else can feed your baby while you are away.

✽ “Mixed feeding” (which means combining breast milk withother milks, water, liquids or any kind of foods), is not healthyfor your baby before six months of age. It can reducethe amount of milk that you produce and canmake your baby sick. If you are having troublepracticing exclusive breastfeeding, discussyour situation with a trained counselor.

✽ When your baby is six months old, it is timeto begin giving other foods that are cleanand prepared in a safe way. Talk to a trainedcounselor about how and when to intro-duce new foods to your baby.

✽ If your nipples become cracked or painful, yourbaby may not be attached correctly toyour breast. You may need help toposition the baby better. Breastfeedingshould not hurt.

✽ If you develop cracked nipples, put somebreast milk on them, and let them air dry. Thishelps to heal the cracks. Do not use any othertypes of creams or ointments unless a doctorhas diagnosed thrush or candidiasis on thenipples and has given you a special medicinefor this.

✽ If a woman is HIV-positive, she should not feedher baby from a nipple that is cracked orbleeding. It is best to express and discard themilk from that breast until it has completelyhealed.

✽ To protect your baby from becoming exposedto HIV while you are breastfeeding, you and your partner shouldpractice safe sex. This means that both partners stay faithful toeach other, abstain from having sex, or use a condom. Consulta trained counselor about family planning options.

This brochure was adapted from materials developed originally by WHO/AED. Both technical and financialsupport for the development of this brochure was provided by the Quality Assurance Project (QAP), managedby University Research Co., LLC (URC), under USAID Contract Number GPH-C-00-02-00004-00. March 2005

✽ Check for sores in your baby’s mouthoften. If you find any, get them treat-ed as soon as possible.

✽ If your nipples become cracked orsensitive or if one or both of yourbreasts become too full, painful, hotto the touch or develop a red streak,this is a sign that something iswrong. Consult a trained counseloror other health care worker immedi-ately for advice or treatment.

✽ Try not to miss a feed, or your breastsmay become swollen (engorged)with milk which makes it difficult forboth you and the baby. If you mustmiss a feed, you should express somemilk to keep your breasts soft. Youcan also express some milk and storeit in a cool place so that someone

✽ Start breastfeeding within the firstone hour of birth. When you firstbegin to breastfeed, you mayneed to help the baby attach wellto the breast to avoid hurting yournipples.

✽ Your baby’s tummy should befacing your tummy. Touch thebaby’s lips to your nipple. Whenthe baby’s mouth is opening wide,move the baby quickly onto thebreast, aiming the lower lip belowthe nipple.

✽ Check that your baby is feedingwell by seeing that the baby’s

— mouth is wide open

— lower lip is turned outward

— chin is touching the breast

— cheeks are rounded

✽ The baby should take most of thedark skin (areola) into its mouth.The baby’s tongue should be overthe bottom gums. If the baby isin a bad position, or if you feelany pain, then gently take thebaby off the breast and start again.

✽ Your baby should take slow, deepsucks while breastfeeding,sometimes pausing. You may alsohear the baby swallowing.

Breastfeeding

✽ It is very important to practiceexclusive breastfeeding from themoment your baby is born, untilyour baby is six months old.

✽ Colostrum, or the first milk, isvery important, because itprotects your baby from manydiseases. Exclusive breastfeedingcontinues to protect your baby,especially from diarrhea andpneumonia.

✽ Breast milk is the perfect foodfor babies. It provides all of thenutrients and water that yourbaby needs to grow during thefirst six months of life.

✽ Exclusive breastfeeding meansgiving breast milk only, andnothing else, not even sips ofwater, except for medicinesprescribed by a doctor or nurse.

✽ Breast milk can contain HIV ifthe mother is infected. This viruscan pass to a baby throughbreast milk. Exclusive breast-feeding, however, reduces thechances that a baby will becomeinfected.

✽ Let your baby finish one breast firstand come off the breast on his orher own. This is a sign that thebaby has gotten most of the milkout of that breast. Then give yourbaby the other breast. This willensure that your baby gets the mostnutritious and satisfying milk.

✽ Feed your baby frequently, day andnight, as often and for as long asthe baby wants, at least 10 timesin 24 hours.

✽ Frequent feeding will help your body begin to produce enoughmilk and keep your breasts from getting engorged (swollen). Letthe baby sleep close to you at night to make it easier to feed.

✽ You will know that your baby is getting enough milk if the babyurinates at least six times per day. The baby’s urine should belight in color and not strong smelling.