Maintain breastfeeding

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

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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.

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.


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.

 

Night feeds can interrupt your sleep, and you may have wondered whether giving a bottle would help. But research shows that parents of breastfed babies actually sleep more at night than parents who bottle-feed.

 

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.


  • 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.

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.

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?


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.

Read more about breastfeeding positions

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.

Who can you contact at the maternity ward?

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

Before birth, your midwife is the person to speak with about the early time with your baby and your thoughts about feeding – whether breastfeeding or bottle-feeding. If you have had previous breastfeeding problems, you can create a plan together.

Most maternity wards also offer antenatal classes, and your midwife can inform you about these.

After giving birth, you can receive help with breastfeeding from staff on the delivery or maternity ward while you are admitted.

All parents can also contact a breastfeeding hotline at their maternity ward within the first week after birth if they need help or guidance.

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.

Some municipalities offer prenatal visits from a health visitor, where you can discuss breastfeeding, bottle-feeding, and preparing for life as a new family. Check your municipality’s website to see whether this is available where you live.

If you have special needs, you can contact the service to ask whether prenatal visits are offered to you.

Your health visitor will contact you and offer the first home visit. You can always call your municipal health visitor service for advice or guidance.

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

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