First Feed

When will my baby have his first feed?

Clare Byam-Cook says

Ideally, you would feed your baby within an hour of his birth (because this is when his sucking reflex is at its strongest), and a midwife will normally help you do this.  But if your baby doesn’t want to feed or you are too tired after a long labour, it is perfectly all right to wait until you get down to the post-natal ward.

The first 24 hours?
Some babies are very hungry and wakeful after the birth and start feeding immediately, while others are very sleepy and may not want to feed much to begin with. Don’t worry if your baby sleeps soundly for the first 12 hours or so, but after that he should start feeding roughly every 2-4 hours. If he doesn’t automatically do this, you should wake him up to make sure he gets fed regularly. This is important for his health (he needs your colostrum) and to stimulate your milk supply.