Before you meet your baby, it is useful to try and find out as much as possible about breastfeeding, including what to expect during the early days and what support is available should you need it.

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This knowledge can help to increase your confidence when you begin to feed your baby.

Where you can, let close family and friends know that you intend to breastfeed once baby is born. Although breastfeeding your baby is the most natural thing in the world there may be some people who find this uncomfortable. Tell them you are giving your child the best start in life - no-one can argue with that. Furthermore your partner may need reassurance that there will be other ways they can become involved in their baby's care, such as letting them be the one to bath baby. Remember, you've trusted your body for nine months to grow your baby and provide everything she needs. Now he is born that doesn't have to stop.

Read on for more helpful breastfeeding advice and tips ...

First Feed

It is important that your baby is able to latch on as soon as possible after he has been born. If you have had a normal drug free delivery and your baby is delivered directly onto your stomach, he should instinctively make her way up your body and latch himself onto your left nipple - the left because he will follow the sound of your heartbeat - amazing isn't it?!

If you experienced a traumatic birth, needed medical intervention during labour or are feeling exhausted you may not be able to have this initial contact with your baby - but you may be able to have skin to skin contact which will help to trigger the breastfeeding hormone and for you to bond with your baby.

The first feed will be made up of colostrum. This concentrated nutritious special milk is easy to digest, low in fat and high in proteins and carbohydrates - making it the perfect first food for your baby as his tummy will be very small (about the size of a small marble). To begin with, your baby will only need very small amounts - perhaps a teaspoon amount. Colostrum can have a laxative effect on your baby, which will help him pass his early stools, which aids in the excretion of excess bilirubin and helps prevent jaundice. It is also your baby's first immunisation as it contains antibodies your body has produced to help keep your baby healthy.

If you had medication during your labour, it could be that your baby is drowsy and unresponsive and this may last for a few days. Do not worry unnecessarily that your baby isn't feeding lots, ask your midwife or the infant feeding co-ordinator of the hospital for advice.

Early Days

Breastfeeding isn't easy, and is a skill that you and your baby need to learn how to do together. During these early days, it is important that you have support. This could come from your partner, your mum or a local breastfeeding counsellor. Keep these breastfeeding helpline numbers printed or written down incase you need any support:

NCT breastfeeding line: 0300 330 0771 , open from 8am–10pm, seven days a week. Or visit www.nct.org.uk

La Leche League GB breastfeeding helpline: 0845 120 2918. Or visit www.laleche.org.uk

Breastfeeding counsellor on the ABM helpline: 0300 330 5453. Or visit www.abm.me.uk

National breastfeeding helpline: 0300 100 0212. Or visit www.nationalbreastfeedinghelpline.org.uk

You can also find breastfeeding support groups in your area on your local site.

Getting started

Your baby will make his own routine: there is not a right and wrong time to feed and no set time to say how long a feed will last. It can be really hard as unlike a bottle, your breasts don't have quantity markings to tell you how much your baby has fed. Try to remember your baby's stomach is as big as its tiny curled up fist so it can't hold much. As your milk is so easy for your baby to digest, your baby will process it quickly and be ready for more.

You may find that one day he is feeding every 30 minutes and the next he goes four hours without waking up. During the early days, this is normal. This frequency of feeding can feel tiring so when he is asleep try to catch up on some rest yourself and ask for help - leave the dirty pots in the sink for your partner, ask your mum to put the washer on and your mother in law to do the hoovering; those around you will be glad of something to do to help you out. And if there isn't anyone to help, just leave things - your baby doesn't care if the house is a bit dusty or if your breakfast pots or still on the coffee table all she needs is a mum who is well and has enough energy to cope with her demands (and there'll be plenty).

Within three to four days your milk will come in and your breast will feel heavier and swollen. The early thick colostrum reduces and your milk now looks thin and watery - this is normal don't expect it to look like the stuff you buy at the corner shop! If your baby finds it hard to latch on at first, try expressing a small amount of your milk which will make your nipple softer and easy for your baby to latch on to.

You might experience a few moments of toe curling pain which will make your entire body clench tight as your baby first begins to suckle. This should pass and you'll feel what is known as the 'let down reflex' when your milk comes through. It is not normal to feel pain or discomfort throughout the feed. If you do it could be due to your baby not being latched on correctly - put your clean finger into the corner of your baby's mouth to break the seal and try again.

Is baby correctly latched on?

When your baby is latched on correctly his lips will be turned outward, her nose is almost touching your breast and at least half an inch of your breast around the base of your nipple is in his mouth. When he is suckling, you will be able to see the jaw working all the way back to his ears. Listen carefully and you will hear quick sucks and first and then slower swallowing.

If you still feel pain you can ask your midwife or a breastfeeding counsellor to check your positioning and if they feel anything is out of the ordinary they may suggest you see a GP to rule out any other problems such as mastitis.

Comfortable breastfeeding

Remember: your physical comfort is important. It's important that you are sitting or lying comfortably when breastfeeding your baby. You may find that you need additional pillows to help get comfortable, especially if you are still in pain after giving birth. If you need help with getting into the best position for you to feed or with getting baby latched on, do ask for help.