After the first 24 hours, breastfeed your baby at least 8 times in 24 hours.  Feed your baby as long as he wants.  Do not limit the length of time your baby feeds.  In the first few days a feeding may last up to an hour.

In the first 24 hours after birth, you may find your baby is sleepy and that you need to wake him to feed.  Undress him to his diaper and hold him skin-to-skin.  In the next 24 hours, your baby will be more awake and want to feed more often.

Spend as much time as you can with your baby, getting to know him.  You will learn to recognize the signs that your baby is hungry and ready to feed.

Here are some signs that your baby is hungry and ready to feed:

• his eyes move quickly behind his closed eyelids
   
• he brings his hands closer to his face
   
• he tries to lick or suck at whatever is close to his face
   
• he turns his face from side to side
   
• he wakes up