Breastfeed your baby as soon as possible following delivery. Skin-to-skin contact and frequent feedings will help get your new baby settled into the world. Many studies show the benefits of breastfeeding for both you and your baby. Breastfeeding will help you lose weight and bond with your baby and help your baby by providing a good mix of nutrients and antibodies to protect against diseases.

Here are a few things to remember when breastfeeding your new baby:

• Baby’s Tummy is Tiny — The stomach of a full-term baby is only the size of a cherry on day one and a walnut by day four.
• Just What Baby Needs — The first milk your body produces is called colostrum, which comes in small concentrated amounts and provides the perfect mix of proteins, carbohydrates and antibodies. It might not seem like much, but it’s all your baby needs.
• Feed Early and Often — A baby has a natural instinct to breastfeed; letting them breastfeed will calm them and train your body to make as much milk as the baby needs.
• Weight Loss is Normal — Your baby will have some weight loss after delivery, which is normal. Your baby should be back to birth weight by two weeks of age.

Babies let their mothers know when they are ready to eat. Watch for these signs of hunger:

• Smacking or licking lips
• Moving, squirming or stretching
• Bringing hands to the face or sucking on fists
• Opening and closing the mouth
• Turning the head from side to side

Choosing the right pump can make all the difference in breastfeeding success. Several Texas Health locations have hospital-grade breast pumps that can be rented. Hospital-grade pumps are typically more powerful than standard pumps and are often better able to extract milk from a mother with greater efficiency and/or speed. Learn more about renting/buying a pump from these hospitals:

• Texas Health Allen
• Texas Health Alliance
• Texas Health Arlington Memorial
• Texas Health Cleburne (available for purchase, not rent)
• Texas Health Dallas
• Texas Health Fort Worth
• Texas Health HEB
• Texas Health Plano
• Texas Health Rockwall
• Texas Health Southwest Fort Worth

If you have issues with breastfeeding, you can make an appointment with a certified lactation consultant on an outpatient basis. She can assist with ongoing questions throughout the breastfeeding experience, including:

• Milk supply concerns
• Preventing and managing mastitis, breast abscess or sore nipples
• Drugs and medications while breastfeeding
• Breastfeeding multiples
• Latching or nursing difficulties
• Preventing and managing engorgement
• Mom’s health, including the "baby blues," fatigue and slow weight loss

Click the below links to find support near you:

• Texas Health Allen
• Texas Health Alliance
• Texas Health Arlington Memorial
• Texas Health Cleburne (available for purchase, not rent)
• Texas Health Dallas
• Texas Health Denton
• Texas Health Fort Worth
• Texas Health HEB
• Texas Health Plano
• Texas Health Rockwall
• Texas Health Southwest Fort Worth

The Breastfeeding Support Groups are led by a facilitator who serves as a resource to the new moms to help them reach their breastfeeding goals

• Texas Health Alliance
• Texas Health Denton
• Texas Health Huguley
• Texas Health Plano
• Texas Health Southwest Fort Worth

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