Breast Feeding

Getting Started With Breast Feeding
By Andrew Kelly

When you hold your baby for the first time in the delivery room, you should put his lips to your breast. Although your mature milk hasn't developed yet, your breasts are still producing a substance known as colostrum that helps to protect your baby from infections.

If your baby has trouble finding or staying on your nipple, you shouldn't panic. Breast feeding is an art that will require a lot of patience and a lot of practice. No one expects you to be an expert when you first start, so you shouldn't hesitate to ask for advice or have a nurse show you what you need to do.

Once you start, keep in mind that nursing shouldn't be painful. When your baby latches on, pay attention to how your breasts feel. If the latching on hurts, break the suction then try again.

You should nurse quite frequently, as the more you nurse the more quickly your mature milk will come in and the more milk you'll produce. Breast feeding for 10 - 15 minutes per breast 8 - 10 times every 24 hours is an ideal target. Crying is a sign of hunger, which means you should actually feed your baby before he starts crying.

During the first few days, you may have to wake your baby to begin breast feeding, and he may end up falling asleep during feeding. To ensure that your baby is eating often enough, you should wake him up if it has been four hours since the last time he has been fed.

Getting comfortable
Feedings can take 40 minutes or longer, therefore you'll want a cozy spot. You don't want to be sitting somewhere where you will be bothered, as it can make the process very hard.

Author Details:
Andrew Kelly, copywriter for various websites including, The A to Z of Breast Feeding , part of an ambitious project to cover various subjects plus a great many other sites including health sites such as; Microdermabrasion, Cosmetic Surgery and Laser Hair Removal.

Source: Information Junkie

NOTE: This article may be reproduced ONLY if the author details, article source this note and all links remain in place.

Related Breast-Feeding Articles:

Breast Feeding Homepage

Breast Feeding - An Introduction to

Avoiding Foods While Breast Feeding

Benefits Of Breast Feeding

Breast Compression

Breast Feeding Adopted Babies

Breast Feeding And Jaundice

Breast Feeding And Positioning

Breast Feeding Complications

Breast Feeding In Public

Breast Feeding Toddlers

Engorged Breasts

Getting Started With Breast Feeding

Health And Diet

How Breast Milk Is Made

How To Choose A Breast Pump

How To Use A Breast Pump

Low Supply Of Breast Milk

Other Foods While Breast Feeding

Poor Milk Supply

Reasons To Breast Feed

Refusal To Breast Feed

Returning To Work

Starting Solid Foods

The First Six Weeks

Weaning From Breast Feeding

Your Nursing Area