Whether this is your first child or your seventh, sometimes breastfeeding can seem a bit frightening. Some of the questions new mothers ask are “how do I know my baby is getting enough milk,” “how do I know if my milk has come in,”  “how often should I feed him,” and, “should I wake my baby up to feed her?”

Let’s discuss the answers to these questions.

How will I know when my milk is already here?   Your milk is present even before your baby is born; it’s simply not yet recognizable as such. This milk is a thin liquid popularly known as colostrum. Colostrum is very concentrated and contains all of the necessary nutrients your baby requires to boost his immune system. Mother Nature is a wonderful thing, ensuring that, for the first few days until your milk naturally comes in, your baby will be well nourished. Eventually, over the course of a few days, you will notice a tightening in your breasts that is only relieved by letting your baby to suckle at the breast. Read more . . .

You know breast milk is best for your baby,  but sometimes you need to use a bottle. Expressing milk from your breasts and storing it in baby bottles can, at times,  be difficult for many mothers.  Luckily, it doesn’t have to be. Following the preparations below may assist you in this process:

1.  Select the time of the day when your breasts are at their fullest to express your milk.  Usually, morning seems to be the best time for most women.  Expect to collect milk about every three hours for about 30 minutes each time.

2.  Carefully wash all of your breast-pumping equipment as per the manufacturer’s instructions. Make it a standard habit to clean the equipment immediately after each use.  This usually helps keep the items easier to wash each time. Read more . . .