Breastfeeding provides many advantages for both baby and mother.  Bonding between mother and baby, enhancement of the newborn's immune system, and quicker return of the uterus to its pre-pregnancy condition are just a few of the known benefits.  Breast milk is inexpensive and convenient.  It also contains all the nutrients a baby will need during its first months of life.  Additionally, nursing from the breast encourages good tooth and jaw development in your newborn.

Colostrum is the first fluid that comes in from the breasts after your delivery.  Colostrum is high in protein and low in sugar and fat, making it easy to digest, and it will nourish your baby until your milk comes in.  Your first breastfeeding opportunity will occur in the hospital shortly after delivery.  Read all you can on the topic prior to delivery.  Talk to your doctor, family, friends, and co-workers about their experiences (both successes and failures), and do your best to be prepared.  This can be a very trying experience if your newborn does not initially seem interested or take to your breast.  The pressure will only increase as you find yourself surrounded by friends, family, and hospital staff all too eager to lend a hand -- yet another reason to read and learn as much as you can on the topic.

Be sure to let the nurses in the hospital know that you prefer no supplementary bottles of formula be given to your baby during your hospital stay.  Although not proven, it has been suggested that giving formula to newborns may confuse them, resulting in difficulty or inability to return to the breast after having been introduced to the bottle.  Following are some suggestions to give you the best opportunity for successful breastfeeding:

• The sooner you breastfeed after birth the better.  If possible, attempt breastfeeding within the first few hours after birth.
• Newborns usually nurse between 8 and 12 times in 24 hours.  Sleeping through the night at this age is not good for a baby.
• Avoid giving your baby any water or formula for at least the first two weeks to ensure nursing is established.
• The more you nurse, the more milk you will produce.
• Nurse an average of ten minutes on each breast, and alternate which breast you begin with at each feeding.
• Breastfeeding should not be painful.  If you feel pain, the baby is most likely positioned incorrectly.  Consult your hospital nurse for help.
• Your baby should be wetting 6 diapers and have 4 or more bowel movements a day after he's four or five days old.
• Your baby should wake up to nurse 8 to 12 times in 24 hours.

Breastfeeding can be trying and will require complete commitment on your part, but eventually will produce many benefits.  Try not to get frustrated if your attempts seem futile initially.  Make yourself and your baby as comfortable as possible while nursing, help him/her to learn to latch on correctly, and, most importantly, exhibit patience with each and every feeding until it becomes second nature for both of you.