Breastfeeding Starts Before Birth: Why Prenatal Education Matters
By Sherri McCrea an IBCLC Lactation Consultant at Kyah Family Health Studio in Stony Plain, Alberta
The test is positive, the line turns blue, and suddenly it’s time to prepare for your baby.
Onesies. Burp cloths. A car seat. Bassinet. Diapers. Baby showers. Setting up the nursery. Doctor and midwife appointments.
There is so much to think about during pregnancy—but one important area of preparation is often overlooked: preparing for breastfeeding before your baby arrives.
As an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant), one of the things I hear most often from new parents is:
“No one told me that. I wish I had known that before my baby was born.”
Breastfeeding is a natural biological process, but it is also a skill that both parent and baby learn together. Understanding what to expect before birth can help make those first hours and days with your newborn feel less overwhelming.
A prenatal breastfeeding consultation can give expecting parents the opportunity to learn about breastfeeding, ask questions, develop realistic expectations, and understand where to turn if challenges arise.
Why Prenatal Breastfeeding Education Is Important
During the COVID-19 pandemic, I saw firsthand how much parents struggled without their usual opportunities for education, connection, and breastfeeding support.
Many prenatal classes and in-person resources were unavailable, and families were navigating pregnancy and early parenthood in an unusually isolated environment. Without easy access to education or the ability to ask questions, I spoke with many mothers who had stopped breastfeeding within the first month after their baby was born.
Those conversations highlighted something important: breastfeeding support does not have to wait until you are already experiencing difficulties.
This experience was one of the reasons I began offering one-on-one prenatal breastfeeding education sessions.
I started meeting with expecting parents, often around 28 weeks of pregnancy, for 30–60 minute prenatal lactation consultations. These sessions provide time to ask questions, discuss individual concerns, and develop realistic expectations before your baby arrives.
Prenatal breastfeeding education is not about creating a perfect breastfeeding plan or guaranteeing that everything will go smoothly.
Instead, it is about helping parents:
Understand what is normal during the early days of breastfeeding
Know what to expect after birth
Learn how breastfeeding and milk production work
Recognize signs that their baby may be feeding effectively
Understand when additional lactation support may be helpful
Feel more confident before beginning their breastfeeding journey
What Do You Learn During a Prenatal Lactation Consultation?
Every family is different, and prenatal breastfeeding education can be tailored to your individual questions and concerns.
A prenatal breastfeeding session may include education and discussion around:
How Your Body Prepares for Breastfeeding
During pregnancy, your body begins preparing for breastfeeding long before your baby is born. Understanding these changes can help you feel more prepared for what happens after delivery.
We can discuss how breast milk is produced and the important role hormones play in milk supply and demand.
Colostrum and Antenatal Colostrum Collection
Parents may also want to learn about colostrum, the first milk produced for your baby.
Depending on your pregnancy and individual circumstances, we can discuss when and how antenatal colostrum collection may be appropriate, as well as how to safely store collected colostrum.
The First Hours After Birth
The first hours after birth can feel exciting, emotional, and sometimes overwhelming.
Prenatal breastfeeding education can help you understand what to expect when you first introduce your baby to the breast, including early feeding behaviour, skin-to-skin contact, and your baby's first attempts at latching.
Newborn Hunger Cues and Feeding Patterns
Newborn babies often feed frequently, especially during the first few days and weeks.
Understanding early hunger cues can help parents respond to their baby's feeding needs before they become increasingly upset or distressed.
We also discuss what typical newborn feeding patterns may look like and how to recognize when your baby may be feeding effectively.
Breastfeeding Positions and Latching
One of the most common questions expecting parents have is:
“How do I know if my baby has a good latch?”
During a prenatal breastfeeding consultation, we can discuss:
Common breastfeeding positions
What a comfortable latch may feel like
Signs your baby may be transferring milk
Common early breastfeeding challenges
When nipple pain or discomfort may need additional support
While every baby and breastfeeding journey is different, having an understanding of the basics before birth can help you feel more prepared.
Breast Pumps and Flange Sizing
There is no shortage of breastfeeding advice online.
Parents often arrive at their prenatal lactation consultation with a long list of questions saved in the notes section of their phone—and this is often one of my favourite parts of the session.
We can talk about:
Do you need a breast pump before your baby arrives?
What type of breast pump may suit your needs?
When pumping may be helpful
Breast pump flange sizing
When to introduce bottles
Common breastfeeding myths and misinformation
Advice you may have seen on social media
Sometimes the best learning happens simply by working through all of the questions you have been collecting throughout your pregnancy.
Did You Know? Newborn Stomachs Are Very Small
In the first 24 hours after birth, the amount of colostrum available to a healthy, term newborn is relatively small—around 37 mL, or just over one ounce, across the entire first day.
That may sound surprisingly small at first, but it is appropriate for a newborn with a very small stomach.
This is also one reason newborns feed frequently during the early days after birth.
Frequent feeding does not automatically mean that you have a low milk supply or that something is wrong. Understanding what is normal in the early days can help parents feel more confident and know when additional support may be needed.
When Should You Book a Prenatal Breastfeeding Consultation?
A prenatal lactation consultation can be helpful for first-time parents and experienced parents alike.
You may benefit from prenatal breastfeeding education if you:
Are expecting your first baby
Had breastfeeding challenges with a previous baby
Experienced low milk supply or oversupply previously
Had difficulty with latching or nipple pain
Are expecting twins or multiples
Want to learn about colostrum collection
Are unsure whether you need a breast pump
Have questions about returning to work and breastfeeding
Want to feel more prepared before your baby arrives
Simply have questions you would like answered by an IBCLC lactation consultant
Many parents choose to book a prenatal breastfeeding consultation during the third trimester, often around 28–36 weeks of pregnancy, although the best timing can vary depending on your individual circumstances.
Breastfeeding Support Should Start Before You Are Struggling
You do not have to wait until you are exhausted, overwhelmed, worried about your baby's weight, or experiencing breastfeeding difficulties before reaching out for support.
My goal as an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) has always been to help parents leave their sessions feeling more informed, supported, and empowered.
Prenatal breastfeeding education does not promise a perfect breastfeeding journey—because there really is no such thing.
What it can do is give you a better understanding of what to expect, help you recognize what is normal, and give you the confidence to know where to turn when you need additional breastfeeding support.
Because breastfeeding support should not begin only when you are already struggling.
It can begin before your baby is even born.
Book a Prenatal Lactation Consultation in Stony Plain
At Kyah Family Health Studio, we offer one-on-one prenatal breastfeeding education and lactation consultations for expecting parents in Stony Plain, Spruce Grove, Parkland County, Edmonton, and surrounding Alberta communities.
A prenatal session gives you dedicated time with an experienced IBCLC lactation consultant to ask questions, discuss your individual circumstances, and prepare for your baby's feeding journey.
Whether you are expecting your first baby or preparing for another breastfeeding experience, we are here to provide compassionate, evidence-informed breastfeeding support.
Book Your Prenatal Breastfeeding Consultation
Kyah Family Health Studio, Stony Plain, Alberta
Call: 780-232-6814
Book your prenatal lactation consultation online through Kyah Family Health Studio.
Because feeling prepared for breastfeeding can start before your baby arrives.
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