Overview
| How to start |
Benefits | Signs
of good breast-feeding | Positions
Storing of Breast-milk
| Combating problems
| Drugs
and Breast-Milk
Helpful hints | Resources
| Organizations &
Websites
Positions:
There are three typical positions for breast-feeding. With
a good comfortable position for the mother and the baby and
a good latch-on technique, breast-feeding will typically go
well.
The
first position is the sitting position. The mother can sit
and place the baby so that the baby's head is in the crook
of the elbow. Make sure mother and child are chest to chest
so that the baby's head doesn't have to turn to get to the
breast. Touching the baby's cheek with your finger or nipple
can stimulate the rooting reflex of the baby. The rooting
reflex is where a baby turns toward the stimulation and widely
opens the mouth. After this, pull the baby onto the breast
so that the nipple and areola are in the baby's mouth. If
just the nipple is in the mouth, this can cause pain and cracking.
If the latch on was poor, put a finger in the baby's mouth
to break the suction and try again.
The
second position is lying down. This can be helpful at night.
The mother lies on her side using pillows if necessary against
her back. The baby lies facing the mother so a latch on can
occur.
The
third position is called the football hold. This is very helpful
for mothers who had a C-section, as the baby will not be near
the incision. This is also a good position for twins. Hold
the baby like a football with the body along the arm and the
head in the hand. Again use the rooting reflex to promote
good latch on.
All
of these positions and any other that is comfortable and promotes
good latch on is fine. Always start with the breast you finished
with last time. Putting a safety pin on the bra strap can
serve as a reminder.
Overview
| How to start |
Benefits | Signs
of good breast-feeding | Positions
Storing of Breast-milk
| Combating problems
| Drugs
and Breast-Milk
Helpful hints | Resources
| Organizations &
Websites
Back
