Breastfeeding Your Child

The basics of breastfeeding, including getting off to a good start, handling common and not so common issues. Also includes information on how to pump, when to pump, which breast pump and more!

All moms can likely use some help and advice to make sure they are breastfeeding their baby effectively, including the best ways to get started and how coping with common breastfeeding problems.

Breastfeeding books can be helpful, and a picture may be worth a thousand words, but watching someone breastfeed, even if it is on a breastfeeding video, can be invaluable when you are trying to learn to breastfeed your baby.

Learn how to find a lactation consultant when you need extra help breastfeeding your baby.

Review the latest breastfeeding recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Keeping track of your new baby's feeding schedules, whether they are breastfeeding or drinking formula, and how often they are having wet and soiled diapers, is a good way to make sure that they are getting enough to eat.

Submit your parenting tips for coping with common breastfeeding issues and problems. Have you had to deal with a low milk supply, sore nipples, nursing strikes, or a baby that doesn't latch on well? What worked for you?

More moms are breastfeeding all of the time and they are breastfeeding for longer and longer amounts of time. Still, there is a lot of misinformation about breastfeeding that may keep your from breastfeeding effectively or for as long as you would like. Take our breastfeeding quiz to see if you know as much about breastfeeding as you should.

The purpose of breast compression is to continue the flow of milk to the baby once the baby no longer drinks on his own, and thus keep him drinking milk. Breast compression simulates a letdown reflex and often stimulates a natural letdown reflex to occur.

Breastfeeding mothers frequently ask how to know their babies are getting enough milk. Ways of knowing include having regular bowel movements, frequent wet diapers and good weight gain.

Common breastfeeding myths which are often not true and can lead to less breastfeeding, including that breastfeeding should hurt, babies need extra water and vitamins, and that formula is the same as breastmilk.

In almost all cases, breast milk is the most perfect food for your baby. Learn how to effectively breastfeed your child and find help for common breast feeding problems.

In almost all cases, breast milk is the most perfect food for your baby. Learn how to effectively breastfeed your child and get help with common breast feeding problems.

One of the main keys to successful breastfeeding is recognizing when you need help and getting it. This can include recognizing risk factors in the infant or mother that can make it more likely that breastfeeding problems will occur and intervening early.

Breastfeeding should be easy and trouble free for most mothers. A good start helps to assure breastfeeding is a happy experience for both mother and baby.

Vitamin D is now again being recommended for infants who are exclusively breastfed or who aren't drinking enough infant formula or milk.

Breastfeeding mothers frequently ask how to know their babies are getting enough milk. Ways of knowing include having regular bowel movements, frequent wet diapers and good weight gain.

A lactation aid is a device which allows a breastfeeding mother to supplement her baby with expressed breastmilk, formula without using an artificial nipple.

Candida albicans is a fungus which may cause an infection of skin and/or mucous membranes (inside of mouth, for example) in both children and adults. In small children, this yeast may cause white patches in the mouth (thrush), or diaper rash. When the nursing mother has a Candidal infection of the nipple, she may experience severe nipple pain, as well as deep breast pain.

Jaundice is due to a buildup in the blood of bilirubin, a yellow pigment which comes from the breakdown of old red blood cells. Normal infants can have physiological jaundice or breastmilk jaundice.

Finger feeding is a technique which allows you to feed the baby without giving the baby an artificial nipple. Finger feeding is also a method which helps train the baby to take the breast.

The decision about continuing breastfeeding when the mother takes a drug, for example, is far more involved than whether the baby will get any in the milk. It also involves taking into consideration the risks of not breastfeeding.

Very few maternal illnesses or breast problems require the mother to stop breastfeeding. Alsobreastfeeding rarely needs to be discontinued for infant illness.

Very few maternal illnesses or breast problems require the mother to stop breastfeeding. Alsobreastfeeding rarely needs to be discontinued for infant illness.

Common breastfeeding myths which are often not true and can lead to less breastfeeding, including that breastfeeding should hurt, babies need extra water and vitamins, and that formula is the same as breastmilk.

Still more breastfeeding myths which are often not true and can lead to less breastfeeding, including inverted nipples interfering with breastfeeding, becoming pregnant, diarrhea, using a bottle, having surgery, and breastfeeding twins.

Even more breastfeeding myths which are often not true and can lead to less breastfeeding, including not breastfeeding after an xray or being vaccinated, and myths about nipple confusion and giving formula.

The purpose of breast compression is to continue the flow of milk to the baby once the baby no longer drinks on his own, and thus keep him drinking milk. Breast compression simulates a letdown reflex and often stimulates a natural letdown reflex to occur.

Breastmilk is all your baby needs until at least four months of age. Most babies will do fine with exclusive breastfeeding until 6 months of age or longer, after which you can start cereal, fruits, vegetables and meats.

Information on how your baby can be fed when you are not with him. It is addressed in particular to the mother who is returning to paid work when the baby is about 6 months of age.

The following is a partial list of clues which help you judge whether the health professional is supportive of breastfeeding, at least supportive enough so that if there is trouble, s/he will make efforts to help you continue breastfeeding.

Domperidone (Motilium) is a drug that has, as a side effect, the increased production of the hormone prolactin. Prolactin is the hormone that stimulates the cells in the mother's breast to produce milk.

breastfeeding toddlers breastfeed two years three years independent dependent

There are really two objectives involved in nursing an adopted baby. One is getting your baby to breastfeed. The other is producing breastmilk.

In almost all cases, breast milk is the most perfect food for your baby. Learn how to find a Pediatrician that is supportive of breastfeeding so that you can prevent and treat problems early and maximize your chances of long-term breastfeeding success.

Learn about the risk of your infant getting infected with the West Nile Virus from breastfeeding and infected breastmilk.

Are you looking for a breast pump for purchase or rental? This comparison of manual, battery and electric breast pumps will help you choose the best breast pump for you!

Here are some answers to the most commonly asked breast feeding questions.

This is a free, online course designed to help you with breastfeeding your baby - whether it be your first baby, twins or more or a subsequent baby. You'll learn the basics, where to go for support and how to make it through the potential rough spots.

Resources for mothers who are breastfeeding newborns.

Comprehensive information and advice to help you effectively breastfeed your baby, with video clips, answer center, and a directory of lactation consultants.

Find medications and drugs that are safe to take while your are breastfeeding, those that are probably safe and which ones to avoid.

A breastfeeding guide for newborns, infants, and toddlers, with information about how to effectively breastfeed your baby and cope with common problems.

Share notes with other mothers, ask questions, see what other mothers think in this breastfeeding forum from the La Leche League International.

Use the Breastfeeding Help Form to submit a breastfeeding question to an accredited La Leche League Leader.