How Long Should I Breastfeed?

Babies should be fed with breast milk only -- no formula -- for the first six months of life. The longer a mom and baby breastfeeds, the greater the benefits are for both mom and baby. Ideally, babies should receive breast milk through the first year of life, or for as long as both you and your baby wish. Solid foods can be added to your baby's diet, while you continue to breastfeed, when your baby is six months old. For atleast the first six months, breastfed babies don't need supplements or water, juice, or other fluids. These can interfere with your milk supply if they are introduced during this time. On of the best things that only you can do is to breastfeed your baby for as long as possible.

How do I know that my baby is getting enough milk from breastfeeding?

In the first few days, when you're in the hospital your baby should stay with you in your room if there are no complications with the delivery or with your baby's health. The baby will be sleepy. Don't expect the baby to wake you up when he or she is hungry. You will have to wake the baby every one to two hours to feed him or her. At first you will be feeding you baby colostrum, your first precious milk that is thick and yellowish. Even though it looks like only a small amount, this is the only food your baby needs. In the beginning, you can expect your baby to lose some weight. This is very normal and is not from breastfeeding. As long as the baby doesn't lose more than 7 to 10% of his or her birth weight during the first three to five days, he or she is getting enough to eat.

You can tell your baby is getting enough milk by keeping track of the number of wet and dirty diapers. In the first few days, when your milk is low in volume and high in nutrients, your baby will have only 1 or 2 wet diapers a day. After your milk supply has incresaed, your baby should have 5 to 6 wet diapers and 3 to 4 dirty diapers every day. Consult your pediatrician  if you are concerned about your baby's weight gain. You should visit your pediatrician between three to five days after your baby's birth, and then again at two or three weeks of age.

After you and your baby go home from the hospital, your baby still needs to eat about every one to two hours and should need several diaper changes. You still may need to wake your baby to feed him or her becuase babies are usually sleepy for the first month. In the early weeks after birth, you should wake your baby for feeding if four hours have passed since the beginning fo the feeding. If you are having a hard time waking your baby, you can try undressing or wiping his or her face with a cool washcloth. If your baby falls asleep while breastfeeding, you can try breast compression. As your milk comes in after the baby is born, there will be more and more diaper changes. The baby's stools will become runny, yellowish, and may have little white bumby "seeds."

Overall, you can feel confident that your baby is getting enough to eat because your breasts will regulate the amount of milk your baby needs. If your baby needs to eat more and more often, your breasts will increase the amount of milk they produce. To keep up your milk supply when you give bottles of expressed breast milk for feedings, pump your milk when your baby gets a bottle of breast milk.

Source: www.womenshealth.gov/breastfeeding