Breastfeeding: A healthy choice

Breast feeding is the healthiest way to feed your baby; it's also the quickest and the most convenient.

Breastfeeding is a wonderful experience, and it also has many health benefits for you and your baby. Here are some steps you can take to have a healthy, happy, breastfed baby, and some expert advice about moving on to your baby's first foods.

Breastfeeding is special–a time to cuddle up with your baby, and gaze into her eyes.

Bonding with your baby is only one of the many benefits of breastfeeding. Here are some others:

• Breast milk is the best food for your baby. It provides the right nutrients in the right amounts and contains many ingredients that can't be duplicated in formula.
• Breast milk is more easily digested than formula, resulting in less gas, less diarrhea, and fewer feeding problems.
• Breast milk is safe. You can be sure it isn't spoiled or contaminated.
• Breast milk contains antibodies that help protect your baby from illness. Breastfed babies may have fewer respiratory infections and ear infections. They're also less likely to develop asthma, colic or allergies.
• Breastfed babies are at lower risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
• Breastfeeding is inexpensive and convenient. There's no need to boil water, mix formula or heat bottles. Breast milk is always there when you need it, at just the right temperature. And it costs nothing!

Experts agree breastfeeding is the best way to feed your baby. It's also healthy for moms. Breastfeeding burns calories, which helps to shed your pregnancy weight. It releases a hormone called oxytocin that makes the uterus contract and return to its normal size more quickly.

Studies also suggest that breastfeeding might reduce your risk of developing breast cancer.

How breastfeeding works

Whether you plan to breastfeed or not, your body will prepare for breastfeeding during pregnancy. Inside your breasts are many tiny sacs containing milk-producing cells. During pregnancy, the number of these milk glands increases and the fat layer of your breasts grows thicker. Your breasts grow bigger and heavier.

As you near the end of your pregnancy, your breasts may begin to leak a little colostrum, a yellowish "pre-milk" that will be the first milk your baby drinks. Colostrum contains proteins to nourish your baby and antibodies to protect against infection.

Your baby will be the one to start regular milk production. When she suckles at your breast, the nerves in your nipple send a message to the brain that it's time to get the milk flowing. Your brain will release hormones telling your breasts to "let down" their milk so it flows out of your nipples. This let-down reflex goes unnoticed by some women. Others might feel a brief tingly feeling in their breasts as the milk begins to flow. The more milk your baby drinks, the more milk your breasts will make. It's important when you breastfeed to nurse on demand and regularly. This way, your breasts will produce a supply of milk to meet your baby's demand.

How do I teach my baby to breastfeed?

Babies are born with a rooting reflex–a natural instinct to look for the nipple and begin nursing. It's a good idea to nurse in the first hour after giving birth, when your baby is wide awake and ready to suck.

To start, find a comfortable position, one in which you can hold the baby for some time without feeling stiff. You might want to use pillows or folded blankets to raise the baby to your level. When you're ready to nurse, bring the baby to your breast and stroke her lower lip with your nipple. She'll open her mouth. Pull your baby close to you and allow her to latch onto your nipple.

It's important that you bring the baby to you, and don't try to lean down to the baby. Doing it that way can be painful. Turn the baby so her whole body faces yours, not just her face. Make sure her mouth is covering your entire nipple and much of the areola (the dark area around the nipple). If she's not latched on correctly, put a clean finger between her lips and your nipple and gently break the suction. Then, try again.

Will breastfeeding hurt?

Breastfeeding shouldn't hurt. You might feel a gentle tugging when the baby nurses. When your milk first comes in, you might experience some discomfort, but not pain. If you do feel pain, make sure your baby is latched on correctly and that you are bringing her to your breast and not the other way around.

Sometimes, when your baby has not nursed in a while, your breasts might feel hard and tender. Encourage the baby to nurse to release the milk inside and this feeling should go away.

How often do I nurse?

Breastfeed on demand, whenever your baby is hungry. She'll let you know by nuzzling against your breast, making sucking sounds, or putting her hands to her mouth. Don't wait for crying–that's a late sign of hunger.

In the first few weeks, your baby will want to nurse every few hours, up to 12 times a day (that's including nights, of course!) Gradually, she'll slow down and nurse a bit less.

Most newborns nurse for 10-15 minutes on each breast. When one breast feels empty, offer your baby the other. Sometimes, she may not want to nurse on both. If that's the case, try to remember to offer the other breast at the next feeding. You don't want it to become too full of milk! Some mothers attach a safety pin to their shirt to remind them which side to start with.

If your baby seems drowsy and content after nursing and is gaining weight, she's probably getting enough milk. There's no need to worry. (Most newborns will lose a little weight during the first week, but should start gaining again quickly.) If you think she isn't getting enough, talk to your doctor.

When to start feeding solids

Most babies are ready to start eating solid food between four and six months. Some are ready sooner and some aren't ready until later. To tell if your little one is ready, look for the following:

• Your baby can hold her head up well. She doesn't have to be sitting up entirely on her own (she can be propped).
• Your baby's tongue reflex is gone. To protect themselves from choking, infants have a reflex that causes them to push things out of their mouths. Try feeding your baby a tiny amount of cereal. If the food comes right back out again on her tongue, she might not be ready.
• Your baby shows an interest in the food you're eating.

First foods

There are a number of good foods your baby can begin with. Many babies love rice cereal. It can be diluted with milk or water to a creamy consistency and it's easily digested. Rice cereal is enriched with iron and is unlikely to trigger allergies. There are also baby cereals made out of oats and barley.

You should try and get in some vegetables–strained peas, carrots, squash and sweet potatoes. You also can serve some fruit. Babies love mashed bananas, applesauce, mashed peaches and mashed pears. Notice a trend here? Make everything mashed, thinned with liquid, or strained. First foods should be no thicker than thick cream. Babies often love yogurt.

It's a good idea to introduce each food one a time. That way you can watch your baby to see if she has a reaction (rash, gassiness, diarrhea) and might have an allergy. You might try one food for three or four days alone. Then, if she tolerates it, try another.