Breastfeeding can start an hour after the baby is born assuming there are no complications or problems with the mother or the infant. This should be done with the nipple and the areola which is the brown area surrounding the nipple into the baby's mouth. This should be done often since newborns are sleepy most of the time and will not cry when its time to eat so the mother must wake the baby every hour or every couple of hours to give it some milk.

Studies have shown that milk that comes from the mother is best for babies. This is because the milk that comes out has the right concentration of fat, water, protein and sugar that is needed in the first few month's of the infants development. It also contains antibodies which protect the infant from harmful bacteria and viruses and helps defend against disease and infection.

One must not give the baby any supplements such as water or any other liquid during this time since this could interfere with the milk that is introduced to the infant and lessen the amount of vitamins that baby needs to take in.

The first thing that the baby will be feeding on is thick yellowish milk called colostrum. This comes in small amounts that might let the mother think the infant is not getting enough nutrients but rest assured that it is all the baby needs. Newborns are sleepy most of the time and will not cry when its time to eat so the mother must wake the baby every hour or every couple of hours to give it some milk.

There are 2 ways to know the baby is getting enough milk in her system.

The first is observing the baby's weight. Should the infant lose some weight averaging between 7 to 10% during the first few days, the doctors can tell the mother that it is normal and everything is ok.

The second is by keeping track the number of diapers for the baby. Initial breastfeeding gives out milk on low volumes but are high in nutrients. During this time, the baby will have to be changed a maximum of two times a day. As the supply of milk increases, changing the baby can happen up to 6 times in a day and normalize to around 3 or 4 later on.

Breastfeeding can later on be combined with solid foods as the baby gets bigger. The first few months in the baby\s development is very crucial so it is important to consult often with the pediatrician regarding the health and the weight of the infant.

A good technique to make the baby continue drinking should the baby fall asleep in the middle of feeding is called Breast Compression. This helps the baby drink more during each feeding and is done by putting the thumb on one side of the breast and the rest of the fingers on the other and pressed firmly. This should be maintained as long as the baby is still drinking milk and should only be stopped when baby is just nibbling. This can be done again if the baby if baby stops drinking.

Breastfeeding may not be for everybody since some mothers may feel uncomfortable or have sore nipples from feeding. This does not mean it is still impossible to do so since one can still do this with an aid of a breast pump that may cost less or a lot depending on the kind the person wants to buy and if it is done either manually or electronically.