Maintain breastfeeding

Even if breastfeeding is going well, you may still encounter new challenges. Find help to manage them here.

Common challenges later in breastfeeding

When your baby is around 4–6 weeks old, breastfeeding often works smoothly. Still, many parents worry about whether there is enough milk, whether their baby is getting enough, or why feeds do not follow a predictable rhythm. Swipe to see solutions to common challenges that may arise a little further into your breastfeeding journey.

Use your health visitor

Is the baby getting enough?

Night feeding

Feeding rhythm

Unfocused

Seek help when things become difficult

When breastfeeding has become part of everyday life, you may feel you should manage any new problems on your own. But it is always sensible to ask for help to clear up doubts or solve small difficulties; even if things went well to begin with. You can find guidance here on the page, or you can speak with your health visitor if you are still unsure.

How can the health visitor support us with breastfeeding?

You can always contact your health visitor if you are experiencing breastfeeding difficulties, if you are unsure whether your baby is getting enough milk, if you are considering whether to continue breastfeeding, or if you simply have a concern. The health visitor is there to support you in everyday life with your baby (or babies).

Sometimes you may just need someone to reassure you that you are doing things correctly. This is completely normal for new parents.

Your health visitor will always focus on your family’s situation and wishes and will guide you towards what works best for you.

Can all health visitors give breastfeeding advice?

Yes. All health visitors receive breastfeeding training as part of their education. They can help with common breastfeeding challenges, such as:

Worry about whether your baby is getting enough milk
Pain during breastfeeding
Difficulties with the latch or sucking technique
Questions about expressing milk, bottle-feeding or partial breastfeeding.

Health visitors are experienced nurses who have completed additional training to become health visitors, and many have further training as breastfeeding counsellors. In most municipalities, there are certified lactation consultants available for more complex breastfeeding issues.

Pain during breastfeeding

When breastfeeding is not working

How do we know if the baby is getting enough milk?

Even after several months, it is common to wonder whether your baby is getting enough milk. This concern often grows during periods when the baby wants to feed more often or is more unsettled. These phases are normal and not necessarily a sign that your milk supply is too low.
As long as your baby can breastfeed as often and as long as they need, most parents produce exactly the milk their baby requires.
Knowing the signs that show your baby is getting enough can make things feel more reassuring.

Is my baby getting enough milk? Read more about your newborn’s signals.

How long will my baby need night feeds?

If your baby continues to wake for feeds at night, you may start to wonder whether they are eating enough during the day. In reality, most babies still need night feeds until around 7–8 months of age — and some families continue for longer.
If your baby still wakes for milk at this age, it is completely natural and not a sign that they need more than breast milk.

Do we sleep better if the baby has a bottle?

Is something wrong if our baby has no set pattern?

It is easy to imagine that once breastfeeding is established, it will settle into a fixed rhythm. In reality, this is rarely the case. Your baby may follow a pattern for a while and then suddenly change it — often just as you have become used to the previous one. This is completely natural. Babies grow and develop quickly during their first year, and this affects how and when they feed.

Family and friends may ask whether it is really necessary to breastfeed so often, or whether you have found a routine yet. This can add to your doubts. Try to remember that breastfeeding does not usually follow a set rhythm. Your baby will get the milk they need when they have free access to the breast.

Our baby cannot concentrate on feeding

As your baby becomes more aware of the world, feeding can become more challenging. When everything seems new and exciting, some babies find it hard to stay focused during a feed. They may then eat a little less during the day and make up for it at night, when there are fewer distractions. This is normal and not a sign that something is wrong — even though the extra night feeds can be tiring.

Some families find it helpful to breastfeed in a lying position to reduce stimulation or to feed in a darker room during the day. And remember: this phase is temporary.

If you are unsure whether breastfeeding is enough

It is completely normal to feel uncertain about whether your baby still benefits from breast milk, how long to continue breastfeeding, or when your baby might be ready for other foods.
Swipe for answers.

Will our baby continue to benefit from breast milk?

Yes. The Danish Health Authority recommends exclusive breastfeeding until around 6 months, followed by breastfeeding alongside family foods until at least 1 year, or longer if it suits your family.
Your baby continues to benefit from the protective antibodies and other components in breast milk, and the milk adapts to your baby’s needs throughout breastfeeding.

How long is it good to continue breastfeeding?

It is up to you to decide how long breastfeeding fits into your family life. Some families prefer a shorter breastfeeding period, while others wish to continue for as long as possible.

The Danish Health Authority recommends full breastfeeding until around 6 months, and then partial breastfeeding alongside family foods.
Speak to your health visitor if you would like to talk through the advantages and disadvantages of continuing breastfeeding.

Why does our baby suddenly want to breastfeed more often?

Sometimes, just when breastfeeding seems to be going well, your baby may start wanting to feed more frequently. Many parents call this a feeding spurt or appetite spurt. Some believe it happens because the baby needs more milk, but that is not always the case.

There are several reasons why your baby may want to breastfeed more often for a while:

Your baby may need extra closeness. Breastfeeding provides comfort and a feeling of safety as well as nourishment.
Your milk supply may have dipped temporarily. This can happen if you have been stressed, distracted by other demands, if your baby has been unwell and fed less, or if you have been ill or had your period.
Warm weather can make babies thirstier.

Feeding spurts do not occur at fixed ages, and there is no evidence that they follow a predictable pattern.

What can we do when our baby wants to breastfeed more often??

Offer the breast whenever your baby shows signs of wanting to feed. Your milk supply will adjust naturally to your baby’s needs, although it may take a couple of days.
Think together about whether anything recent might explain your baby’s increased need for breastfeeding.
Support one another, and ask family or friends for help with practical tasks or with older children if possible. Breastfeeding can be tiring, especially during a feeding spurt.
Contact your health visitor if you are worried that your milk supply is not keeping up with your baby’s needs.

How to get more milk

How do we know when the baby is ready to eat something other than milk?

Most babies are ready to start foods other than milk at around 6 months — beginning with purées or porridge and later the same food as the rest of the family.
Signs of readiness include being able to hold their head steady, sit without support, lean forward in the highchair, and turn their head away when full. Many babies also begin to grasp food and try to bring it towards their mouth.

Talk to your health visitor when you think your baby is ready for family food, so you can get advice on how to begin and what to offer.

How can I start breastfeeding again after stopping – and get my milk supply back?

Even if you have stopped breastfeeding, it is often possible to start again and rebuild your milk supply.
Swipe for practical advice on how to increase your milk supply and begin breastfeeding again after stopping

Can I start breastfeeding again after stopping?

Yes. If you regret stopping breastfeeding, it is possible to start again. Restarting breastfeeding involves two things:

your baby needs to latch on to the breast again
your milk supply needs to increase.

Both of these can take patience from your baby, from you, and from your family. Your health visitor can be a great source of support and guidance when you are trying to restart breastfeeding.

If your plan is to rebuild your milk supply but you would prefer to feed your baby expressed milk by bottle, you can focus on increasing your milk supply.

Things to consider before restarting breastfeeding

Before you restart breastfeeding, it can be helpful to think about what matters most to you. For example, you may want to ask yourselves the following questions:

Is the goal to breastfeed your baby fully or partly?
Is the goal to express milk and feed it to your baby by bottle?
How much time and energy do you want to put into this?
Is it mainly the closeness to your baby that you miss?
How will you feel if it does not work out?

If you agree on your expectations in advance, it will be easier to set realistic goals and make the necessary decisions, depending on how restarting breastfeeding goes.

How likely is it that breastfeeding will start again?

Your chances of successfully restarting breastfeeding depend on many factors:

How long has it been since you stopped breastfeeding? The shorter the break, the less demanding it is to start again. However, even after several weeks without breastfeeding, it is still possible to restart breastfeeding fully or partly.
Why did breastfeeding stop? If your baby previously breastfed without problems, restarting is usually easier.
Your baby’s temperament and patience at the breast. Babies are different, and a patient baby can be helpful when trying to restart.
Time and patience from everyone involved also increase the chances of success.

How can I help my baby latch on again?

It varies a great deal how easy it is to help a baby latch on to the breast again. The best things you can do are to:

hold your baby skin to skin and start again from the beginning
find a good breastfeeding position. The laid-back position can help you relax and stimulate your baby’s natural reflexes, even if your baby is older now
offer the breast often — ideally at least 8–10 times in 24 hours — without putting pressure on your baby
support each other as parents
try expressing a little milk onto the nipple and let your baby lick it off, or encourage your baby with milk through a lactation aid, using either your own milk or infant formula
if your baby is very hungry and unsettled, give a small amount of infant formula first, so your baby is more patient at the breast
make sure breastfeeding feels safe, calm, and comforting for your baby, so they associate it with something positive

As your milk supply gradually increases, your baby will usually become more interested in feeding at the breast. You may also be able to help the milk flow by using breast compressions while breastfeeding.

Still not latching?

Even if your baby does not want to suck at the breast at first, their touch and movements at the breast can still help stimulate milk supply. At the same time, this close contact can help your baby feel safe and gradually become more willing to take the breast again.

That is why it is worth being patient and continuing to offer the breast if you want to restart breastfeeding after stopping. You may also want to talk to your health visitor about how long it makes sense to keep trying in your particular situation.

How can I increase my milk supply again after stopping breastfeeding?

The most effective way to increase your milk supply again after stopping breastfeeding is to stimulate your breasts with an electric breast pump. This applies whether you have no milk in your breasts at all or still have a small amount.

Frequent breast stimulation is essential if you want to increase your milk supply. Be prepared that you may need to pump or express milk several times a day until you have built up a milk supply that matches your baby’s needs.

Expressing breast milk after birth

How to get more milk

How often and for how long should I express milk?

What should I do if I have taken medicine to stop my milk supply?

If you have taken medicine to stop your milk supply, it may be harder to build it up again than if you stopped breastfeeding without medication.

The medicine can take some time to leave your body completely, and during that time some of it may pass to your baby through your breast milk. It is therefore recommended that you start by stimulating your milk supply with a breast pump but wait until 14 days after the treatment has ended before giving the expressed milk to your baby.

How can we make sure our baby gets enough milk while breastfeeding is being re-established?

Until you have enough milk in your breasts again, it is important to make sure that your baby gets the milk they need. If your baby is under 1 year old, infant formula is the only alternative to breast milk. You can give the formula either by bottle or by using a lact-aid system. Talk to your health visitor about what is best in your situation.

As your milk supply gradually increases, you can slowly start to reduce the amount of infant formula.

What if there is still not enough milk?

Some women are not able to build up a large enough milk supply after stopping breastfeeding, even if they have done everything right. If you still do not have enough milk after re-establishing breastfeeding, you will need to continue giving infant formula as well, so that your baby gets the milk they need.

Also keep an eye on the signs that show whether your baby is getting enough milk. Your health visitor can help you assess this.

Is our baby getting enough milk?

Tandem Nursing – Can I breastfeed my toddler and newborn at the same time?

The answer is yes – as long as you prioritize making sure the newborn gets enough milk. Swipe to learn more about tandem nursing and get tips on how to breastfeed two children at once.

Tandem Nursing

Prioritize the newborn

Colostrum

How to do it

Breastfeeding Positions

What is Tandem Nursing?

Tandem nursing is when you breastfeed your newborn and an older sibling at the same time. This allows you to continue breastfeeding your older child after the new baby arrives if you wish. Your body is fully capable of producing enough milk for two children. However, it is important to prioritize your newborn’s needs to make sure they get all the milk they need.

How do we ensure our newborn gets enough milk during tandem nursing?

When breastfeeding two siblings, the priority is the youngest. You can ensure this by:

Giving your newborn peace and quiet to learn the correct latch in the early days after birth.
Letting the newborn nurse before the older sibling at every feeding.
Keeping an eye on the newborn’s signs of getting enough milk – both in the early days and throughout the breastfeeding period.

Check Baby chart

Will our baby get colostrum if I am also breastfeeding an older child?

Yes. Your body will naturally make sure that your newborn receives the vital colostrum, as long as the baby are put to the breast before the older sibling. Pregnancy hormones prepare the milk for your newborn automatically.

Always nurse your newborn first and let them finish at one breast before moving to the other. Only after this should the older child nurse. Also, remember to eat and drink enough yourself.

What can I eat and drink while breastfeeding?

What if my older child refuses the breast?

Some older children react to the change in taste of breast milk during pregnancy and after birth. Pregnancy hormones can make the milk less sweet and slightly saltier, which may lead to refusal.

You can:

Continue offering the breast. Some children adjust to the new taste over time, while others decide to stop breastfeeding.
If your older child no longer wishes to breastfeed, this can feel difficult or upsetting for some families. You may find it helpful to talk to your health visitor about your experience and any feelings that arise.

How do you nurse two siblings at once?

In the beginning, let the smallest child eat first.

Once breastfeeding is established and the newborn is gaining weight, there are several ways to nurse an older sibling as well:

Some prefer to nurse both children at the same time, one on each breast.
Others prefer to nurse each child separately.
Some assign a specific breast to each child, while others switch between them.

There is no right or wrong way. Do what works best for your family.

Which positions are best when nursing two children?

Just like nursing one child, the best breastfeeding position for nursing two children is a personal choice. A position is good when you can relax, are not in pain, and your baby has a good latch.

Many women nursing two children find these positions helpful:

Rugby hold (twin position)
A combination: One child in the cradle hold and the other in the rugby hold.

Experiment to find positions that feel comfortable and relaxing – and feel free to talk to your health visitor (nurse) if you are in doubt or need support.

Can I breastfeed while I am pregnant?

Swipe for helpful advice if you are pregnant again and still breastfeeding.

You can breastfeed if your pregnancy is uncomplicated

If your pregnancy is progressing normally and breastfeeding still feels right for you, you can safely continue breastfeeding while you are pregnant. It will not harm either the baby you are expecting or the child you are breastfeeding.

Sometimes breastfeeding can cause tightenings (Braxton Hicks contractions) when your child sucks. If you have a lot of these contractions, you should speak to your doctor or midwife about whether it is OK to keep breastfeeding.

When should I not breastfeed during pregnancy?

You may experience sore nipples and tiredness when you are pregnant and breastfeeding at the same time

Many mothers who continue breastfeeding during a new pregnancy find that their nipples become more sensitive, and some also experience pain during breastfeeding. This may be due to the hormonal changes that happen naturally during pregnancy. You could try breastfeeding in a position that puts less strain on your nipples, such as a laid-back breastfeeding position.

Some mothers also feel more tired, both because of the pregnancy and because they are breastfeeding. If you breastfeed lying down, you can rest while your child is feeding and still have that close time together. Make sure that you are also eating and drinking enough yourself.

What can I eat and drink while breastfeeding?

Breastfeeding positions

Will our new baby still get colostrum if I breastfeed during pregnancy?

Yes. Your new baby will still get colostrum, even if you continue breastfeeding during pregnancy. Pregnancy hormones naturally prepare your milk for your newborn. This means that your new baby will still receive this important first milk, even if your older child is still breastfeeding.

I am pregnant again and would like to continue breastfeeding, but my child is refusing the breast

Pregnancy hormones can change the taste of your milk, making it less sweet and more salty. This may cause your child to react to the taste and refuse the breast.

What you can do:

Keep offering the breast — some children gradually get used to the changed taste.
If your child continues to refuse the breast, it may be a sign that breastfeeding is coming to a natural end.
If your child is under 1 year old and is no longer receiving breast milk, they will need infant formula instead.

For some families, this can be a good opportunity to wean the child completely, especially if the child is already refusing the breast. For others, it can feel difficult and upsetting if breastfeeding ends earlier than they had hoped. If that is how you feel, that is completely natural. You may find it helpful to talk through your experiences and feelings with your health visitor.

Good to do

Trust that your milk supply will meet your baby’s needs as long as your baby guides the feeding.
Remember that restlessness, night feeds, and periods of more frequent feeding are completely normal up to 6 months and beyond.
Try to take comfort in the fact that breastfeeding rarely follows a fixed pattern — it changes as your baby develops.
Reduce distractions if your baby becomes unfocused during feeds.
Discuss what suits your family when thinking about how long to continue breastfeeding, and ask your health visitor for advice if you need it.
Start offering other foods alongside milk when your baby is around 6 months old.

Who can you contact?

If you experience challenges with breastfeeding – big or small – do not hesitate to seek professional advice. Swipe to see whom you can contact and when.

Your maternity ward

Health visitors

Your doctor

Emergency Help

Volunteer counsellors

Who can you contact at the maternity ward?

You can contact the maternity-ward staff both during pregnancy and after birth.

During pregnancy

After birth

You can contact your municipal health-visitor service

The health-visitor service is available to all pregnant and new parents in Denmark. After birth, you will be offered free home visits with support and guidance to help you get a good start with your baby. Depending on your municipality and your stage in the process, different services and contact options may be available.

During pregnancy

After birth

You can contact your GP if needed

Always speak with your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding and need medical treatment. In most cases, there is a medication that is safe to use during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Contact the on-call doctor or call 112 in an emergency

For sudden illness or worsening symptoms that cannot wait until your GP is available, or for minor injuries, you can contact the on-call doctor – or call 1813 if you live in the Capital Region.

In emergencies, if something is life-threatening or dangerous, call 112.

Contact volunteer breastfeeding counsellors

You can also contact volunteer breastfeeding counsellors if you need advice or guidance. Denmark has two support organisations: Forældre & Fødsel and Ammenet. The volunteers are mothers who have breastfed themselves, and both organisations provide guidance based on the recommendations of the Danish Health Authority.

Get help from Forældre og Fødsel

Get help from Ammenet