Breastfeeding: The Best Way of Nourishing the Baby part 3

The Art of Breastfeeding

These are the techniques which will guide you in correctly positioning and latching on your baby during feeding sessions.

• Relax and position yourself. Once you find your favorite place, relax and be comfortable. Sit down on the bed, on a chair or a rocking chair which ever makes you more relax. Use a foot stool to keep your knees higher than your hips.
• Hold your baby. Hold your baby in your arm and let her neck rest in the bend of your elbow. Your forearm will provide support to your baby’s back while your hand into her buttocks.
• You need to ensure that your baby is facing on the side to your tummy. This will prevent the baby from straining his neck or turning his head just to reach your nipple.
• Raise your baby towards your breast. A good set of pillow will help you support your baby.
• You can hold the baby’s arms or wrap around you. This position is known as the cradle hold or the most basic position.
• After positioning correctly, hold your breast using your four fingers and offer your breast to your baby.
• To properly latch your baby, tickle your baby’s lips or wait until the mouth is open wide like yawning before offering your nipple. You need to check if the baby takes the nipple and sucks the areola. To validate, check if your baby’s nose and chin are touching your breast. You can also hear your baby swallowing milk.
•  If you find the baby’s suction is concentrated on the nipple section only, you need to reposition your baby by removing the suction through inserting your finger to your baby’s mouth and latch-on.
• You can also feed your baby when you are lying down on the bed.  It is the same as the cradle hold position but the only difference is the baby and the mother are lying on the sides facing each other. This is known as the side lying position.
• Football or clutch hold is another breastfeeding position available. This is an effective breastfeeding positions if you have caesarean delivery or if you have twins. You can sit up on the bed or chair and use a pillow to support your arm. Lay your baby on his back while using your hand to support the head and your forearm for your baby’s body. Ensure your baby’s feet are tucked under your arm and follow the same latch on technique.

May the above steps aid you in successfully breastfeeding your baby. Don’t be discouraged, it will take a lot of patience and practice in order to achieve the desired breastfeeding position and to properly latch-on your bundle of joy. When you are in doubt, ask and never give up.