
	Intro: Before you begin Step 1: Start early Step 2: Position your baby Step 3: Learn the latch Step 4: Get into a rhythm Step 5: Take care of yourself







	Expressing: Squeezing milk from the breast by a means other than nursing a baby Colostrum: A yellowish, nutrient-rich fluid present in the breasts before milk starts being produced; a newborn's perfect food


	Get a good book on breast-feeding. It'll help answer many of your questions and alleviate many of your concerns, especially if you can't find (or afford) a lactation consultant or breast-feeding organization in your area. Maternity ward nurses should be experienced and helpful nursing coaches. Take advantage of their wisdom while you're in the hospital.

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Learn2 Breast-feed Your Baby (continued)

Start early

Take these steps before and just after birth to get both you and your baby off to a good start.

Find a group. Other mothers who've breast-fed successfully can be your strongest supporters. Such organizations as La Leche League International offer classes, groups, and peer counseling for breast-feeding mothers. Ask your obstetrician, women's health center, or friends with children about breast-feeding resources in your area, or look in the phone book or on the Internet (type the words "breast-feeding resources" and the name of your town or region into a search engine).

Talk to the pros. Tell your doctor or midwife you're planning to breast-feed, and discuss any concerns he or she may have about your health. Ask him or her to recommend a lactation consultant. And find a pediatrician for your baby who supports breast-feeding. All these people can help you succeed, so get them on your side.

Nurse right away. If at all possible, let your baby start nursing within an hour or two of birth. Just-delivered babies are alert and already have a strong sucking reflex. If they're allowed to lick and nuzzle the breast (or even suckle if they like), breast-feeding gets off to a good start. The baby quickly forms a strong bond with mom, and your body gets the signal to start producing milk (which usually happens 3 to 7 days after delivery).

Make your wishes known. Let your obstetrician and the hospital's nursing staff know you want to breast-feed, and that it will help if the baby is:

Placed in your arms soon after its birth
Allowed to stay in your room during your hospital stay (rather than being removed to a nursery)
Not given any additional water or formula unless there's a medical need for it

Ask for help in making yourself comfortable, and properly positioning the baby at your breast. Your hospital stay, however brief, is a good chance for you both to practice.

Late start? If for some reason you can't start breast-feeding right away, don't worry. Most mothers and children who have an initial delay still build a successful nursing relationship. Even if you're not nursing immediately, start expressing your own colostrum and milk, so the supply is ready when the demand hits. Ask a lactation consultant about how best to do this.

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