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The ABCs of Breastfeeding

By Dana Sullivan

You can't really prepare your breasts for breastfeeding, but you can prepare your head. Before your baby is born, learn as much about breastfeeding as possible. Start by taking a class at your hospital or birth center, or reading pamphlets from your physician. The more information you have about nursing before you begin, the more confident you'll feel about it once you start. Remember that confidence, comfort, and relaxation are three keys to successful breastfeeding. Simply put: the more confident and comfortable you are, the more relaxed you are, the easier it is for you to produce milk.

Getting Started
During the first few days nursing your newborn, you'll want to make sure he's establishing a solid latch, which is essential for successful breastfeeding. To make sure your baby latches on to your breast properly: Hold your breast with your free hand, with your thumb above and the rest of your fingers below your nipple and just behind the areola (your thumb and index finger should form a "C" around your nipple).
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