The most important part of a successful breastfeeding session is a proper latch. The right latch ensures that your little one will be able to extract milk effectively. Plus it’ll make breastfeeding pain free for you. ⠀
Some babies will get latch down right away and others may take hours, days, weeks or months to latch. Stimulating your breasts frequently and getting baby needed calories can be done while you can continue to practice and master latch. It’s not time sensitive. Here are some tips to help you with a proper breastfeeding latch.
- Trigger the rooting reflex to ensure baby opens her mouth wide before latching on.
- Aim your nipple just above baby’s top lip and make sure baby’s chin tilts up slightly.
- Bring baby to the breast instead of stuffing the breast into baby’s mouth.
- Be sure the baby has both the nipple and a good portion of the areola in his mouth.
- Baby’s nose and chin should be touching your breast and baby’s lips should be flared out.
- Baby’s tummy should be facing mommy’s tummy.
Side Lying Position
SIDE LYING can be one of the trickiest positions to learn but once you get the hang of it. It is a game changer.
- Get yourself comfortable.
- Get a pillow behind your back and one in between your knees for maximum support.
- Once you are situated get baby tummy to tummy with you. Make sure that one arm is above your breast and the other below. Like baby is giving your breast a gentle hug. This provides rounded shoulders and nice comfy positioning for baby.
- Getting your baby positioned at nipple height will activate the rooting reflex and help baby achieve a deep latch.
The Elevator Option
Once your done feeding on the “bottom” breast or the breast closes to baby you can roll to the other side and start over OR easily switch to the other side without rolling over using a “elevator” pillows. The elevator option is using a pillow to get your baby to the height of your “top” breast so baby can latch without you rolling over. Remember to get yourself comfortable and in position FIRST. Then get your baby next to you and lined up. Once baby is lined up latch & relax. This position is so vital to breast sleeping and REST.
What are the signs of a Good Latch?
The latch is comfortable and pain free.
- Your baby’s chest and stomach rest against your body, so that baby’s head is straight, not turned to the side.
- Your baby’s chin touches your breast.
- Your baby’s mouth opens wide around your breast, not just your nipple.
- Your baby’s tongue cups under your breast tissue.
- You hear or see swallowing.
- Your baby’s jaw moves up and down and ears move slightly.
It’s time consuming and it takes patience. You and baby will have good days and bad days. Some days you’ll feel like the only thing you do is breastfeed, and that’s OK! Feeding your baby is the most important thing you can do.
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