Breastfeeding – Feeding Positions

Can you help me with the positions to hold the baby in while breastfeeding as I am struggling to get comfortable?

Once feeding is well established you may want to investigate one of the many positions for holding the baby when feeding. But in the early days it is wise to stick to the basic positions so that you can master the basics properly.

• Basic position – the baby should be lying with baby’s tummy against yours and the whole body facing you. It is vital that the baby is not turning baby’s head to feed but is rather in a straight line.

• Crossover hold – Hold baby’s head in your left hand, with fingers on one ear and thumb on the other. Gently compress right breast with right hand to help baby latch, and guide baby towards right breast. To feed on left breast, hold head in right hand and compress left breast with left hand.

• Clutch hold – Position baby with facing right breast but with legs under your right breast. Put pillow under baby to bring baby up to the level of your breast. Now continue as for crossover hold, holding baby’s head in right hand and compressing breast with left hand. This is a very helpful position if you are wishing to keep pressure off a painful stomach, in order to feed twins, if your baby is very tiny or if you have large breasts.

• Cradle hold – nestle baby’s head in crook of your arm and support the body with you arm and hand. Make sure that baby’s lower arm is not squashed between you and the baby, but is rather tucked below. It is important to keep baby parallel and if you let the body drop down it may cause discomfort on your nipple.

• Side-lying position – Lie facing your baby in bead with tummies touching. Ensure that baby is in line with your nipple and then compress your breast with the upper most hand. Make sure that baby’s body does not roll away during feeding as this will cause discomfort for baby and pressure on your nipple.

See also:
Breastfeeding – After Caesarean
Breastfeeding – Alcohol to boost milk
Breastfeeding – Basic info
Breastfeeding – Breast infection continuing feeding
Breastfeeding – Breast infection or mastitis
Breastfeeding – Difficulty
Breastfeeding – Effect of exercise
Breastfeeding – Effect of laughter
Breastfeeding – Engorgement Discomfort
Breastfeeding – Engorgement Pain Relief
Breastfeeding – Engorgement Reason
Breastfeeding – Fear
Breastfeeding – Feeding when ill
Breastfeeding – Frequent feeding
Breastfeeding – Importance
Breastfeeding – Increasing Milk
Breastfeeding – In the beginnning
Breastfeeding – Jaundice
Breastfeeding – Latching
Breastfeeding – Leaking Milk
Breastfeeding – Let-down Reflex
Breastfeeding – Medication
Breastfeeding – Milk Consistency
Breastfeeding – Milk Release
Breastfeeding – Milk Starting
Breastfeeding – Mother’s Sickness
Breastfeeding – Mother’s Stress
Breastfeeding – Mother’s Thirst
Breastfeeding – Nipples Healing
Breastfeeding – Nipples Painful
Breastfeeding – Nipples Washing
Breastfeeding – Overdue Baby
Breastfeeding – Reasons Not To
Breastfeeding – Restless Baby
Breastfeeding – Second Baby
Breastfeeding – Shape Of Breasts
Breastfeeding – Simplicity
Breastfeeding – Sleepy Baby
Breastfeeding – Some Advantages
Breastfeeding – Watery Breastmilk
Breastfeeding – Weight Loss
Breastfeeding – When To Wean
Breastfeeding – World breast feeding day