Let’s discover the essential steps to achieving a proper breastfeeding latch with our comprehensive guide. Learn how to position yourself and your baby for success, establish a comfortable latch, and ensure a satisfying breastfeeding experience.
Achieving a Good Breastfeeding Latch with a the Right Position.
Find a Comfortable Position: When you breastfeed, it’s important to be comfy. Sit in a cozy chair or use pillows to help you feel relaxed. Make sure your back is straight, and hold your baby close with your arms. This way, you both feel comfy and supported during feeding time.
Face-to-Face: When you breastfeed your baby, make sure they’re facing you directly. Their whole body should be turned towards you. This makes it easier for them to latch onto your breast. It’s like a comfortable and natural position for them to feed. Plus, when they face you, it helps you both feel closer and more connected. And when your baby’s face is right in front of your breast, it’s easier for them to find and latch onto your nipple. So, just remember to bring your baby close and make sure their face is facing yours when you breastfeed. It’ll make feeding time smoother and more enjoyable for both of you.
Best positions to getting a good latch with your newborn:
Cross-cradle hold: Sit in a comfy chair with good back support. Put your baby across your body, resting their head in your arm on the side away from the breast you’re feeding from. Use your other hand to hold your breast and help your baby latch onto your nipple and the darker area around it called the areola. This way, you both can feel cozy and relaxed while breastfeeding.
Football hold: Sit in a chair with armrests or on a couch with pillows behind you. Hold your baby on your side, with their legs tucked under your arm and their head resting on your hand. Use your other hand to hold your breast and help your baby latch onto your nipple and the dark area around it.
Side-lying position: Lie down on your side in bed with pillows to give you support. Put your baby facing you, also on their side. Bring your baby close to your breast and help them latch onto your nipple and the darker part around it. This position can be super cozy for nighttime feedings when you both want to relax.
Laid-back breastfeeding: Lie back on a bed or a comfy couch with pillows behind you and under your arms to help you relax. Put your baby on your chest, belly-to-belly, and let them move to latch onto your breast by themselves. This way, your baby can use their natural instincts to breastfeed.
Latch with Mouth Wide Open
Gentle Stimulation: Give your baby’s lower lip a soft stroke with your nipple. This helps them open their mouth wide, making it easier for them to latch onto your breast.
Hold your breast: Position your thumb on top of your nipple and the darker area around it called the areola. Your fingers should be placed below your breast, forming a shape like a “C” or “U.” This way, you can gently guide your breast into your baby’s mouth and ensure they get a good latch for comfortable feeding.
Wait for a wide open mouth: Before bringing your baby to your breast, gently stroke their lips with your nipple. This helps them open their mouth wide, kind of like when they yawn. When their mouth is wide, they can take in more breast tissue.
Aim the nipple towards the roof of the mouth: When your baby opens wide, quickly bring them to your breast. Make sure your nipple is pointing toward the roof of their mouth, not the middle.
Aim for a Deep Latch
Proper Alignment: Make sure your baby’s mouth covers a good part of the darker area around your nipple, not just the nipple itself. This stops nipple pain and helps them latch on firmly.
Chin First: When you bring your baby to your breast, aim for their chin to touch first, and their lips should be turned outwards.
Understanding the Asymmetrical Latch
Lower Areola Inclusion: When your baby latches onto your breast, it’s important that the way they suck isn’t the same all over. Instead, it’s better if more of the darker area around your nipple (called the areola) goes into their mouth, especially at the bottom part. This kind of unevenness helps with squeezing the milk out the right way.
Achieving a Pain-Free Latch
Break the Suction Gently: If breastfeeding hurts, softly put your finger into your baby’s mouth to loosen their suction before trying again.
Seek Assistance: If the pain keeps happening, it might mean the latch isn’t right. Ask a lactation consultant or a doctor for help.
Recognizing Audible Swallowing During Breastfeeding
Listening for Swallows:
Listen carefully for swallowing sounds while your baby feeds. If you hear them swallowing, it means they’re getting milk from your breast properly.
Check for Signs of Hunger
Rooting Reflex: Watch for signs that your baby is hungry, like when they turn their head toward your breast when you touch their cheek.
Early Cues: It’s easier to feed your baby when you start as soon as they show signs of hunger. This helps prevent them from getting too upset or hungry.
What Does A Bad Latch Feel Like?
You may have a bad latch during breastfeeding if you experience any of the following:
Pain or discomfort: If breastfeeding is painful, especially after the first moments, it could mean the latch isn’t right.
Nipple damage: Cracked, bleeding, or blistered nipples are signs of an improper latch.
Shallow latch: Your baby’s mouth may not cover enough of the areola, leading to sucking only on the nipple.
Clicking sounds: Clicking noises during breastfeeding sessions can indicate your baby is not latched properly.
Slipping off the breast: Your baby may repeatedly slide off the breast or have difficulty staying latched.
Short feeding sessions: If your baby feeds for only a short time before becoming fussy or hungry again, it may suggest they’re not effectively extracting milk due to a poor latch.
Engorgement or poor milk transfer: You may experience breast engorgement or notice your baby isn’t gaining weight adequately if they’re not latching well and effectively transferring milk.
Flat or misshapen nipple after feeding: Your nipple may appear flattened, misshapen, or blanched after nursing, indicating an improper latch.
Why is my baby refusing to latch?
There are several reasons why a baby may refuse to latch onto the breast. Some common reasons include:
Positioning issues: If the baby is not positioned correctly or comfortably, they may have difficulty latching onto the breast.
Engorgement: If the breast is overly full and firm due to engorgement, it may be difficult for the baby to latch onto the breast properly.
Nipple confusion: If a baby is introduced to artificial nipples, such as bottle nipples or pacifiers, too early, they may become confused and have difficulty latching onto the breast.
Medical issues: Certain medical conditions, such as tongue tie or cleft palate, can make it difficult for a baby to latch onto the breast.
Stress or tension: If the baby senses stress or tension from the breastfeeding parent, they may be reluctant to latch onto the breast.
Low milk supply: If the breastfeeding parent has a low milk supply, the baby may become frustrated or impatient when trying to latch onto the breast.
Pain or discomfort: If the baby experiences pain or discomfort while breastfeeding, they may refuse to latch onto the breast.
Distractions: If there are distractions in the environment, such as noise or movement, the baby may be too distracted to latch onto the breast.
Getting a good latch might take some practice, because both you and your baby are learning. It’s important to be patient and keep trying.
If you’re having trouble or you’re worried about breastfeeding, it’s a good idea to talk to a lactation consultant or your doctor. They can give you advice and support that’s right for you.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Recent Posts
- 5 Thoughtful Mother`s Day Gift Ideas for a Breastfeeding Mom
- 8 Creative Toddler Activities for when you Nurse your Infant
- Breastfeeding Clothes: Stylish and Practical Options for Nursing Moms
- Breastmilk Storage Guidlines
- Mastitis: Everything You Need To Know – Symptoms And Treatment
- Your Ultimate Guide to Breastfeeding while Traveling
Must needed information for new moms! I wish this was around when my babies were little. Thank you!
The is so well throughout and so helpful for new mamas who are just starting out breastfeeding! Lots of great knowledge and so detailed!
I wish I knew all of these tips before I gave birth to my first girl, breastfeeding was a nightmare during the first three months, I had to figure out this by myself, luckily the I was able to breastfeed my daughter for 14 months, thank you for sharing this, it’s so helpful for moms
Very thorough post. Thank you for all of the great tips! This is a must read for any new mom.