Mother to Mother: The Truth About Breastfeeding Your Baby

One of the most important decisions that you will have to make when your new baby arrives is how you will feed him or her. No doubt you will receive endless advice from friends and family, your obstetrician, nurses, midwives, and doctors at the hospital where your baby is delivered, as well as your baby's pediatrician. In fact, don't be surprised if well-intentioned strangers stop and offer you advice! You will likely be troubled to find that much of the advice you receive will be contradictory, and at times it may be very difficult for you to sort out the "facts" from old wives tales. Take it from an experienced breastfeeding mom - there is no shortage of information and MISinformation out there about breastfeeding, so think carefully about the source of any and all advice you receive.

First, you should know that the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is very clear in their recommendations about breastfeeding. In part, the AAP position on breastfeeding is: "Pediatricians and parents should be aware that exclusive breastfeeding is sufficient to support optimal growth and development for approximately the first 6 months of life... and... breastfeeding should be continued for at least the first year of life and beyond for as long as mutually desired by mother and child... The AAP firmly adheres to the position that breastfeeding ensures the best possible health as well as developmental and psychosocial outcomes for the infant."