52 Minute(s)
2014 Washington Street
Newton, MA 02462
617-243-6000
Less than 30 minutes
9 Hope Ave
Waltham, MA 02453
617-243-5590
Monday through Friday: 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
Saturday: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Sunday: 9:00 am to 2:00 pm
Need to talk to us?
What can we help you find?
Call 617-243-6566 or toll free 866-NWH-DOCS to speak to a CareFinder representative.
Open 24 hoursLab Hours and Holiday Hours Vary
307 W Central St
Natick, MA 01760
617-243-5345
159 Wells Ave
Newton Centre, MA 02459
111 Norfolk Street
Walpole, MA 02081maps
978 Worcester Road (rte 9)
Wellesley, Massachusetts 02482
781-235-5200
Open 24 hours
Lab Hours and Holiday Hours Vary
25 Washington Street
Wellesley, Massachusetts 02481
617-219-1520
Monday through Saturday: 9:00 am to 7:00 pm
Section Menu
What and how you feed your baby is especially important during the first year. The average baby doubles birth weight within five months after birth, and weight triples by the first birthday. A smaller than average baby often grows more rapidly. Breast milk or iron-fortified formula is baby’s most important food in the first year, and should be the only food for the first four to six months of life. Health professionals recognize breastfeeding as the best choice for most infants.
The World Health Organization ranks food choices for babies as:
There are, however, instances when a woman physically cannot breastfeed such as hormonal and glandular deficiency or other medical reasons.
There are a few infectious diseases that can be transmitted through human milk to a baby, including HIV and untreated tuberculosis. Mothers with HIV are advised not to breastfeed. Similarly, mothers with tuberculosis should not breastfeed until appropriate treatment has been started. Mothers with hepatitis B can breastfeed their infants if the infant receives the hepatitis B vaccine in the first few days after birth. There is no evidence that hepatitis C is transmitted by breastfeeding. Mothers with chronic hepatitis C are often advised that they can nurse their infants, but they should discuss this with their physician. Other types of infections need to be evaluated by the obstetrician and pediatrician, but nearly all will be found to be safe for breastfeeding.
Talk with your physician or midwife if you are wondering if a medical condition or a medication you are taking would affect your breastfed baby.