What is the term for feeding directly from the breast?

The term for feeding directly from the breast is referred to as direct breastfeeding. This practice involves the baby latching onto the mother's breast and drawing milk directly, which not only provides optimal nutrition but also facilitates bonding between mother and child. Direct breastfeeding is important for establishing and maintaining milk supply, as the baby's sucking stimulates the mother's milk production. Additionally, it allows the infant to receive the appropriate mix of foremilk and hindmilk, which supports their nutritional needs and can help them develop proper feeding techniques.

While supplemental feeding pertains to providing additional feeds using formula or breast milk from a different source, and paced bottle feeding involves mimicking the breastfeeding experience with a bottle, these are not synonymous with the act of feeding directly from the breast. Exclusive breastfeeding, on the other hand, means that the infant receives only breast milk during a specified time frame, without any other food or drink, but does not inherently specify the direct feeding method. Thus, direct breastfeeding is the most accurate term for the process of feeding directly from the breast.