Breastfeeding can be a wonderful experience for you and your baby. It's important not to get frustrated if you are having problems. What works for one mother and baby may not work for another, so just focus on finding a comfortable routine and positions for you and your baby. Here are some tips for making it work, from the National Women's Health Information Center:

• Get an early start. You should start nursing as early as you can after delivery (within an hour or two if it is possible), when your baby is awake and the sucking instinct is strong.

• Nurse on demand. Newborns need to nurse often. Breastfeed at least every two hours and when they show signs of hunger, such as being more alert or active, mouthing (putting hands or fists to mouth and making sucking motion with mouth), or rooting (turning head in search of nipple). Crying is a late sign of hunger. Most newborn babies want to breastfeed about eight to twelve times in twenty-four hours.

• Feed baby only breast milk. Nursing babies don't need water, sugar water, or formula. Breastfeed exclusively for about the first six months. Giving other liquids reduces the baby's intake of vitamins from breast milk.

• Delay artificial nipples. A newborn needs time to learn how to breast-feed. It is best to wait until the newborn develops a good sucking pattern before giving her a pacifier. Artificial nipples require a different sucking action than real ones. Sucking at a bottle can also confuse some babies when they are first learning how to breastfeed.

• Breastfeed your sick baby during and after illness. Often, sick babies will refuse to eat but will continue to breastfeed. Breast milk will give your baby needed nutrients and prevent dehydration.

• Air dry your nipples. Right after birth, you can air-dry your nipples after each nursing to keep them from cracking. Cracking can lead to infection. If your nipples do crack, coat them with breast milk or a natural moisturizer, such as lanolin, to help them heal.

• Watch for infection. Signs of breast infection include fever, irritation, and painful lumps and redness in the breast. You need to see a doctor right away if you have any of these symptoms.

• Promptly treat engorgement. It's normal for your breasts to become larger, heavier, and a little tender when they begin making greater quantities of milk. This normal breast fullness may turn into engorgement. When this happens, you should feed the baby often.

  To relieve engorgement, you can put warm, wet washcloths on your breasts and take warm baths before breastfeeding. If the engorgement is severe, placing ice packs (or frozen vegetable bags) on the breasts between nursings may help.

• Eat right and get enough rest. You may be thirstier and have a bigger appetite while you are breastfeeding. Drink enough non-caffeinated beverages to keep from being thirsty. Get as much rest as you can. This will help prevent breast infections, which are worsened by fatigue.

When to Stop Breastfeeding

Although children in some countries continue breastfeeding until they're four or five years old, most American moms prefer to have their children weaned much earlier. Typically, that means weaning baby off the breast starting at six months of age — at the same time more solid foods are being introduced.

To stop breastfeeding, you may alternate solid and formula feedings with breastfeeding until baby gets used to eating more of the newly introduced foods. Some women also begin wearing a bra that is one size smaller than their current size; this creates a binding effect that constricts the amount of milk produced until the milk ducts dry up.