It can take some work to get your breastfed infant to “latch on” correctly. It can be beneficial to try various breastfeeding holds. Continue reading the informative blog for more advice on how to position your infant to facilitate latching on.
Breastfeeding positions: getting lined up
Regardless of the nursing position you choose, make sure you and your infant are positioned correctly. On either side of your baby’s body, you should be able to draw a straight line that joins their hip, shoulder, and ear.
Once you and your baby are in the proper position, the next step is to guide them toward the breast so that they can latch on properly and nurse. Latching on effectively is crucial to breastfeeding successfully because it prevents sore nipples, ensures sufficient milk supply, and stimulates plentiful milk production.
You will typically need to support your breast, at least in the initial days of nursing, unless you are in the reclining position. This will facilitate a healthy attachment for your infant. This is particularly true as the size and weight of your breasts rise due to milk production.
Using the C-hold to breastfeed your baby
Using your free hand, place four fingers under your breast and your thumb on top to present the nipple to your baby. (Your lactation specialist or nurse may refer to this as a C-hold, since your hand makes the shape of a letter C.) Make sure your fingers are well behind the areola (the darker-colored area around the nipple) so it doesn’t get in the way of your baby’s latching on to the breast. You can provide gentle compression of the breast with your fingers to make it easier for your baby to latch.
With the breast supported, stroke your baby’s lower lip with your nipple or bring their chin in to touch the breast closely. This causes your baby to open their mouth. (If their mouth stays closed, stroke their lip again, press gently down on their chin with your index finger and open your own mouth, too, since they might imitate you.
Once your baby opens wide—not just a little, but as though they’re giving a big yawn—quickly draw them closer and place their open mouth fully on your breast. This guiding movement should be quick but gentle. Remember that you should bring your baby to your breast, not push your breast into their mouth. If your baby’s head is pushed into the breast so hard that they cannot breathe, they may become agitated or frightened. They may arch their back and refuse to feed. Do not push on the baby’s head, but keep your hand supporting their upper back and neck in place.
What does a good breastfeeding latch look like?
If your baby is in proper nursing position, their jaws will come together on your areola and their lips will seal over your breast. Their chin should be touching your breast, and their nose will be close to your breast. (They will be able to breathe, but if you are concerned about their breathing, try lifting your breast or changing the angle of his body slightly, pulling their bottom in more closely to your body.) Helping them latch on in a slightly asymmetric fashion, so that a bit more of the areola is in their mouth on the lower-lip side and a bit less on the upper-lip side, will position the nipple so it points toward the roof of the baby’s mouth.
The latching learning curve
hemselves to the breast—that if you present your breast the right way, they will know what to do. Certainly some babies are capable of self-attachment, with good technique. This is most likely to happen in the first hour after birth but can be repeated later on. (Researchers have studied infants who are able to maneuver themselves from the mother’s lower abdomen, where they were placed immediately after delivery, up to the nipple, where they self-attach and start suckling. This has been called the “breast crawl.”)
Most newborns do easily learn to latch on to the breast and soon begin the deep, regular suckling and rhythmic swallowing that signal successful nursing. But not all babies know instinctively how to latch on. You may need to teach your baby until they experience enough successful feedings to associate their feeding behaviors with the satiation of their hunger.
Try, try again; don’t loose hope
If your baby doesn’t manage to latch on properly the first time, gently detach them by sliding your finger into their mouth and pressing down on your breast to break the suction. You’ll know your baby didn’t latch on properly if you see indentations in their cheeks when they suckle, hear clicking noises or notice their lips curled inward. They may also move their head frequently or not do any swallowing.
Incorrect latching may also cause pain for you. Don’t try to just pull him off your breast, since this could cause nipple pain. Keep practicing this latch-on technique until you and your newborn have mastered it, and don’t hesitate to ask the hospital nurses and lactation specialists for help.
Conclusion
Always consult with healthcare professionals for guidance tailored to your specific needs and circumstances. Enroll in our free lactation webinar to understand more about the advantages and challenges of breastfeeding.