Breastfeeding has to be learned, and you should seek support and advice from your family, from friends with babies, and from your pediatrician or a lactation consultant. Above all you will learn from your baby, by understanding his signals and discovering how to respond to them. No special action is required to prepare the breastfeeding unless you have an inverted nipple. If you do, use a breast shell to make your nipple protrude so the baby will be able to latch on. If you are having your baby in a hospital, make sure the nursing staff knows you intend to breastfeed, and don’t be afraid to ask for help. Suckle your baby as soon as he is born – in the delivery room, if you are in the hospital – to form a bond with him as early as possible and let him get used to suckling.
