The decision whether to breast-feed or to bottle-feed is a very personal one. The most important thing is that the mother be comfortable with her decision. If you are, confused about the advantages and the disadvantages of one method versus the other, you are encouraged to discuss this with either your obstetrical or pediatric health care provider.

Breast-feeding your baby can he a very rewarding experience, and is strongly recommended because of the benefits to both the mother and the baby. Mothers get back to normal more quickly after delivery and infants receive immune substances to protect them from infection. They receive a nutritionally balanced, gestationally correct milk and are less likely to have feeding problems or allergies. If your infant was to be born prematurely, your breast milk would be adjusted to meet the nutritional needs of the gestational age of the baby at the time of birth. The breastfeeding experience also enhances maternal and infant attachment. The key to successful nursing is remaining relaxed because being tense can decrease your flow of milk. Answering your questions regarding your nursing experience is your health care provider’s way of being supportive and assisting you to gain confidence. If you are in the hospital, your baby will be brought to you as often as you wish or whenever the infant is awake. Most hospitals now have a mother-baby unit in which the infant stays with the mother at all times and is taken back to the nursery only at the mother’s request. Often in those first days or life the baby will not want to waken to feed. Babies are very tired from the birth process and will use those early days to rest and recuperate from the long and arduous birth process. Yes, it was hard for him too! The baby’s internal clock will make him waken at different times than you would expect in relationship to the last time he ate.

Don't be alarmed by the fact that the baby’s desire to nurse is sporadic. Once you have milk and you are nursing often, you will be able to see what his pattern is and nurse him whenever he wants and needs to eat. When your baby is nursing, allow him or her to nurse as long as they seem to want. Each baby is different and their personality make-up will determine how long or short their nursing time will be. Also, being human, their needs may vary with each nursing time. To avoid nipple soreness, be sure that the baby is nursing on the area behind the nipple and remember to release the suction at the end of the feeding by putting your finger in the side of the baby’s mouth. If you are experiencing soreness of your nipples, changing your holding and/or positioning techniques can make a big difference. There is always assistance available through your health care providers or organizations such as La Leche League. The hospital where you delivered your infant may also offer support in the form of a lactation specialist and don’t forget friends, relatives, and your mother. They will offer support and may have first hand knowledge. Also there are many fine books on the subject.

At first, you should alternate each breast during a feeding. Breast fed babies may not always burp, but you should always offer your baby the opportunity as you alternate from breast to breast or whenever it seems necessary. Later, as your flow of milk increases and you settle into your routine at home, you may find it easier to nurse from only one breast at a feeding. The method you use depends totally on what works for you and your baby.

Most newborn infants will lose weight while in the hospital and in those first few days at home. Some of them will lose up to 10% of their body weight. This is a normal and expected occurrence.

Once you have milk, you will find that there may be no "schedule" associated with your baby’s feedings. Breast milk has the same caloric value as formula per ounce, but it’s protein makeup makes it more readily tolerated and more easily digested, and it often leaves the stomach faster than formula. So your baby will be getting adequate amounts at a feeding, but may be hungry sooner than a baby who is not breast fed. This is normal. It is more common for the average breast fed infant to nurse every 11/2 - 2 hours from the start of one feeding to the start of another. Until your nursing routine is firmly established, it would be better to limit your baby’s intake to breast milk alone. To assist your baby in developing a pattern of longer sleeping at night, you might not allow him to sleep more than 5 hours at a time during the day. Babies grow in spurts and at these periods of accelerated growth milk needs increase. Your baby may suddenly nurse more often, decreasing the time interval between feedings. This is normal and does not mean anything except that your baby is growing. The more frequent nursing may not last more than a day or two. Then things will return to what had been normal for you and your baby.

If you decide to bottle feed, there are several choices of formula available. The powdered, concentrate, and ready to feed forms are nutritionally the same. There is some difference in the expense. You may choose any of the prepared formulas with Iron which are available.

You may use any of the bottles or nipples on the market. Make sure that all of the equipment that you use is well cleaned. Wash in hot, soapy water with a bottle brush, rinse twice in hot water, or use a dishwasher. If you use water treated by a city plant for washing, sterilizing is unnecessary. If sterilization is recommended, a simple way to prepare formula is to mix it and put it in clean bottles to sterilize it. This is called the terminal method of sterilizing. It is convenient to have a special sterilizer, but a kettle or pot with a well fitting lid will work just as well. It must be deep enough so that the tops of the bottles don’t touch the lid. The bottles must be kept off of the bottom. If you don’t have a rack, a clean folded towel in the bottom of the kettle will do. Formula may be fed to your baby either warm or cool. The temperature depends on your baby’s preference.

Your baby will probably need 2-4 ounces of formula every 3-4 hours. As he begins to empty most of the bottles offered for several days in succession, or no longer seems satisfied with the amount being offered, it is probably time to increase the amount of formula given at a feeding by ½ -1 ounce amounts. Formula needs differ so babies of the same age may be taking different amounts.

Check the nipples before starting to feed the baby. Formula should drip steadily from the nipple. If the formula drips slower, make an additional hole in the nipple with a needle. Cross cut nipples will not drip. The opening can be enlarged with a sharp razor blade pinching the nipple at right angles to the slit and gently cutting a deeper slit.

Premixed formulas are perfectly satisfactory if you desire to use them, although they tend to be more expensive. They are especially convenient when traveling. They may be stored at room temperature if unopened. Be very careful of the amount of time that opened formula is not refrigerated. Bacteria will grow in milk very easily. Only put the amount of milk into the bottle that your baby will drink at one feeding so that you limit the amount of time that milk will be at room temperature. Particularly in the summertime, it will probably be safer to take clean bottles of water with you to mix with powdered formula when your baby is hungry, if you are going out.

While feeding the baby, select a comfortable chair to sit in, relax, and hold him in an upright position on your lap, with your arm supporting his head. Keep the nipple full of formula to reduce the swallowing of air. Do not prop your baby’s bottle or feed him laying flat on his back. Bottle fed babies will typically pause in their eating to let you know when they are in need of burping.

Although it is not necessary to adhere to a strict schedule, your baby will be more content if he eats at about the same time each day. If he goes longer then 5 hours during the day without waking, you may wish to wake him and feed him in order to avoid frequent waking at night. The average age for the baby to sleep all night is approximately 2 months of age. Babies waken at night to eat because they need those meals for proper growth. It is not recommenced to use cereal, either added to a bottle or given with a spoon, before 6 months of age as a method of extending nighttime sleep. When your baby is older a "growing up" beverage may be suggested for use.