You?ve decided to breastfeed?a rewarding and challenging experience awaits!
Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended for baby for the first six months or longer unless your baby has a medical reason otherwise. This means your baby gets only breastmilk, not other fluids, like formula, water, or foods.
See also: 15 Safe Sleep Tips for Baby
Colostrum?baby?s first food
During the first few days after birth, your breasts make colostrum?food so rich in nutrients and infection-fighting antibodies that it?s called liquid gold. It?s all your newborn needs.
Breastfeeding?a learned experience
From the first latch, you and baby learn about breastfeeding. For many moms and babies, especially first-timers, this process takes patience, rest, family support and a healthy diet with plenty of water.  The golden hour?the first-hour post-birth
Baby should be placed on your chest, skin-to-skin, at birth, to promote bonding and breastfeeding. Babies are most alert and awake in the first hour. Your nurse will help you bring baby to latch onto the areola?the darkened area around the nipple?with a wide-open mouth.
The first 24 hours of life
Babies are often sleepy after the first feeding and for the next 24 hours. Keep baby close-by, skin-to-skin if possible, to help you learn how baby shows interest in nursing. Crying is a late cue; a crying baby may need calming before latching. Expect your baby to breastfeed at least 8-10 times in a 24-hour period. Let baby nurse ?on-demand?. The more baby nurse...