6. Doctors may not know everything.

This is an unfortunate fact in Singapore and many places in the world.  Doctors do not know much about breastfeeding because they are not taught in medical school, I guess.  A good LC knows more than your average doctor, including gynaecologists.  It is commonplace to hear of doctors giving patients the wrong instructions.  It is always good to check back with a good LC on whatever instructions you received from a doctor regarding breastfeeding.  It is a sad fact that an ignorant doctor can greatly set you back in your effort to breastfeed.

7. Do not allow your baby to be bottle fed in the first month

Babies tend to develop 'nipple preference' or 'nipple confusion'.  I much prefer the term 'preference' because I don't think they are 'confused' at all.  Babies exposed to bottles tend to prefer the bottles because it is much easier work for them to suck milk.  Also, the way they suck is different from how they latch on to your breasts and suck milk.

Do not allow your baby to be fed by a bottle in the first month.  Generally, that's how long it takes to get breastfeeding going on smoothly and successfully.  Giving your baby bottles of milk, even expressed breastmilk, is going to create problems for you.

When you are in the hospital, you must give clear instructions to the nurses, especially those in the nursery, NOT to feed with bottle.  You may have to keep checking on them because sometimes they do forget.  If you want to be safe, you may want to room in with your baby so that you are in control of  all the feedings.

Some people try to feed with a bottle so that they can 'know how much the baby is drinking'.  Don't bother; it is unnecessary.  What your baby gets from you directly is way more than what you can express with a pump.  And why do you want to know how much your baby is drinking?  Unlike formula milk, 'sufficiency' is not judged by the number of ounces drank.  To know whether your baby is getting enough, you should check the output and not the input.

If you really need to feed your baby by external means, feed your baby with a spoon or a small cup, and do it only if absolutely necessary.  During the first month, the more you latch your baby on directly, the better it is.