Breastfeeding is healthier for you and your baby

Everyone may be telling you that breastfeeding is the best thing to do, but do you know why?

For baby, breast milk:
* Is easy to digest.
* Provides various nutrients, proteins and antibodies for protection against infections and illnesses.
* Helps prevent allergies.

For mum, breastfeeding:
* Causes your uterus to shrink back to pre-pregnancy size more quickly.
* Reduces the risk of developing ovarian and breast cancer.
* Is free and always available.
* Does not require preparation in the middle of the night (or any other time).

How do I start?
The best time to begin nursing your baby is within an hour of his or her birth. At first, your breasts will produce small amounts of colostrum, a thick fluid that doesn’t look like milk. But it’s rich in antibodies and protein — exactly what your baby needs for his or her first brush with the world. As time goes on, you’ll produce two kinds of milk at each feeding — foremilk, a liquid like skim milk that’s high in sugar and volume, and hindmilk, a source of fat and calories to help your infant grow. Because it’s similar to whole milk, hindmilk may be more satisfying. As your newborn grows, your milk composition will change to match new nutrient needs.

How do I actually nurse?
Nursing is a perfect example of supply and demand. Usually, the more a baby nurses, the more milk is supplied. The trick is to get the supply started right away. That means feeding your baby on demand, which can be as often as every two hours for the first few weeks.

Nursing can seem awkward at first. The most important thing to remember is to be as comfortable and relaxed as possible. After you’re comfortable, follow these steps:
1. Hold your breast with your fingers above and below the areola (the circle of darker skin around the nipple).
2. Guide the nipple to the baby’s mouth. Gently rub the nipple on the baby’s lips until the mouth opens. Make sure the lips go around as much of the areola as possible, including the entire nipple, not just the tip.
3. After your baby latches on, you may feel your milk “drop.” It can be triggered by something as simple as your baby’s cry. This is known as the let-down reflex, the tingling sensation you get when the milk is ready to flow.