The first hour after birth is crucial in establishing a healthy breastfeeding relationship. Your midwife will work with you to make sure breastfeeding is off to a good start before she leaves after birth. Within the first few days, a lactation consultant is available for a home visit to help with any issues that may arise, or if you feel you need extra help.

Breastfeeding is the perfect way to feed your baby. Some benefits of breastfeeding for your baby are:

Easily digested nutrients for baby (the perfect food made for your baby!)

• Increased brain growth and nervous system development. Studies of breastfed babies have found that they do better on intelligence tests when they grow older.
• Better eyesight! This is mostly because of certain types of fat in breast milk.
• Less disease, as breast milk, has many disease-fighting factors. They help prevent mild to severe infections and hospitalization.
• Fewer digestive, lung, and ear infections, along with shorter duration of infection (like colds)
• A lower risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) than babies who are not breastfed.
• A lower risk of getting asthma and skin problems related to allergies. Formula-fed babies are more likely to have milk allergies.
• Less diarrhea and a lowered chance of getting some digestive conditions. Formula can actually change healthy bacteria in a baby’s intestines. The bacteria help with digestion and fighting disease.
• A lower risk of developing leukemia.
• Fewer long-term health problems as they grow up, including diabetes and obesity.

Women who breastfeed also get many health benefits. If you breastfeed, you are more likely to lose the weight you gained during pregnancy. You are also less likely to get breast and ovarian cancer and diabetes later in life.

Let your midwife know if you have had any breast surgeries, or if you had difficulties with breastfeeding previous babies. Breast augmentation usually does not affect the breastfeeding relationship, depending on the type of surgery. Breast reduction carries some higher risks of supply problems but does not mean that you can’t have a successful breastfeeding relationship with your baby. Supply problems are sometimes not the problem they seemed to be, as too many women are not adequately supported in their breastfeeding.

Some good resources for breastfeeding help are:

kellymom.com
http://kellymom.com/category/bf/

La Leche League International
http://www.llli.org/

Dr. Sears
http://www.askdrsears.com/topics/feeding-eating/breastfeeding