BREASTFEEDING POSITIONS
BREASTFEEDING POSITIONS, It looks so natural a baby at the breast but you might have learned that positioning your own little one is not as easy as it appears Dont worry it gets easier Positioning Pointers: First find a comfortable place to feed your little one If youll be nursing sitting up choose a supportive chair with arm rests Have several pillows handy Undress your baby down to her diaper Skin to skin contact stimulates babies helping them to remain awake and alert during a feed For this reason its best not to swaddle your baby while nursing No matter what position you choose tuck your baby in close make sure her whole body is well supported and her head neck and back are in a straight line You shouldnt be leaning back or forward as you get ready to bring your baby to your breast During your babys first weeks try a few of these common nursing positions to see what works best for you and your baby Clutch Football Hold When this works best: This can be one of the easiest positions to use with a newborn It works well if you have large breasts if your baby has latch on or sucking problems if youve had a cesarean if your baby arches at the breast if you have a rapid milk ejection reflex if your baby is small or if you have twins This position allows you to see your baby latch on giving you better control How to do it: Sit in a comfortable chair Use pillows if needed under your baby to bring her to breast level and for support under your arm In this position your baby is lying alongside you upper back resting on your forearm with her neck supported by your hand Her head faces your breast Your hips are flexed bottom rests against the chair back and feet point to the ceiling Your opposite hand will support your breast Your baby should not be so far forward that she has to bend her neck to latch on Cradle Hold When this works best: Experienced breastfeeding moms will be most comfortable with this common position New moms often find it difficult to control the babys head and watch latch on in this position How to do it: Sit in a comfortable chair Use pillows if needed under your baby to bring her to breast level and for support under your forearm Your baby will be on her side her chest facing your chest Make sure her lower arm is comfortably placed along her side When nursing from the left breast cradle your babys head in the crook of the left arm and her back will be along your inner arm and palm If you look down at your little one you will see her side Use the opposite hand to support your breast Cross Cradle Transition Hold When this works best: This position works well for feeding a newborn for babies with difficulty latching and staying on and for small or premature babies This position allows you to see your baby latch on giving you better control How to do it: Sit in a comfortable chair Support your baby with a pillow on your lap to raise her to breast level and use pillows as needed to support your arms and hands Your baby will be lying on her side facing you Support your breast with the hand on the side that you will feed your baby left breast left hand Use your other arm to support your babys body Guide her to your breast placing your hand on her neck the palm of your hand between her shoulder blades Lying Down Lying on Side or Flat on Back When this works best: Lying down can be very helpful when a baby is having trouble nursing It is also a good choice when you want to get rest while your baby nurses if you have a very abundant milk supply and if you must remain flat after a cesarean This position may take a little practice but its well worth the effort How to do it: Lie on your side on the bed with your baby facing you Tuck pillows behind your back and your babys back and under your head and upper knee as needed for comfort and support Your bottom arm can be up or held slightly below shoulder level cradling your babys head Her ear shoulder and hip should be in a straight line with her knees pulled in close You can feed from both breasts leaning over your baby to offer the other side or hold your baby to your chest and roll to the other side If you want to lie on your back and nurse drape your baby across your body and allow her to latch on You can also sit on the side of the bed and get your baby latched on and then lie back Safety Notes Pain is an indication that something is wrong Though passing nipple tenderness is normal in the first few days if nursing hurts or you have trouble positioning your baby get help Breastfeeding should be comfortable even in the early weeks Schedule a visit with a board certified lactation consultant IBCLC who can observe a complete feed and offer recommendations Pillows can pose a suffocation hazard for babies so remove any pillows under your baby when its time to sleep