Breastfeeding is a very special moment for the mother and her baby, as well as a decisive moment for its growth. It creates an intimate space between mother and son that is generally rewarding for both. But on some occasions it can be annoying and painful for the mother and without favorable results for the child, who cannot ingest a sufficient amount of milk due to lack of a good grip on his mother's breast.
Therefore it is important to know how to position the baby correctly while breastfeeding and thus guarantee the success in the nutrition of the little one. In this article we tell you how to do it.
How to position the baby during breastfeeding to get a good latch on to the breast
Breastfeeding -if possible- is a wise decision for the baby's health. Although formula milk has increasingly improved recipes, breast milk is unmatched for its components and absence of artificial additives.
The next step is to know how to position the baby while breastfeeding, because -contrary to what it may seem- it is not something instinctive. The normal thing is that after the delivery, the mother is very tired and if she has also undergone a cesarean section, she will suffer pain. These are complicated moments and at the same time decisive if she intends to breastfeed. Therefore, it is very It is important that the mother receives appropriate counseling from the hospital staff where you gave birth and know how to position the baby to breastfeed.
If the newborn latches on well from the beginning, we start off well and it is normal that problems related to insufficient breast milk production do not appear, that the baby does not gain weight properly or that the painful and dreaded cracks appear in the the nipples
Here are the steps to position the baby well and ensure a good latch on to the breast:
Bring the baby closer to the nipple
We will gently bring the baby's lips to the breast helping him to find the nipple. The child recognizes the smell of her mother and one measure that she helps is to stimulate him by bringing his nose close to the nipple. At that moment he will open his mouth and it will be the opportunity to bring him closer to the chest. It is important to let the baby come to the breast and not the other way aroundBecause if that is the case, we will not get a good grip, but we will get back pain from the constant forward leaning.
In this sense, it may be advisable to use nursing pillows, since they elevate the baby and prevent the aforementioned back discomfort. Let's remember that it is a special moment in which mother and child must be comfortable.
The baby's mouth should cover the nipple and areola well.
The baby's mouth should encompass the nipple and most of the areola. His tongue will be under the breast. In this position, the baby's lips protrude out ("FISH MOUTh"), the chin touches the chest and the nose rests on it, being slightly separated allowing to breathe correctly.
It is important avoid pinching the nipple with your fingers. This practice is common in some mothers because they believe that this makes it easier for the milk to come out. It is not necessary. If a good latch is produced, the baby will suck correctly at its proper tempo.
Signs of Success in Grasping
The mother will detect that the baby has latched on well to her breast if she perceives the following signs:
- The baby has the wide open mouth with the lips turned out (the aforementioned "fish mouth").
- All the cheeks of the baby are appreciated rounded.
- The nose is separated from the chest and the chin is in contact with it.
- Baby's lower lip covers more of the areola than the upper lip
- La suction initial -which is quick to get milk let-down- quickly becomes slow and rhythmic
- The sucking of the baby is associated with a characteristic movement of the lower jaw that goes up and down, causing a movement of the ear and temple muscles.
- Once the baby comes off the breast, the nipple shows a well-defined shape, long and rounded, without deformities.
- The suction is not painful although it can be a bit annoying in the first shots.