When your baby is born, he will be plunked at your chest and both you and he are expected to JUST KNOW what to do. Guess what? He doesn’t have a clue and neither do you. For many new moms, the first few weeks involve a lot of tears – and we are not talking about baby tears. Breast-feeding is a skill that must be learned. Get a lactation consultant right away. And, give yourself some time. You and your baby both have a lot to learn about this process and for most women, it does become easier within the first few weeks.

There is no doubt that breast-milk is best for babies. So, be open to considering breast-feeding your baby. Before you deliver, read up on breast-feeding and go to an informational class if one is available at your local hospital. Remember though, that breast-feeding advocates are often very “spirited”. Take the information they provide with a grain of salt. Breast-milk is best, but countless people were raised on formula, and turned out just fine. In fact, you might be one of them!

On a related note, don’t feel ashamed of using formula. Formula is there for a reason – to feed babies and help them to thrive. Don’t let anyone tell you that you are a failure as a mom because you supplement with formula or because you decide to use formula exclusively. One aspect of our job as “mom” is to FEED OUR BABIES. What we feed them is not related to how skilled we are at doing this complex, challenging, and amazing job!