Most of the people believe that the baby recognizes the mother immediately and latches to her breast immediately. But, no this is a total myth. It takes about nine to ten days for the mother and the baby to get comfortable to each other and for the baby to latch to her mother’s breast. There are also other accessories like good breast pumps available that can ease the process of breastfeeding. Breastfeeding is very beneficial for the mother and the baby both. But, if the baby takes more time in latching to the mother’s breast he or she will not get enough nutrients from the mother’s first milk. The mother will also be recovering from her post delivery trauma. So, it is best to choose a simple position to breastfeed the baby. Today we will be discussing 4 simple positions to breastfeed your baby : a huge breastfeeding help.
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Simple positions to breastfeed your baby
When the baby is born, the mother is also born on the same day. The mother does not always know how to immediately handle her baby. The first and the foremost pressure that a mother and the baby together face is the breastfeeding. The mother is just recovering from her birth experience and the baby is so small. Both the mother and the baby have to work together to achieve a lot of milestones. Breastfeeding is one such milestone. Definitely, the family should help the mother and the baby in achieving these milestones. Here are few simple positions to breastfeed your baby
- Reclining position
- The craddle hold
- The football hold
- The crossover hold
Reclining position
This position is used to feed the baby while lying on your side. For this position, the partner or the helper should put several pillows behind your back for support. You can also put pillow under your head and shoulders and between your bent knees. The main idea is to keep your back and hips straight and in one line.
Lay the baby in the position facing you. Craddle the baby’s head with your under arm. You can also craddle the baby with your top arm and put the under arm below your head. If the baby is falling short to reach your nipples, you can tuck a pillow or a receiving blanket under the head of your baby.
You may need to lift your breasts with your fingers so that the baby can reach your breasts.
The craddle hold
This is the classic position to breastfeed your baby. In this position you need to sit on a chair with good arms and back support. Or you can sit on the bed with lot of pillows behind your back and under your hand. Rest your feet on a stool or chair to avoid leaning on your baby.
In this position you need to support your baby’s head in the crook of your arm. Turn the baby in a position, that the baby’s face, tummy and body are facing you. Tuck the baby’s lower arm under your arm. Rest the baby’s head in the crook of your arm. If the baby is feeding on right breast, rest the baby in the crook of right arm and vice versa. This hold works well for the older babies.
The football hold (the clutch hold)
In this position you have to tuck your baby under your arm like a football. The baby should be on the same side of the breast that he or she is nursing. The baby should be in a position facing you and its mouth and nose over your nipples. Her feet should be pointing towards your back.
Rest your arm on a pillow or support beside you. Support your baby’s shoulder neck and back with your arm. Do not push your baby towards your breasts. This might cause your baby to arch away.
This position is best for babies who are small. It also works when you have a c-sections. This helps in teaching the baby to latch effectively.
The crossover hold
In this type there is a little bit of difference as compared to the craddle hold. This type of hold is also called cross craddle hold. In this type you do not support the baby with the arm on the side of the breast that the baby is feeding. Your other arm plays the role. If the baby is feeding on right breast, you support the baby with your left hand. This hold also works for babies who have difficulty latching on.
Whatever position you follow, here are a few tips that you should follow for different positions of nursing.
Tips for different positions for nursing
Here are a few tips to follow on different positions of nursing
- Relax and nurse
- Support your body
- Support your baby
- Support your breasts
Relax and nurse
In order to produce a good quantity of breast milk, you should be totally relaxed. Before nursing, just close your eyes and relax. Think about something positive. Keep a cool glass of water, milk or juice to drink if you feel comfortable. Keeping yourself well hydrated increases the production of milk.
Support your body
Use a lot of pillows to support your body and arms. You can also put some pillows, blanket or some other support below your knees. This helps in keeping the baby in proper good position. It also prevents you from bending over the baby.
Support your breasts
Whenever you need to feed the baby, your breasts become fuller and bigger. Due to this reason you will need to support your breasts. You need to hold it from underneath in a v like position.
Support your baby
If your baby is comfortable and secure, then he or she will nurse properly. So, you need to well support your baby with the help of arms or pillows or a folded blanket. You can also gently swaddle your baby or gently hold his arms on the side to help he or she relax in feeding.
So, these are the few positions and tips that make your breastfeeding experience easy for you and your baby.