1. You should begin breastfeeding your baby an hour after delivery.

2. Colostrums, the yellowish milk produced by the mother in the first 3days is very healthy for the child.

3. The baby does not need anything other then breast milk for the first 4-6 months of life. Breast milk provides adequate nutrition and immunity to the baby.

4. A baby who has only breast milk (no additional water) and urinates a minimum of 6 times in 24 hours is getting enough breast milk.

5. There is no need to worry about frequent watery motions in an exclusively breastfed baby, as long as the baby is active and passes urine adequately.

6. Your baby should be free to breastfeed whenever and for as long as it chooses. More suckling means more breast milk. Demand feeding alleviates breast engorgement and breast infection.

7. It is important that the baby not only gets foremilk (rich in carbohydrates, vitamins and proteins, that also helps quench the baby's thirst), but also get hind milk (rich in fat and calories). Therefore, you should allow the baby to keep sucking from one side until he leaves the breast on his own, so that gets enough hind milk.

8. Try to avoid bottle-feeding entirely. It is not necessary at all.

9. Bottle-feeding may be a direct cause for breastfeeding failure.

10. If the baby cannot tolerate bottle-feeding or artificial feeding, it can lead to a serious illness.

Knowing the basics of breastfeeding

Positioning:
The baby should be unwrapped before being put to the breast. This will allow it the freedom to feel its mother's body, especially her warm breast. It must be positioned such that, it is in a semi-upright position with its stomach touching your stomach, its lower shoulder touching you, and its upper shoulder close to your breast.

Latching on:
She must take the entire nipple (the dark areola) in its month. If the baby is still very young and has a small mouth, it is more important that its lips cover the lower part of the areola than the upper part of the areola. It is lower jaw that will do the entire suckling.

Timing and Frequency of Feeds:
The baby must be allowed to feed as often and as long as it wants (including during the night). This will ensure that it gets enough hind milk and also a feeling of security.

Ban of Feeding Bottle:
Although you may have got many feeding bottles as gifts, it is important that you never used them. The use of feeding bottles could cause nipple confusion and result in breastfeeding failure.