Breast-feeding
The keys to successful breast-feeding are confidence, commitment and, most of all, practice. Breast-feeding is natural, but it's not instinctive.
The first thing you can do to stack the odds in your favor is to educate yourself through reading and talking to others who have breast-fed successfully. They can give you the extra encouragement you need to keep going.
Do not fall into the trap of believing others when they say you don't have enough milk. Moms have plenty of milk if they keep nursing their babies.
Here are some other helpful hints for breast-feeding mothers.
Feed the baby on demand.
Go by the baby's needs, not by an externally imposed schedule. Many babies are hungry every two hours. The more your baby nurses, the more milk you produce.
Don't supplement
breast-feeding at all during the first two weeks with bottles of water or formula - healthy infants get all they need from breast-milk. If you do supplement, you'll run the risk of decreasing your milk supply.
Baby must be positioned on the breast properly.
Baby and mom should be tummy to tummy - and that baby has as much of the breast in her mouth as possible.
If the baby is only on the nipple, soreness will result. If you have any doubts that the baby is latching on correctly, call a lactation educator or someone else who is knowledgeable about breast-feeding.
They will be able to tell very quickly whether things are going smoothly and give you help if there are problems.
Be patient.
It takes time to get to know one another and to perfect the art of breast-feeding.
Adhere to a healthy diet.
You need 400 to 500 more calories than you did to maintain your pre-pregnancy weight.
And drink at least eight, but no more than 12 cups of liquid a day. Take your vitamin supplement for pregnant or lactating women.
Call someone if you have questions.
You'll be more likely to continue to breast-feed if you feel you're not alone.
And, finally, cherish the experience. If you can just sit back, relax and enjoy breast-feeding, you really can't do anything wrong.
Bottle-feeding
You and your doctor will decide which formula is best; if your baby is allergic to milk, there are special formulas available on the market. Never change formulas without discussing it first with your doctor.
Here are some other things to keep in mind about bottle feeding.
Whether you choose ready-to-pour, ready-to-mix powder or liquid formula is up to you, but powder is the most economical.
The first time you use new bottles, rings, nipple caps or nipples, sterilise them in boiling water. Some physicians advise parents to sterilise for two or three months - ask your doctor for his or her recommendation.
When you mix formula, follow the manufacturer's directions exactly.
Check the expiration date on the container to make sure you're using a safe product. If you're using a powder formula, it's easiest to prepare the entire day's bottles in the morning and put them in the refrigerator so they'll be ready when baby is hungry.
If you warm formula, place it in a pan of hot water or hold the bottle under hot, running water.
Never microwave bottles because milk in the center of the bottle can easily get overheated.
When you travel, take cans of ready-to-use formula, or sterile water and single-serving powder formula packets.
Follow your baby's lead to decide how much formula to give. At first, babies only take a few grams; by the time they are three months old, many take up to four eight-ounce bottles a day.
Tune in to signals that your baby has had enough - fussiness, pushing bottle away or turning the head.
Nourish your baby emotionally as well as physically. Give your newborn skin-to-skin contact whenever possible, cuddle and speak softly and lovingly.