Technical Abstract: Breastfeeding a healthy infant is often accompanied by challenges. Some may be predictable, while others are unexpected. These problems may accompany the normal anxiety of first-time parents, who rarely appreciate the intensity of care infants require. Reassurance and guidance often will enable mothers to continue breastfeeding through the first year. Common problems associated with breastfeeding in the postpartum period are reviewed here. Some of these cause painful breasts, which, if untreated, is a common reason to stop breastfeeding in the first few weeks after delivery. The initiation of breastfeeding and immediate postpartum evaluation of mothers and infants are discussed separately.