mls of formula in a cup (Ask your midwife to show you how to cup feed safely)
72 hours or more
- Keep doing skin to skin.
- Offer the breast every 2–3 hours.
- If your baby still isn’t latching, you may be advised to pump 8–10 times in 24 hours, including once between midnight and 5 a.m.
- Give your baby expressed breast milk, increasing the amount as advised for their weight. (Talk to your midwife about this)
If you are ever worried about your baby, please tell a member of staff.
How to Hand express milk
- Wash your hands with soap and dry them well.
- Get a clean container like a syringe to catch the colostrum.
- Gently rub your breast in circles from the outside toward your nipple for about 2 minutes.
- Roll or gently squeeze your nipple for about 1 minute to help your milk come out.
- Place your thumb and finger in a “C” shape about 2-3 cm from the base of your nipple.
- Gently press and release in a steady rhythm. Do not slide your fingers on your skin or nipple. It should not hurt.
- Collect the colostrum in your container or syringe. It may take a few minutes.
- When the milk flow slows, move your fingers to another spot and repeat.
- Do the same on the other breast
- Feed your baby any colostrum you collect
Contact us
If you have any queries relating to this information, please contact the Maternity service.
About this information
Service:
Maternity
Reference:
M/068
Approval date:
22 June 2026
Review date:
1 June 2029
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Important note
This page provides general information only. It is developed by clinical staff and is reviewed regularly every 3 years for accuracy. For personal advice about your health, or if you have any concerns, please speak to your doctor.