by Shen-Li Lee

Created on: June 30, 2009

We know that breastfeeding is the best source of nutrition you can give to your baby. A complete food source specially formulated for your baby, breast milk contains all the nutrients (at least 400 of them), hormones and antibodies your baby needs for optimal development. Despite many attempts to mimic breast milk, no formula has ever succeeded in replicating all the benefits that breast milk provides.

As your baby grows, your breast milk will change to suit the stage of development your baby is at. Your breast milk is tailored for your baby and your baby alone no formula can boast such a claim. Aside from the brain building, infection fighting benefits of breast milk, breastfeeding also helps to nurture a special bond between you and your baby. The skin-to-skin contact, cuddling and holding involved during breastfeeding is an important part of a baby's development that is not only beneficial to baby but to you as well.

Unfortunately, being aware of the many benefits of breastfeeding does not necessarily make it easier. Learning to breastfeed, especially if you're a first time mother trying to nurse her newborn, it can be be quite a challenge. Here are some tips which can help make the learning process a little smoother:

1. Before delivery, read as much as you can about breastfeeding. Although technical knowledge can never replace physical experience, being knowledgeable about breastfeeding can help you if you run into trouble.

2. Let your doctor know that you intend to breastfeed your child so that every opportunity will be made available for you to do so as soon as possible after delivery. This is especially important because a baby's root reflex (the urge to suckle) is strongest right at birth and begins to diminish the longer you wait.

3. In the first few days of breastfeeding, your breasts are producing a substance known as colostrum that contains important antibodies that help protect your baby from infections and to line your baby's intestines to prepare them to receive full milk. Colostrum will continue to be produced for the first 3-5 days after delivery before the breast begins to produce mature milk. Unlike matured milk, the quantity of colostrum is a lot less and it may be difficult to "see". Some mothers (possibly on the advice of misguided but well-intended friends and relatives) mistakenly assume they don't have milk or that they don't have enough milk. This is not true. Which leads us to the next point...

4. Breast milk

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