A newborn baby is born to suckle. In fact, the sucking reflex of a healthy newborn peaks about 20 minutes after birth. But it may take the two of you a little while to get the hang of breastfeeding. So the sooner you put him to your breast, the sooner you'll feel comfortable.

Many moms nurse their babies for the first time right in the delivery room. The newborn baby is usually alert and eager right after birth. Plus, the breast milk your baby gets during his first feedings, called colostrum, is full of infection-fighting antibodies. Breastfeeding also releases oxytocin, a hormone that helps shrink a new mother's uterus down to its normal size.

For the first few days of nursing, feeding may last about ten minutes. Every baby and every nursing mom are different. With time, the two of you will relax into a feeding style and schedule that is uniquely your own.

	Get comfortable. And get lots of pillows. Whether you're sitting up in a chair or bed, or lying down, you'll need pillows to support your back and arms.
	Position baby right. Hold your baby close to you so that his whole body is facing you and his head is in the crook of your elbow. It's important to bring baby to your breast instead of leaning over to bring your breast to him.
	Have baby open wide. Cup your breast in your free hand, and try tickling baby's lower lip or chin with your nipple. Once his mouth is wide open, pull him onto your breast.
	Watch for correct latch-on. You'll know your baby is latched on right when his mouth covers most of your areola (the brownish-pink circle around your nipple) and your nipple is on top of baby's tongue. You'll also notice that his nose is right up against your breast.
	Listen for sucking. Newborn babies are known to fall asleep after a few sips. So watch his jaw for sucking motions, and listen closely for gulping or swallowing noises.
	Break the grasp. When you finish the feeding, gently break the grasp of the nipple by putting a finger into the corner of your baby's mouth. Slowly pull your baby away from you.

Feed your baby when baby lets you know it's time to eat. You will know when baby becomes awake and alert and smacks her lips. And, if you don't notice her subtle cues, she may alert you by crying, which means she's been hungry for a while. Some moms worry about not making enough milk. Remember, how much milk your breasts produce is really a matter of "supply and demand"—the more you nurse, the more you make.

It's normal for baby to nurse every 1 1/2 to 3 hours for the first few weeks. Eventually, the time between feedings may extend to every 3 or 4 hours. For proper growth and development, a newborn generally needs to feed about 8 to 12 times a day. With frequent check-ups with the pediatrician, you'll know if your baby is growing and developing properly. You can also count used diapers. During the first month, your baby should wet 6 to 8 times a day and have at least 2 bowel movements daily.