Is   breastfeeding   better  than   bottle-feeding?
Breast is best. Advantages of breastfeeding include:
•     Enjoying a special closeness with your baby as it is a most satisfying experience and leads to better bonding.
•    The baby gets to feel your softness and warmth, listen to the sound of your voice, see your face and enjoy the sucking.
•    Your  milk  contains  antibodies  and  other substances which reduce the likelihood of infection, constipation, obesity, colic and allergies.
•    The milk itself is easier for the baby to digest, comes at the right temperature and is free.
•     Breastfeeding helps the uterus contract faster so that nursing mothers get back into shape more quickly.

When do I first feed my baby?
As soon as you are ready. If you have had a Caesarean section, you may not be quite prepared to breastfeed your baby on the first day even though you are keen. It is best not to push yourself. Let someone else bottle-feed the baby first.

My breasts are small but I still want to breastfeed.
You do not need to have big breasts to feed your baby. Breast milk is produced by special glands around the nipple and these glands are very small and not related to the size of your breasts. So size does not matter.

How do I start?
Start putting your baby on your breast and relax. Make sure the nipple is as deep into the baby's mouth as possible because if the baby does not latch on well, he can hurt your nipple. Do not worry if you do not succeed the first time. The first milk you produce is called colostrum. Your baby will not starve on this. You will quickly develop your supply.

What is colostrum?
It is the early milk that you produce before the actual milk comes in. It is watery and yellowish in colour. Mother Nature has provided all the nutrients and water (which explains its watery nature) that the baby needs in this early period. It also contains a high concentration of substances that help to immunise and protect babies from harmful infections. Colostrum also contains a natural laxative that will get your baby's bowels going. After about two to three days, the colostrum is replaced by mature first milk.

How often should I breastfeed my baby?
If you are breastfeeding your baby, there is no need to go strictly according to time. You feed your baby when he demands it or when he seems to be hungry. At the beginning, feeding times for your baby can be quite haphazard and unpredictable. Your baby may require feeds as frequently as two to three hourly. He will soon develop a routine and you will develop a supply which will be able to satisfy his needs. So by about one month, he should be able to settle down to six to eight feeds a day. You will also learn to recognise the times when your child is hungry and requires the next feed.

How long should I put my baby on the breast?
It is important not to put your baby on the breast for too long a period as it can lead to cracked nipples and infection (mastitis). Generally, five to 20 minutes on each breast is more than adequate if you have a good supply of milk.

My baby is sucking poorly. What should I do?
During the first days of life, some babies do not suck very well. They have just come through one of the most traumatic ordeals in life, namely that of childbirth. Furthermore, some mothers receive an anaesthetic to reduce the pain of childbirth. The anaesthetic may make the baby a little sleepy for a few hours. Hence the suck can be quite poor. Nurses are aware of this problem in the newborn and will ensure that your child gets adequate nutrition. Gentle coaxing may succeed. If not, a tube may have to be inserted into the stomach to deliver the milk. If the problem persists, the doctor will check if there is any underlying problem.

How do I know that I am giving enough breast milk to my baby?
This is a common worry for breastfeeding mothers because when feeding directly from the breast, it is impossible to measure the amount of milk taken in by the baby. You can in fact "test weigh" the baby before and immediately after a breast feed. While this can give you a rough guide, it is really quite an impractical routine to follow. Indeed, the best guide as to whether your baby is getting enough milk is to see a happy, contented baby who looks healthy, passes urine and gains weight adequately. Most babies will gain about one ounce (30 g) each day. You can plot your child's progress on a growth chart and your child should grow parallel to the percentile lines.

Can I increase my milk supply?
Many factors can affect your milk supply. If you are under emotional stress, overworked, tired or worried, you may find your milk supply diminishing. In this case, it is better for you to rest and recuperate from your tiredness and stress. Do not worry if there are moments when your baby's demand exceeds your supply of milk. Be sure you have a good and well-balanced diet. The Chinese believe that eating more of certain varieties of fish, papaya, and drinking more water will help increase the supply of breast milk. Westerners believe that taking yeast will work.

Can all mothers breastfeed?
While most mothers are able to breastfeed their babies, there are some who are unable to breastfeed, for one reason or another. If you cannot breastfeed, do not be upset. The following is a list of conditions which make breastfeeding difficult or inadvisable:
• Inverted nipples: The baby has difficulty in sucking breasts when the nipples are severely inverted. For mildly inverted cases, you can try to extrude the nipple by using your hands. Nipplette, a plastic cup placed over the nipple with a suction device to draw the milk, can also help those with inverted nipples to provide
breast milk.
• Breast infection (mastitis): A breast infection or abscess makes breastfeeding painful. Moreover, bacteria can enter the breast milk and infect baby.
• Taking medication: Check with your doctor to see whether you are taking medicines which may enter breast milk and requires you to discontinue breastfeeding.