After Childbirth

Coordinate family planning visits with an infant's immunization schedule.
Optimal breastfeeding offers triple value: important improvements in child survival and health, better health for mothers, and temporary contraception. Still, any breastfeeding is better than none (except if a woman has HIV). See Preventing Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV.

Guidelines for Best Breastfeeding

Begin breastfeeding the newborn as soon as possible—within 1 hour after delivery
- Stimulates uterine contractions that help prevent heavy bleeding.
- Helps the infant to establish suckling early on, which stimulates milk production.
- Colostrum, the yellowish milk produced in the first days after childbirth, provides important nutrients for the child and transfers immunities from mother to child.
- Avoids the risks of feeding the baby contaminated liquids or foods.
Fully or nearly fully breastfeed for 6 months
- Mother's milk alone can fully nourish a baby for the first 6 months of life.
At 6 months, add other foods to breastfeeding
- After 6 months babies need a variety of foods in addition to breast milk.
- At each feeding breastfeed before giving other foods.
- Breastfeeding can and should continue through the child's second year or longer.