BREASTFEEDING BASICS
How to hold your baby during breastfeeding
If you and your baby are comfortable
during breastfeeding, it will be a
better experience for both of you.
Sit up in a chair or bed using
pillows for support.
The baby’s head and body should be
in a straight line to make it easier
to swallow.
Hold the baby close to your body,
supporting his back, shoulders and
neck.
The baby should be able to tilt
his head back easily; he should not
have to reach out to latch on to
your breast.
Bring your baby to your breast,
don’t bring your breast to your baby.
Cross cradle hold
This is a good position to start
with. It provides good visibility
for you to see if the baby has
latched on, and it can easily be
transitioned to the cradle hold. It
offers good support of both baby’s
head and your breast and is
excellent for a baby with weak
muscles.
Place your baby on pillows on your
lap.
Cup your breast with the hand on
the side to be nursed, positioning
your thumb to the outside and your
fingers to the inside.
Bend your arm with the elbow
pointed downward, bringing your hand
into a “U” shape.
Hold your baby with the opposite
hand, supporting his neck and
shoulder in the palm of your hand
and his back along your inner
forearm.
Position your baby’s nose directly
in front of your nipple. Stroke your
nipple from baby's nose to bottom
lip until he opens his mouth wide.
Bring your baby onto your breast.
His bottom lip anchors on breast
first, then the top lip, then the
nipple enters baby's mouth.
Hold your baby close. His stomach
should be close to your stomach.
You can rest your arm on a pillow
or the arm of a chair if you like.
Once the baby is latched on, you
can transition to a cradle hold if
you prefer.
Cradle
hold
This is the traditional
breastfeeding position. It is great for cuddling and
bonding, but it may be more difficult in the first few
days after delivery. You might want to transition into
this hold after you master the cross cradle hold.
Cradle the baby in one of
your arms with his head resting on your forearm,
your hand on baby's bottom or thigh, and his lower
arm tucked under along your side.
Position baby’s nose
directly in front of your nipple, holding his
stomach to your stomach. His ear, shoulder and hip
should be in a straight line.
Cup your breast with the
opposite hand, positioning your thumb on top and
your fingers underneath the breast.
Bend your arm with the
elbow pointed downward and bring your hand into a
“C” shape.
Wait until your baby opens
his mouth wide to bring him onto your breast. The
bottom lip anchors on your breast first, then the
top lip, and the nipple enters the mouth last.
To increase baby’s
breathing space:
Lift and support your
breast from underneath.
Pull baby’s bottom
closer to your stomach.
Football
hold
This hold may be good if your
baby is small or sleepy or you had a c-section, have difficulty sitting up
straight or have large breasts or flat
nipples.
Place your baby on a
pillow along your side
Hold and support your baby
like a football tucked under your arm
Position your fingers
behind your baby’s ears, with his neck and shoulders
resting on your palm and his back along your
forearm. Tuck your baby's body into your side.
Cup your breast with your
opposite hand, positioning your thumb above and your
fingers underneath your breast.
Bend your arm with the
elbow pointed downward, bringing your hand into a
“C” shape.
Position baby’s nose
directly in front of your nipple. Stroke your nipple
from baby's nose to bottom lip until his mouth opens
wide.
Bring your baby onto your
breast. His bottom lip anchors on your breast first,
then his top lip, then your nipple enters his mouth.
Once infant is latched on,
lean back and relax. Use pillows to support baby’s
head in your hand if you want.
Side lying
This position is good if
you're unable to sit upright for medical or comfort
reasons or if your baby is sleepy or roots frantically.
Lay on your side; get
comfortable with pillows or a blanket to support
your back.
Bend your knees slights
and put a pillow between them for support.
Place your lower arm above
your head.
Place baby on his side
facing you. His nose should be at the level of your
nipple.
Place a rolled blanket
against baby’s back for support and to move him
toward you.
Shape your lower breast
and lift it, aiming the nipple toward baby's nose.
Stroke your nipple from
baby’s nose to his bottom lip until his mouth opens
wide.
Bring baby onto your
breast. His bottom lip anchors on your breast first,
then the top lip, and the nipple enters the mouth
last.
Adjust your arms for
comfort; bring your lower arm down to cuddle your
baby if you want.
