Breast milk is the best food for your baby. Breast-feeding for the entire first year is ideal, but any amount of breast-feeding helps and at least 4 to 6 months will make your baby stronger and healthier. The only alternative to breast milk is infant formula. All babies should drink breast milk or formula (not cow’s milk) for a full year. Solid foods can be introduced when your baby is 4 to 6 months old, but babies should continue nursing or drinking formula for the entire first year. Breast milk provides excellent nutrition, prevents allergies, and fights infections. Nursing can help you and your baby feel close. Breast-feeding is also good for mothers. It helps your uterus get back to normal size and makes it easier to lose pregnancy weight. Women who nurse also reduce their risk of breast and ovarian cancer.
For the first few weeks, babies should nurse whenever they want, day and night. Your baby will probably want to eat every 2 or 3 hours. That means nursing at least 8 times — and as many as 12 times — in 24 hours. Frequent feeding will help establish your milk supply and help your baby gain weight. By age 4 to 5 weeks, your baby will probably be nursing less often and will start to have a more regular feeding pattern. Check with your baby’s doctor about whether your baby needs vitamin supplements.
There are very few medical reasons why a mother shouldn’t breast-feed. Most common illnesses, such as colds and the flu, can’t be passed through breast milk. However, HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, can be transmitted in this way, and mothers who are HIV-positive should not breast-feed.
For more information on breast-feeding, call
Women's Healthline at 311.
