Finding a Comfortable Position
If you're a first-time parent,
breastfeeding
your newborn may seem complicated until you've had some
practice. Before you begin nursing, it's a good idea to take a
look at your surroundings.
Many mothers like to sit in a glider or in a cozy chair with
armrests. Footstools and pillows can provide extra support (pillows
that some women find helpful are the donut-type nursing pillows or
the "husband" back pillows with arms on each side for
nursing in bed).
It's also important to find a comfortable nursing position
(or hold) for both you and your baby. Here are some common ones to
consider.
The Cradle Hold
This is the first hold many mothers will try, often soon after
their babies are born. To start, cradle your baby's head in the
crook of your arm with your baby's nose opposite your nipple.
Use that hand to support your baby's bottom. Turn your baby on
his or her side, so that your baby is belly to belly to you. Then,
raise your baby to your breast. You can support your breast with
your other hand.
The Cross-Cradle or Crossover Hold
This hold is similar to the cradle hold, but your arms are
positioned differently. Instead of supporting your baby's head
in the crook of your arm, use the hand of that arm to support your
breast. Your opposite arm should come around the back of your baby.
Support your baby's head, neck, and shoulder by placing your
hand at the base of your baby's head with your thumb and index
finger at your baby's ear level. Like the cradle hold, your
baby will be belly to belly to you. The cross-cradle position
allows you to have more control over how your baby latches on (see
below). Many moms find that they're able to get their babies
latched on more deeply with this hold.
The Side-Lying Position
This position is comfortable for mothers who've had a
cesarean section (C-section) because the baby doesn't put
pressure on the mother's abdomen. This is also a great way for
you to get some rest while nursing your baby. Start by lying on
your side with your baby on his or her side, facing you. Your baby
should be positioned so his or her nose is opposite your nipple.
Use your lower arm to cradle your baby's back, or you can tuck
a rolled-up receiving blanket behind your baby to help nestle your
little one close to you while you use your arm to support your own
head. You can support your breast with your other hand.
The Clutch or Football Hold
This is also a good position for the mom who's had a
C-section and also for mothers with large breasts or small babies.
The football hold allows babies to take milk more easily - which is
also good for mothers with a forceful
milk ejection reflex
(or
let down
). To achieve the clutch (or football) hold, place a pillow next to
you. Cradle your baby - facing upward - in your arm. Use the palm
of your hand on that same arm to support his or her neck, and
nestle your baby's side closely against your side. Your
baby's feet and legs should be tucked under your arm. Then lift
your baby to your breast.
Latching On
After your baby is positioned correctly, make sure he or she
latches on (takes the breast into his or her mouth) properly:
- Make sure your baby's mouth is opened wide and his or her
tongue is down when latching on.
- Support your breast with your hand, positioning your thumb on
top and your fingers at the bottom, keeping your thumb and
fingers back far enough so that your baby has enough of the
nipple and
areola
(the circle of skin around the nipple) to latch onto.
-
Gently glide your nipple from the middle of your baby's
bottom lip down to his or her chin to help prompt your baby to
open his or her mouth.
- When your baby opens his or her mouth wide and the tongue
comes down, quickly bring your baby to your breast (
not
your breast to your baby). Your baby should take as much of the
areola into his or her mouth as possible, with more areola
showing at the top lip than at the bottom.
- Make sure your baby's nose is almost touching your breast
(
not
pressed against it), his or her lips are turned out (or
flanged
), and you see and hear your baby swallowing. (You should be able
to tell by seeing movement along your baby's lower jaw and
even in your baby's ear and temple.)
When properly latched on, you may have 30 to 60 seconds of
latch-on pain (this is caused by the nipple and areola being pulled
into your baby's mouth), then the pain should subside. It will
then feel like a tug when your baby is sucking. If you continue to
feel pain, stop feeding momentarily and reposition your baby on
your breast.
Your baby should give four to five sucks, followed by a 5- to
10-second pause. Your baby's sucks will increase in number as
the quantity of your milk increases. As the milk flow slows, your
baby's pattern will probably change to three or four sucks and
pauses that last longer than 10 seconds.
Most babies will release the breast on their own. If your baby
doesn't release your breast but the sucks now seem limited to
the front of his or her mouth, you can slip your finger in the side
of your baby's mouth (between the gums) and then turn your
finger a quarter turn to break the suction. Then, try to
burp
your baby and switch him or her to the other breast.
If your baby consistently latches on improperly, sucking on your
nipple without getting much of your areola in the mouth, you'll
probably feel discomfort throughout each feeding. Some moms say
it's painful or feels like a pinch as their babies nurse.
Babies who tend to latch on incorrectly will also frequently
sleep at the breast and may not seem satisfied because they may not
be getting enough. If either of these occurs, break the suction and
reposition your baby onto your breast to include the nipple
and
areola.
Call your child's doctor or a lactation consultant if:
- you're unable to nurse your baby without pain
- your baby consistently sleeps at the breast
- your baby is nursing but doesn't seem satisfied when
feedings are over
How Can I Tell if My Baby Is Getting Enough to Eat?
Your baby's diapers are excellent indicators of whether your
breastfed baby is getting what he or she needs. Because the first
milk your newborn gets (known as
colostrum
) is concentrated, your baby may have only one or two wet diapers
until your milk comes in, which is usually about 3 or 4 days after
the birth. After 4 days, here are some signs you should look
for:
- six or more wet diapers per day, with clear or very pale
urine
- two or more yellow, seedy bowel movements per day, usually
one after each feeding through 4 weeks of age (After about a
month, breastfed babies usually have fewer bowel movements and
many may not have one every day.)
Your breastfed baby is also probably getting enough if he or
she:
- seems alert and content
- is steadily gaining weight
- feeds between eight to 12 times per day (This is a good
guideline to use early on, usually during about the first month
because frequent feedings will help stimulate your milk
production. Once your milk supply is established, breastfeeding
should be on demand - when your baby is hungry - generally every
1 to 4 hours. But remember, your infant may feed every hour for a
stretch, then sleep a good 4 to 5 hours, if you're
lucky.)
Sucking for Comfort
If your baby seems to be getting enough milk, but continues to
suck for an hour or more, your little one might be nursing for
comfort rather than for nourishment. So, how do you know? Once your
baby has fed vigorously, he or she may stay on your breast but:
- seem satisfied
- stop sucking and swallowing
- play with your nipple
If your baby is showing these signs of
non-nutritive sucking
(or
pacifying
), you may want to offer your infant his or her thumb or hand to
suck on. You could also consider giving your little one a pacifier.
However, because early use of a pacifier makes it less likely that
a mother and baby will continue breastfeeding, you should only do
this after breastfeeding is well established (usually after 1
month).
After that point, a bottle and pacifier may be introduced - with
the realization that even
then
it may cause your baby to have "nipple confusion,"
undermining your breastfeeding efforts. The other concern about
using a pacifier is that your child may still be hungry and
actually needs to feed.
Getting Comfortable With Breastfeeding
Nursing can be one of the most challenging but rewarding
experiences you'll have as a mother. As you become more used to
breastfeeding your baby, you can try different positions or modify
the four basic ones listed here. Experiment with the different
holds until you find a position that lets your baby nurse
successfully and allows you to feel comfortable. You and your baby
will soon find that nursing can be a relaxing, great way to
bond.
Updated and reviewed by:
Traci Friedman, MD
Date reviewed: December 2007
Originally reviewed by:
Joseph DiSanto, MD,
and Karin Y. DiSanto, IBCLC
Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice,
diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.
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