Breastfeeding Baby Help » latch http://breastfeedingbabyhelp.com Expert help for breastfeeding moms Wed, 26 May 2010 08:54:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 en hourly 1 Breastfeeding – How to Latch the Baby Onto the Breast http://breastfeedingbabyhelp.com/breastfeeding-how-to-latch-the-baby-onto-the-breast http://breastfeedingbabyhelp.com/breastfeeding-how-to-latch-the-baby-onto-the-breast#comments Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:37:37 +0000 admin http://breastfeedingbabyhelp.com/?p=98 The information that follows on how to latch a baby onto the breast is perhaps the most important in terms of whether breastfeeding will be successful. It determines whether the baby can get the milk from the breast, whether the mother’s breast is stimulated to supply enough milk for her baby and ultimately whether the baby will thrive and grow. We call this ‘positioning’.

The first thing to note is that I said ‘breastfeeding’ not ‘nipple feeding’. The baby will take the nipple and part of the areola and breast into his mouth, not just the nipple. The areola is the pigmented part behind the nipple, under which lie the ampullae or reservoirs. If the baby only has the nipple in his mouth then he will not be able to milk the breast to obtain the milk and moreover the mother is likely to get very sore and possibly cracked nipples. The following are the main points in getting the baby onto the breast.

Make yourself as comfortable as possible and get everything around you that you are likely to need.

Perhaps have a cushion on your lap on which to place your baby, so that you can bring your baby up to breast height.

Have the baby on his side cradled on your arm, so that you are facing each other, tummy to tummy. His head will be resting on your forearm opposite your breast.

Place your hand against your ribcage, under your breast, and push gently upwards so that the breast is presented ready for baby.

When your baby begins to root using his rooting reflex, and open his mouth, put the baby to the breast with a positive definite movement. You are putting the baby to the breast, not the breast to the baby. (If you are putting your breast into your baby’s mouth then your baby will not be able to latch on properly and will just ‘nipple’ feed which could be painful for you).

Your baby will take a good mouthful of your breast. His mouth will be open quite wide around the breast, lower lip curled back and his tongue resting on his lower lip and jaw. His lips will not be pursed nor will his cheeks be sucked in.

Your baby will obtain the milk from your breast by an undulating milking action of his tongue and lower jaw. This proper milking action ensures that your baby gets a good feed and also stimulates your breasts to supply milk appropriate to your baby’s needs.

It is very important that there is no pressure on the back of your baby’s head as he will start to root towards the pressure, which is the opposite direction to that desired and causes confusion, frustration and distress. It is also important not to put the breast into your baby’s mouth as this will cause him to nipple feed. The action is baby to the breast.

So it is ‘Tummy to tummy and baby to the breast’

Knowing how to latch the baby onto the breast is one of the most important aspects of successful breastfeeding, along with an understanding of the principle of supply and demand which will be covered in a later article.

Anne Groom is a Wellness Counsellor and Psychotherapist

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