Breast-Feeding

Topic Overview

What is breast-feeding?

Breast-feeding is feeding a baby milk from the mother's breasts. You can feed your baby right at your breast. You can also pump your breasts and put the milk in a bottle to feed your baby. But pumping does not help keep up your milk supply as much. Doctors advise breast-feeding for 1 year or longer. But your baby benefits from any amount of breast-feeding you can do.

Breast milk is the perfect food for your baby.¹ Breast milk is the only food your baby needs until about 4 to 6 months of age. You do not need to give your baby food, water, or juice. After that, you will gradually breast-feed less often as your baby starts to eat other foods. But keep breast-feeding for as long as you and your child want to. Your baby continues to get health benefits from breast milk past the first year.

Breast-feeding lowers your child's risk for many types of infections and allergies. Breast milk may also help protect your child from some health problems, such as eczema, obesity, asthma, diabetes, and possibly high blood pressure.^{2, 3, 4, 5, 6}

To compare, baby formula does not help protect a baby from infections and other health problems.

You may recover from pregnancy, labor, and delivery sooner when you breast-feed. You may also lower your risk for breast cancer and for diabetes later on in life.^{7, 8}

Is breast-feeding hard to do?

Breast-feeding is a learned skill—you will get better at it with practice. You may have times when breast-feeding is hard. The first 2 weeks are the hardest for many women. But stick with it. You can work through most problems. Doctors, nurses, and lactation specialists can all help. So can friends, family, and breast-feeding support groups.

How do I plan for breast-feeding?

Before your baby is born, plan ahead. Learn all you can about breast-feeding. This helps make breast-feeding easier.

• Talk to your doctor about breast-feeding. Schedule an exam with your doctor early in your pregnancy. Before your first visit, write down any questions or concerns that you have about breast-feeding. This will help you to remember to talk about them with your doctor. Make sure your doctor knows about any breast reductions, implants, biopsies, or other types of breast surgery you have had.
• Learn how to breast-feed. The staff at hospitals and birthing centers can connect you with people called lactation specialists who can help you learn how to breast-feed. While you are pregnant, you can take a breast-feeding class. Also, get a breast-feeding book for quick reference. Ask your doctor for ideas.
• Plan ahead for times when you will need help. Think about who you could talk to or have come over to help you succeed with breast-feeding after your baby is born. Many women get help from friends and family. Before you have your baby, talk to friends and family members about your plans to breast-feed and how their support is important to you. Also think about joining a breast-feeding support group. After your baby is born, you may feel more "connected" if you talk with other breast-feeding mothers. You may also help each other answer questions about breast-feeding issues.
• Buy breast-feeding equipment. You may need breast-feeding supplies after your baby is born. For example, breast pads, nipple cream, extra pillows, and nursing bras are all helpful. You can buy these items ahead of time. It is also a good idea to buy or rent a breast pump to have on hand when you bring your baby home. Pumping your breasts can help relieve pain and pressure when your milk comes in. And it lets you store extra milk for future use.

How often do I need to feed my baby?

Feed your baby whenever he or she is hungry. In the first 2 weeks, your baby will breast-feed about every 1 to 3 hours. This schedule can make you very tired. But know that your baby will soon start eating more at each feeding, and you will not need to breast-feed as often.

Plan for times when you will be apart from your baby. Use a breast pump to collect breast milk ahead of time. You can store milk in the refrigerator or freezer for times when someone else will be taking care of your baby.

When I breast-feed, can I eat and drink like I did before I was pregnant?

Anything you put in your body can be passed to your baby in breast milk. If you are breast-feeding, do not drink alcohol, take drugs, or smoke. Before you take any kind of medicine, herb, or vitamin, ask your doctor if it is safe.

When should I call my doctor?

Talk to your doctor right away if you are having problems and are not sure what to do. Do not be afraid to call even if you don't quite know what it is that is bothering you. Your doctor is used to parents of newborns calling. He or she can help you figure out if there is a problem, and if so, how to fix it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Learning about breast-feeding:	What is breast-feeding? What are the benefits? How do I know if I can breast-feed? Should I breast-feed my baby?
What is normal:	How is breast milk made? How often should I feed my baby? How do I breast-feed?
Common concerns:	How do I know if my baby is getting enough breast milk? When should I see a doctor? How do I successfully manage my first 2 weeks of breast-feeding? How do I store breast milk? How do I hand express or pump milk from my breasts? Do I need to use birth control when I am breast-feeding?
Safety considerations:	Can I take medications while breast-feeding? Is it okay to smoke or drink alcohol while breast-feeding? What kinds of checkups should my baby have?
Helping yourself:	Do I need to have any exams while breast-feeding? How do I plan for going back to work and breast-feeding? What are my nutritional needs while breast-feeding? Can I exercise?

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Author:	Kathe Gallagher, MSW	Last Updated May 10, 2007
Medical Review:	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine Joy Melnikow, MD, MPH - Family Medicine
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