TUESDAY, March 1, 2005 (HealthDay News) -- Getting ready for the birth of a baby is an exciting, yet busy, time. Among the many tasks for mothers-to-be are choosing a name, picking out baby supplies, and deciding how to feed the infant.
Before deciding on breast or bottle, consider these new guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics:
- Exclusive breast-feeding is suggested for about the first six months, and the academy supports breast-feeding for at least the first year.
- Mother and infant should sleep in proximity to each other to facilitate breast-feeding.
- Self-examination of mother's breasts for lumps is recommended throughout lactation, not just after weaning.
- Pediatricians should counsel adoptive
mothers on the benefits of induced lactation through hormonal therapy or mechanical stimulation.
- A pediatrician or other knowledgeable and experienced health-care professional should evaluate a newborn breast-fed infant at 3-to-5 days of age and again at 2-to-3 weeks of age to be sure the infant is feeding and growing well.
