Every Indian woman knows that breast fed is best bed and now this has been established as a scientific fact by the American Association of Pediatricians.

But did you know why breast fed is best for you? Firstly it provides an ideal way to bond, second it stimulates hormones that shrink your uterus to its pre - pregnancy size. Finally there is sufficient scientific evidence to prove that women who breast feed are 50% less likely to get breast cancer.

The first few days

Your breast milk will come a few days after the birth of your baby. Until then, your breasts will produce colostrum, a thick yellowish substance full of protein and antibodies that give your baby a natural immunization against diseases.

Ideally breast feeding should be right after delivery. You might require someone in the family help your baby latch onto your nipple and show you how to tell when he's nursing correctly.

Once your milk does come in, your baby may want to start nursing every hour or so for the first few days. In just 2 - 4 days, your baby will need to nurse less often, about every 2 -3 hours, or 8 - 12 times in a 24 hour period.

Don't worry if your baby starts crying or fussing. Its just a normal way for him to let you know its feed time.

When you are nursing, you need to take to take a lot of attention of yourself. Get your self as much as sleep as possible, good nutrition especially with plenty of fluids such as milk, water or juice.

You would also need to supplement your diet with iron capsules, multivitamins and minerals.

Of course, above all you need plenty of love, attention and care from your husband and other members of the family. That's definitely a part of bringing a new life to the world.


When do I feed?

After 2 -4 days when your baby demands anything between 8 - 12 feeds in a 24 hour cycle, you need to wake your baby up if he sleeps for more than three hours during the day or four hours during the night. Otherwise, he'll wake up too hungry and start howling.

To know that your newborn is hungry, you can look at some of these signs:

Baby opening his mouth and turning to where he thinks your breast is
Making sucking motions
Putting his hands in his mouth
Muzzling at your breast
Crying (you don't need to wait for howling!)
Like lots of first time mothers, you might be wondering how much is enough. Firstly a typical feeding session lasts 10 - 15 minutes. Secondly, you know he's getting something if you can hear him swallowing. Perhaps the best bet is the way he falls asleep after a meal. If his tummy is full and his diaper is clean, he will probably right back asleep after feeding.

Other signs could be :

His urine is pale yellow, not deep yellow
Your breasts feel soft and 'empty' after each feeding
He puts 6 wet diapers and 2 - 5 loose yellowish stools each day
Breast milk is all a baby needs by way of nutrition until the 6th month. That's when you need to switch to solid foods to supplement his diet.

If you must start a bottle, do so when your baby is at least 2 months of age. Don't be surprised if at first your baby refuses to take a bottle of breast milk. A breast fed baby simply knows by all his instincts to take milk from a bottle when his mother is right there.


All you need to know about first feeds


You should introduce solid foods when your baby is 6 months old. Breast milk or a powdered milk formula should be continued till your baby is 1 year old.

Most babies start with 'daliya' - a simple rice based cereal which is easy to digest. You need to mix it with enough liquid to make a thin semi liquid - semi solid mass that is easy to swallow.

Sit the baby up in your lap and give him one tiny spoonful.

Remember this is the first time, he will be taking a solid and get used to the idea of eating his food rather than drinking it. If he gags or rejects the food, he may not be ready. Try again another week. Never force a baby to eat (he is too young to refuse food out of stubbornness - that comes later and may carry on!). He will eventually need about one half cup of iron fortified cereal at a feeding.

After cereal, you could add mashed ripe bananas, ripe plum and cooked vegetables to your baby's diet. You should make the food yourself in a food mixie/processor.

The best ways to avoid choking are to ensure that the food is mashed well and has a fluid like consistency. Also you could try to be present every time your baby eats. This way you can nip a potential choking incident (by slapping his back and forcing him to cough out) before it takes place.

Gradually replace strained foods with foods that have more texture as your baby approaches his first birthday.

By now of course you're very experienced. After all you've taken care of him for one whole year.