Of all the choices and stresses of bringing baby into this world, breastfeeding can be overwhelming to many new mothers. The benefits of breastfeeding are numerous but sometimes the support and knowledge that parents need isn’t available.  Having realistic expectations can help families better manage the various challenges they might encounter along the journey. Ideally, breastfeeding should be initiated as soon as possible after birth, preferably within the first hour. This early initiation promotes skin-to-skin contact, which helps stimulate the baby’s natural reflexes and facilitates breastfeeding. Newborns are alert and ready to nurse during this period, often called the golden hour. Understanding the cues and signals that indicate a baby’s readiness to breastfeed is important. Common cues include rooting (turning […]

Read more »