Helping Mothers Achieve a Safe and Pleasant Breastfeeding Experience

Tips to Help You Latch Your Baby to Breast

• Find a comfortable position. Use pillows behind your back and under your arms and shoulders for additional support.
• Securely snuggle your baby in your arm with baby facing toward your body “tummy to tummy”.
• Bring the baby up to the level of your breast by putting a pillow under the baby.
• Have one hand support the baby’s neck below the ears. The other hand supports the breast, well behind the areola (dark area around the nipple).
• Have the baby’s chin pressed into your breast with your nipple just opposite the baby’s nose.
• Tickle the baby’s upper lip with your nipple to make his/her mouth open wide.
• Bring the baby to your breast quickly.
• Your baby should latch onto the areola, not just the nipple. This is called a “deep latch” and will help the baby get more milk and reduce the chance of sore nipples.
• If you feel discomfort during nursing, your baby may not have enough of your breast in his/her mouth. Insert your finger between the baby’s gums to break suction. Then re-latch your baby.

If your baby is sleepy, place him/her skin-\to-skin between your breasts. Watch for feeding cues and offer breast at those times. Other tips for waking baby include:

• Unwrap your baby and talk to him/her.
• Change his/her diaper or sit him/her up.
• Dim the lights.
• Wash his/her bottom with a cool washcloth.
• Massage/tickle the baby.
• If your baby is crying, calm and soothe him/her before trying to breastfeed.

If you have any questions or problems latching your baby to breast, call or talk with a lactation consultant, healthcare provider or La Leche League. Most problems can be quickly fixed with a little help and practice.

Works Cited

Lawrence, Ruth A. & Lawrence, Robert M. “Breastfeeding, A Guide for the Medical Professional”, Eighth edition, ELSEVIER, 2016.

Wambach, Karen and Riordan, Jan “Breastfeeding and Human Lactation”, Fifth edition, Jones & Bartlett, 2016.