When I bring my baby home, should I wake her to breastfeed her?

I am 37 weeks pregnant, but I have a question about breastfeeding. When I bring my baby home, should I wake her for feeds? I've heard babies need to eat every one and a half to three hours, but if they are sleeping through the night, do you want to wake them?

If your baby is healthy and full-term, she will probably wake to feed every one and a half to three hours on her own once your milk starts being produced. Frequent feeds in the first few days after birth help establish a good milk supply, so most doctors recommend breastfeeding at least every three to four hours in the first week, even if it means waking your baby to breastfeed. A breastfed baby who sleeps all night in the first week of life may be becoming dehydrated. At your first well-baby checkup, your GP will check your baby's weight gain and ask about your milk supply. Your doctor may then say it's fine to let her sleep for extended periods.