For
the early weeks after birth optimal positioning is extremely important. Proper
positioning of both the mother and baby will promote healthier nipples and
encourage the baby to feed most efficiently. Wrong positioning
will lead to sore nipples and improper feeding of the baby.
GOING BEYOND THE
BASICS
As you and your baby become more experienced at breastfeeding, you
will find that breastfeeding positions can be altered in many ways, even from
feeding to feeding.
As long
as you are comfortable and baby is nursing successfully, use what works for
you.
Try experimenting with the
four positions below.
Remember, in any of these
positions, it is very important to bring the baby to your nipple height.
Leaning over your baby can cause backaches, neck/shoulder strain or sore
nipples.
TYPES
OF POSITIONING AND ATTACHMENT
LAID- BACK BREASTFEEDING OR BIOLOGICAL NURTURING
Laid- back
breastfeeding, or Biological Nurturing, means getting comfortable with your baby and encouraging your own
and your baby’s natural breastfeeding instincts.
»Dress yourself and your baby as you choose.
»Find a bed or couch/lye where you can lean back and be well
supported (not flat), but comfortably leaning back so that when you put your
baby on
your chest, gravity will keep him/her in position with his/her body molded to yours.
your chest, gravity will keep him/her in position with his/her body molded to yours.
»Have your head and shoulders well supported. Let your baby’s whole
front touch your whole front.
»Since you’re leaning back, you don’t have a lap, so your baby can
rest on you in any position you like. Just make sure her/his whole front is
against you.
»Let your baby’s cheek rest somewhere near your bare breast.
»Help her/him as much as you like; help her do what she’s trying to do. You’re
a team.
»Hold your breast or not, as you like.
»Relax and enjoy each other.
CRADLE POSITION
The cradle position is most
commonly used after the first few weeks.
To nurse your baby while cradling or holding him/her across your
lap, he/she should be lying on his/her side, resting on his/her shoulder and
hip with his/her mouth level with your nipple. Use pillows lifting your baby
and supporting your elbows to bring your baby up to nipple height especially
during the first few weeks. Support your breast with either the "U" hold" or "C" hold
as described in the "Breast Support Techniques".
Your baby's head will be on your forearm and his/her back will be along your
inner arm and palm. When you look down, you should see his side. His/her mouth
should be covering at least a half inch of the dark area around your nipple. Be
sure his/her ear, shoulder and hips should be in a straight line. As a newborn,
your baby's head and bottom should be level with each other.
During the early weeks, many mothers find a variation of the
cradle position above, called the cross-cradle position to be useful.
The cross-cradle position gives you more control.
For this position, your baby is supported on a pillow across your
lap to help raise him to your nipple level. Pillows should also support both
elbows so your arms don't hold the weight of the baby; they will tire before
the feeding is finished.
If you are preparing to breastfeed on the left breast, your left
hand supports that breast in a "U" hold. (Read "Breast Support Techniques" article for a description of this hold.)
You support your baby with the fingers of your right hand. Do this
by gently placing your hand behind your baby's ears and neck with your thumb
and index finger behind each ear. Your baby's neck rests in the web between the
thumb, index finger and palm of your hand, forming a "second neck"
for baby. The palm of your hand is placed between his shoulder blades. As you
prepare to latch on your baby, be sure his mouth is very close to your nipple
from the start. When baby opens his mouth wide, you push with the palm of your
hand from between the shoulder blades. His mouth will be covering at least a
half inch from the base of your nipple.
CLUTCH OR FOOTBALL POSITION
This is a good position for a mother who has had a Cesarean birth, as it keeps the baby away from … »»Continue
Reading«»
SIDE-LYING POSITION
Many mothers find lying down to nurse a comfortable position,
especially at night. Both mother and baby lie on their sides facing each other.
You can use pillows behind your back and behind or between your knees to help
get comfortable. A pillow or rolled blanket behind the baby's back will keep
him/her from rolling away from you. The baby can be cradled in your arm with
his/her back along your forearm. Having his/her hips flexed and his ear,
shoulder and hip in one line helps your baby get milk more easily. Some mothers
find that practicing with this position during the daytime is very helpful.
CONCLUSION
Choose among all the above positions, that one that best suits you
and your baby to encourage better suckling and never forget to keep the
smile on your face, IT WORKS!!!
Most of the images and information for this article is CREDITED to llli.Org
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Call Our Nutritionist - +233277279565
This article was reviewed on Monday, 15th June,
2013 By Nu. Sallah
Stanley Kwesi (Nutritionist at Nutritional Talk)
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