When can I start breastfeeding my newborn?

You can start to breastfeed your baby right after he/she has arrived after vaginal birth. Normally in hospital skin-to-skin contact is encouraged for bonding and baby will be placed on your breast to direct latch. You will be amazing your baby will start to suckle. If your colostrum arrive early, you should nurse as frequent as possible during your hospital stay. Colostrum is extremely easy to digest, and is therefore the perfect first food for your baby. Colostrum has a laxative effect on the baby, helping him pass his early stools, which aids in the excretion of excess bilirubin and helps prevent jaundice. http://www.lalecheleague.org/faq/colostrum.html When your baby is breastfed early and often, your breasts will begin producing mature milk around the third or fourth day after birth. For mother who undergoes c-section, if they are on full GA, she is not able to breastfeed immediately. Breastfeeding will start after the mother regain conscious from the anesthetic effect. If it is half body anesthetic, you will be able to breastfeed straight away too, however some mothers feel the wound is too pain to sit up/side lying to breastfeed baby. After some rest and feel more comfortable, breastfeeding journey can be started.