by BabyCenter Featured Expert posted in Parenting

By: Dr. Smita Malhotra
One of the biggest challenges new mothers face is with feeding their babies. As the baby's digestive system evolves and changes in the initial few months, feeding can often become unpredictable and sometimes stressful.
Even as a pediatrician, there were some things I never understood about infant feeding until I joined the ranks of sleep-deprived mothers everywhere. And I wanted to make sure all mothers knew these five things no one tells you about feeding your baby.
1) In the first few weeks, breastfeeding can cause abdominal pain
While the baby is breastfeeding, the hormone oxytocin is released. Oxytocin not only causes the contraction of the breast tissue to allow the letdown of milk, it also causes the uterus to contract. These contractions help the uterus to shrink down to its pre-pregnancy shape and size. All of this can cause painful cramps, which along with the tender breasts can make your body feel sore all over.
2) You may go through several formulas before you find the right one for your baby
While all formulas are required by the FDA to have similar nutrients, the differences between them may make all the difference for your baby. Some formulas can cause gas and fussiness, so you may need a broken-down formula or a more sensitive option for your child. This is only discovered through trial and error so be sure to consult with your pediatrician throughout the process.
3) If you are breast...