The easiest and most natural way to feed your baby is breast-feeding. Breast milk is the ideal food for your baby, and it is all that your baby will need to thrive and grow for the first few months of life. Breast-feeding benefits both babies and mothers. It helps to protect your baby from common early childhood illnesses such as colds, ear infections, diarrhea and allergies, and it provides an improved resistance to disease. Mothers may feel a closer bond between themselves and their babies. Breast-feeding may help you return to your pre-pregnancy size more quickly.

Your breast milk is suited to your baby. It changes from hour to hour and day to day depending on your baby's needs. Colostrum is the first milk produced. This concentrated form of nutrition is specifically suited to newborns and provides additional protection against disease.

TIPS FOR SUCCESSFUL NURSING

• Give your baby only breast milk in the first few weeks of life.
• Avoid formula or any other fluid from a bottle unless necessary until your body has established an adequate milk supply. Discuss this with your physician.
• The amount and frequency of sucking tells the breast how much milk to produce. If you offer a bottle instead of the breast in the first few weeks of life, your body will produce less milk.
• Empty the first breast before going to the second breast. If one breast is not emptied, start with that breast at the next feeding. If the baby's sucking slows down, offer the alternate breast.
• Allow the baby to establish his or her own schedule for nursing. Early in life, the baby may need nursing every one and one-half to three hours around the clock.
• Frequent nursing helps to establish adequate milk supply, which will ensure your child gains adequate weight. It also plays a major role in preventing breast engorgement and sore nipples.
• Babies will usually need more to eat around 10 days and again at 3 weeks of age, and will nurse more often at this time. This causes your body to produce more milk for your baby.
• The infant's individual growth is the best guide to determine the adequacy of breast-feeding. If you have concerns, discuss them with your health care provider.
• You need increased fluid intake for adequate milk supply. To ensure that you get enough fluid during this time period, it is recommend that you drink fluids every time you sit down to nurse.
• Breast-feeding can be continued when you return to work. Discuss options with your health care provider.
• Take care of yourself, eat well and get plenty of rest and relaxation. Caring for yourself will aid in increasing your milk supply and improving your general sense of well being.
• The baby's first bowel movements will be dark green or black. This is meconium. Meconium filled the intestines before birth. Gradually, the stools will turn a light mustard color and will be slightly runny.

INTAKE FROM BIRTH TO 4 MONTHS
Breast milk alone will provide adequate nutrition until 4 to 6 months of age. Breast-feeding is optimal for the first full year of life. It is recommended that the infant be breast-fed and receive no other foods until he or she is at least 4 months old. Prior to 4 months, infants do not accept semisolid food because their tongues protrude when a spoon is put into their mouths. They cannot transfer food to the back of their mouth.

The infant's individual growth and development pattern serves as the best guide to determine when to introduce solid and semisolid foods. By 4 to 6 months, the infant can indicate a desire for food by opening his or her mouth and leaning forward. Infants indicate disinterest by leaning back and turning away. Until the infant can react in this manner, the introduction of solid food may not be necessary.

The transition from breast-feeding to solid foods will work better if you start solid foods late and progress quickly to table food. Waiting to start solid food until the infant is ready makes the change easier.

Source: Mary Beth Wells, RD - MMG