When should I start breastfeeding my baby?

When should I start breastfeeding my baby?

Rebecca Charlton (Lactation Educator & Registered Dietitian, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles) gives expert video advice on: When should I start breastfeeding my baby?; What nursing supplies does a new mother need?; How do I breastfeed my baby correctly? and more...

As soon as that baby comes out, as soon as you deliver your baby, you should ask to have it placed on your stomach, and the baby will begin a process of moving towards the breast. You can help guide that so that the baby can have its first breastfeeding within the first five to thirty minutes of life. It's really important for both mother and baby that that breastfeeding gets started. It's an important part of letting that baby know it's safe and secure, but also providing colostrum, which is a protective ingredient in breastmilk that will help your baby to avoid illness in the first year.