The first six weeks after having a baby are the toughest for a mother as she takes care of her new born infant while recovering from the physical exercise her body has undergone. And it is also a special time where a strong bond is being formed between mother and child while the feeding, sleeping, and waking rhythms are established.

After delivery, the mother’s body reverses the changes that it underwent during pregnancy. The uterus and the stomach contract, and the extra blood supply that was used to nourish the baby is now discharged slowly. Post delivery pains usually subside in the first two weeks after delivery, and the discharge of milk during breastfeeding also leads to the release of hormones that cause the uterus to contract.

While research has shown that breast feeding is the healthiest option for both the child and mother and even aids the latter in the recovery process, there will also be certain times when the mother is not around to feed the child. It is, therefore, advisable for the baby to get used to being fed from a bottle by another member of the family – either the father or the grandparents, thus giving the mother some time to rest.

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