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• Holding your baby
• Helping your baby to latch
• Do not shove your baby onto your breast
Breastfeeding is natural, and women have been doing it since the dawn of time. Both you and your baby need to become good at it, and this takes time and patience. Remember: your baby has all the natural reflexes to find your breast, to latch on, and to suckle. Your job is to follow your baby’s lead.
Breastfeeding should be totally comfortable. The key to success is for the baby to learn a good latch on your breast. To get a good latch, you need a relaxed mother and a relaxed baby.
Watch for cues that tell you when your baby wants to nurse - sucking motions, stretching, or fluttering eyelids. This is the time to feed your baby. Don’t wait until they are crying. Babies don’t latch well when they are crying, and crying is tiring for babies.
First of all, wash your hands, and find a comfortable place to sit. Some support under your feet can help your back and make you more relaxed. You may also need a cushion for your lap.
Undress your baby, except for the diaper. It’s good for the baby to feel your breast against its bare skin. This skin-to-skin contact is very important in the first eight weeks of life when pathways in the baby’s brain are developing. Your baby will be warm next to you, or you can cover the baby’s back and shoulders with a blanket. Feed your baby like this, skin-to-skin, whenever you can. It makes babies feel calm, and it helps them to nurse well.
If your baby needs soothing before you begin, hold the baby upright on your chest, and stroke and talk to the baby. Infants cannot easily soothe themselves. Babies need lots of touching and a calming voice. Always support the baby’s head, shoulders, and buttocks. Holding the baby securely helps the baby to relax.
A good latch is very important because it lets your baby get milk easily without hurting your breast. After babies learn how to latch well, they keep on doing it right.
When your baby is ready to latch, bring your baby to the level of your breasts. Make sure your baby is turned toward you. Support your baby’s head with your hand behind the shoulders, and your finger and thumb at the base of your baby’s head. Tuck your baby’s whole body in close - bum and legs too. Keep your baby’s face and cheek touching your skin, and bring its chest into your breast. Let your baby’s head tilt back slightly.
Hold your breast by cupping it with your thumb and two fingers forming a ‘c’ or ‘u’. Keep your fingers well back from both your nipple and from your baby’s face. If you have large breasts, you may need to pull your breast in towards your chest. This will let your baby get more of your breast into the mouth.
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Be sure that your baby’s chin and lower lip touch your breast first. Point your nipple toward the baby’s nose and wait for your baby’s mouth to open wide over your nipple. Your baby should have more of the breast beneath your nipple (rather than above your nipple) in its mouth.
Do not shove your baby onto your breast
If the baby fusses and doesn’t latch on, move the baby back to an upright position between your breasts. Stroke and talk to your baby. After your baby is calm again, slowly lower the baby back under your breast and try latching again. Expressing a few drops of milk may help to get the baby’s attention. If you are unable to latch your baby, call us for help. See the section called Getting Help.
You’ll know your baby is latched on well if these things are happening:
• breastfeeding is comfortable for you;
• your baby has a strong, slow, regular suck;
• you can hear swallowing;
• the baby’s mouth is wide-open with flared lips; and
• the baby’s ears or temple are moving.
 Getting Latched |
 Latched On |
After you finish nursing:
• your nipples should have a normal, rounded shape and they should not look pinched;
• your breasts should be softer; and
• your baby should be relaxed and content.
