Slide show: Breastfeeding positions Show Previous Next 1 of 5 Breastfeeding: Cross-cradle hold Breastfeeding can be awkward at first. Experiment with various positions until you feel comfortable. The cross-cradle hold is ideal for early breastfeeding. Sit up straight in a comfortable chair with armrests. Bring your baby across the front of your body, tummy to tummy. Hold your baby in the crook of the arm opposite the breast you're feeding from — left arm for right breast, right arm for left. Support the back of the baby's head with your open hand. With the other hand, support your breast from the underside in a U-shaped hold. Guide the baby's mouth to your breast. Don't bend over or lean forward. Instead, cradle your baby close to your breast. See more Multimedia April 19, 2022
. Note: For clarity, we are referring to baby as “he” and mother as “she.” The First Week: Positioning and LatchBreastfeeding is a gift only you can give your baby. A healthy, full term baby is likely to know instinctively what to do at the breast. During the early weeks skin-to-skin contact helps your baby be connected to his instinctive breastfeeding skills and helps you and baby enjoy breastfeeding. Each mother discovers what works for her, and what works for one mother may not work for another. Mary Renfrew wrote in Journal of Human Lactation that learning to breastfeed is like mother and baby learning a dance. Use what works in these suggestions and tailor them for you and your baby. Trust that you know what works for you and your baby. You will know when the positioning is ideal for you, when you and your baby are comfortable. When positioning is right for you, your nipples stay healthy and your baby can feed most efficiently. Concern about sore nipples or breastfeeding comfortably is a common reason that mothers contact La Leche League. Improving positioning helps eliminate many cases of sore nipples. You may have noticed this description is long. Be assured that many mothers have successfully accomplished breastfeeding their babies for centuries and you too will learn how to best position your baby. These suggestions are not meant to tell the mother that if she follows all the steps the position will be “right”. The suggestions are meant to gives you ideas on how you and your baby can learn to breastfeed and enjoy the breastfeeding experience. However, like other seemingly simple tasks, it takes a lot of words to describe what other mothers have found works well for them. LLL Leaders are experienced in guiding mothers through the positioning process. If you feel overwhelmed by preparing to breastfeed your baby, contact your local Leader for information and support. She will be happy to simplify matters for you. In the first three to five days after birth, if you experience nipple soreness beyond a slight tenderness when your baby latches on, it may be a sign that something isn’t right with the baby latch, position, or suck. An adjustment to the latch or positioning can help your baby be more comfortable. When you have mastered the “dance” of breastfeeding, sore or cracked nipples are allowed to heal. If nipple pain worsens after the early days of breastfeeding your nipple pain may be due to other causes like thrush, bacterial infection, or tongue-tie. Contact a La Leche League Leader or lactation consultant for help if you need further assistance to improve your sore nipples. See information on sore nipples for more information. Learn to recognize your baby’s early feeding cues so you have time to get in a good position before he becomes desperately hungry. Early cues include opening his mouth, moving his head side to side – also known as rooting reflex or sucking on hands and fingers. Don’t wait for baby to cry to let you know he is hungry. Crying is a very late hunger cue. Basic Steps for Positioning We will discuss several different positions. If you have pain or feel uncomfortable, try
a different position. Adjusting the position can significantly improve breastfeeding pain.
These steps may need to be repeated frequently during the early weeks. You and your baby will find a technique that works for you after some practice. Going Beyond the Basics As you and your baby become more experienced at breastfeeding, you will find that breastfeeding positions can be altered in many ways, even from feeding to feeding. As long as you are comfortable and baby is nursing successfully, use what works for you. Try experimenting with the four positions below. Remember, in any of these positions, it is very important to bring the baby to your nipple height. Leaning over your baby can cause backaches, neck/shoulder strain or sore nipples. Laid-back Breastfeeding or Biological NurturingLaid-back breastfeeding, or Biological Nurturing, means getting comfortable with your baby and encouraging you and your baby’s natural breastfeeding instincts.
Breast Support Techniques As you hold your baby in any of the above positions, you may need to support your breast with your free hand. This removes the weight of the breast from the baby’s chin, allowing him to breastfeed more effectively. “C” hold–See the cradle hold illustration above. Support your breast with your thumb on top, well back from your areola (the darker skin surrounding the nipple) and the fingers underneath. Your fingers should also be well back from your baby’s mouth. This hold is helpful when breastfeeding in the clutch or football position as well as the cradle position. “U” hold–Place your fingers flat on your ribcage under your breast with your index finger in the crease under your breast. Drop your elbow so that your breast is supported between your thumb and index finger. Your thumb will be on the outer area of your breast and your fingers will be on the inner area. This hold is helpful when breastfeeding in the cradle and cross-cradle positions.
What is the best breastfeeding position for newborns?Lean back (but not flat) on a sofa or bed. Prop yourself up with cushions or pillows so your back, shoulders and neck feel supported. When you are comfortable, place your baby on your front. Their tummy should be resting on your tummy – but if this is uncomfortable, lie them to one side.
What are the 4 kinds of breastfeeding positions?She recommends the following four positions:. Cradle: Sit with your baby lengthwise across your abdomen. ... . Cross-cradle: Lay your baby on his side. ... . Football: Hold your baby at your side, like a football, face up. ... . Sideline or side-lying: Lie on your side and lay your baby on his side facing you, chest to chest.. What are the 5 types of breastfeeding position?They will also be able to show you how to support your baby to help you feed more comfortably.. 1: Laid-back breastfeeding or reclined position. ... . 2: Cradle hold. ... . 3: Cross-cradle hold. ... . 4: Rugby ball hold. ... . 5: Side-lying position. ... . 6: Laid-back breastfeeding after a c-section. ... . 7: Upright breastfeeding or koala hold.. Which of the following is recommended position in breastfeeding an infant of a woman who is first attempting to breastfeed?Most new mothers first try breastfeeding sitting up in a hospital bed, with the baby supported by a pillow in their lap and cradled in their arms. If you choose this position, elevate the head of the bed as much as possible and place pillows behind you until your back is comfortable.
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