Having a child is so exciting, and if you’re a first time mother then knowing as much as you can about breastfeeding is going to be a huge benefit both to your child and to yourself. Without a doubt, breastfeeding your child for as long as possible is ideal????

Breastfeeding is natural and rewarding, but it can certainly be a little daunting if it’s your first time. Learning about positions, and learn about any possible problems you might encounter along the way and what to do about them. This preparation can really pay off when it comes to crunch time.

Why Is Breastfeeding So Important?
Feeding your baby your own milk is of course what the animal kingdom has been doing from time immemorial. It is the natural way, the ideal way and your body has evolved to provide your infant with the exact nutrients needed in the first stages of life. The benefits of breastfeeding are therefore all encompassing and include:

- Helps to build your baby’s immune system
- Minimizes the chance of your baby developing allergies
- May protect an infant from obesity
- Can lower the chance of SIDS
- Is thought to enhance a baby’s intelligence
- Possibly reduces the chances of you getting certain types of cancer

The vital first time that you breastfeed your newborn baby is when you provide him or her with the all important colostrum that all mammals require as it contains antibodies that protect the infant against diseases. When your baby is first handed to you after delivery is a great time for the first feed. This will likely only be a very short feed, but it’s enough to start with. Nursing staff on hand at the hospital will of course be there to assist you during this time.

Remember that the more your baby feeds from you, the more milk that will be produced. Nursing every 2 hours is quite normal and ideal although some babies will only feed 6-8 times daily. However rather than just feeding on a time based schedule, become in tune with your baby and when he is showing signs of being hungry. The goal is to stick to unrestricted breast feeding, to ensure your breasts do not become painful or engorged, and to make sure there’s always a constant supply of milk.

Each feeding can take up to 40 minutes so it’s very important to ensure you’re in a comfortable position before starting.

Keeping track of your own diet is something not to forget either. You will produce milk even if you’re diet is not 100% perfect, but naturally, the milk will be of better quality if your diet is. This is the time to focus on healthy vegetables, grains, nuts and other extremely nutritious and unharmful foods.

Breast feeding is extremely rewarding and a vital part of raising your newborn baby. Learning as much as you can about it will provide you with the base you need to make it as successful as possible for you and your infant.