The first week is loud with advice. This checklist is meant to quiet the noise: swallows you can hear or see, diapers that trend upward, and pain that improves rather than worsens.
If latching hurts beyond the first few seconds, or baby is not waking to feed, reach out to your pediatrician and consider a Village lactation consult. Education on this site is not a substitute for clinical care.
Save this page, breathe, and remember: needing help is not failing — it is how villages work.
Educational support from The Village is not a substitute for medical care. If you or your baby have urgent symptoms, contact your licensed provider or emergency services. Practitioner credentials are displayed only when verified.