Breast milk is far more nutritional than formula and promotes good health for both mother and baby. Nursing will provide your baby with nutrients that fight infection particularly in the gastro-intestinal and upper respiratory tracts. Mom, breastfeeding will help to contract your uterus, bringing it down quickly to its original size. And an extra benefit your body will use up extra calories, thereby helping you to get back to your original weight! You will not have to carry loads of bottles, nipples and formula and your grocery bill will be far better without the high cost of formula. Finally, there is nothing like the quiet time you will experience with your baby when you nurse. Everything stops and nothing exists but you and your little one.

Nursing, like most things, takes practice and should never hurt. If you are experiencing any pain while your baby is nursing, you are either holding the baby incorrectly or he is latching on wrong. You will find most hospitals provide you with a breast feeding hotline before you take home your baby. Feel free to call them as much as you need. They are lactation consultants and can provide you with invaluable tools to help you successfully breastfeed your baby. If you still need help, make an appointment with your OB/GYN. You can also call your local La Leche League, who will offer education and support to any nursing mother.

After delivery (and sometimes before), your body will produce colostrum. This thick and sometimes yellowish substance provides your baby with protein, vitamins, water, sugar, minerals and infection fighting antibodies. Your body will start to produce milk in three to five days. In the first week or two after delivery, your uterus will contract when your baby first latches on. This naturally brings your uterus back to it’s original size. Breathe through these first few cramps, knowing that as your baby begins to nurse they will leave as quickly as they came.

Milk production occurs as your baby sucks and the areola’s nerves are stimulated. Signals are sent to your brain which begins the release of prolactin, stimulating milk production. The pituitary gland releases oxytocin, contracting your milk glands and pushing milk out to your baby. When this occurs, you will feel what is known as “letdown”. Letdown does not always happen when your child is nursing. You can be exercising, thinking about your baby or hearing another baby cry and feel your milk let down. If this occurs, change your breast pads immediately. Never let your nipples stay exposed to moisture, or they may crack. If this occurs, add a drop of olive oil to your pad or purchase a special cream meant for cracked nipples.

One of the biggest mistakes a new mother can make is to supplement her baby’s feedings with formula. This may occur after the baby begins to cry and nurse at sooner intervals. When your baby does this, it is actually his or her way of increasing your milk supply as your baby grows. The more your baby nurses, the greater your milk supply. It only takes a few extra breastfeeding sessions to send the signal to your brain that the body needs to produce more milk. If you supplement with formula, your baby will nurse less, thereby decreasing your milk supply.

Congratulations Mom, for giving your baby the very best your breast milk!

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