How To Breastfeed
Getting Started
Get comfortable and choose a breastfeeding
First and foremost, make yourself comfortable. Find the best nursing seat in the house and find a position that works well for you.
Breastfeeding Positions
1. The Alternate Arm Cradle Hold
The heel of your hand supports your baby's shoulders. The hand that holds the breast is on the same side the baby is nursing. This position works well if you are learning to breastfeed.
2. The Football Hold
Get seated in a chair or propped up in bed, and place a pillow on your nursing side. The pillow should support your elbow and your baby's bottom. With your baby resting on the pillow and facing you, support his neck and upper back with one hand. Use your other hand to support your breast. This position works well if you are learning to breastfeed, if you have a small baby, if you have large breasts, if you had a Caesarean birth or are nursing both twins at the same time.
3. The Cradle Hold
You cradle your baby in one arm with his head resting in the bend of your elbow. Your baby's mouth is at your breast, and the two of you are tummy to tummy. You can use this position while sitting up in bed or in a chair, with pillows for support. This position works well after you are comfortable with breastfeeding.
4. The Side-Lying Hold
The side-lying hold has you and your baby lying on your sides in bed, tummy to tummy. Place a rolled-up towel behind your baby to keep him on his side. And place a pillow behind your back to keep you in the right position. This position works well if you find it too painful to sit, if you want to rest when you breastfeed or if you had a Caesarean birth.
Get your baby comfortable
It's important that your baby be as comfortable as possible during feedings. If he's not, he may not nurse long enough to get all the nutrition he needs. Check to see that his upper ear, shoulder and hip are in a straight line.
The all-important "c" hold
Hold your breast with a "c" hold, your thumb above the breast and your four fingers supporting your breast underneath. Make sure your fingers are positioned away from the areola, so your breast can go far into your baby's mouth.
Help your baby to "latch on"
"Latching on" is the way your baby grasps your breast. If he's latched on properly, he'll get all the milk he needs, and you won't become sore.
You can help your baby latch on by touching his upper lip with your nipple. Wait until his mouth is wide open like a yawn. Then bring him to your breast with his head tilted back, chin forward and bottom lip as far from the nipple as possible. His mouth should have a firm hold on your breast, not just your nipple.
Your baby is latched on properly if you:
- See his mouth opened wide
- See his chin pressed into your breast
- See some areola above the top lip (if you have a small areola none may show)
- Have no nipple pain
Your baby is feeding well when he:
- Sucks rhythmically
- Is calm while feeding
- Is swallowing, which can be seen or heard
If your baby falls asleep after a few minutes, squeeze your breast to help your milk flow. This may help him to start swallowing again. To remove your baby from your breast, slip your finger into his mouth between the gums to break the suction.
When your baby no longer has strong 'deep and slow' sucks and your breast feels softer, offer the second breast. He may only feed a short time on the second breast, if at all. At the next feeding, offer the breast that he fed on last. Often this breast feels fullest.
