Positions to promote breastfeeding



In order to suck effectively, the child must keep the entire areola in his mouth and the tongue must be below it .

To be sure that this is the case, you need to make sure that the baby's mouth contains not only the areola but also another part of the breast, because the risk, otherwise, is that trying to insert the upper part of the areola remains outside the lower one, that the mother, who looks from above, cannot see; if, on the other hand, the portion of the breast that enters the baby's mouth is more abundant, it is certain that all the areola is inside it.

All this is fundamental because, for a correct suction, the nipple must be in the upper part of the mouth and between the nipple and the lower lip there must be enough space for the tongue .

Furthermore, when we approach the baby to the breast, it is advisable that the nipple is at the level of his nose and not of the mouth; in this way when the child opens his mouth there is no risk that the nipple will remain in the center or in the lower part and that therefore the child will not be able to insert the tongue.

So the fundamental thing is the position of the mouth . The way you put the rest of your body is also important, but this is especially true when you are breastfeeding a newborn. In fact, once the lactation is well started, the children acquire a great ability to attach themselves correctly and are able to suck in practically every position.

It is essential that the child attaches properly to promote effective suction but also to avoid unpleasant incidents to the mother such as, for example, fissures.

What are the positions of the body that promote breastfeeding? There are many, but the ones listed below are the most used because they are more comfortable .

The positions of breastfeeding

In order to adequately feed, the whole body of the child must be in contact with the mother, belly against belly.

This, for example, is a correct position, in which the mother holds the head of the child with one arm and holds the other hand on the ass. The baby is then comfortably placed on a nursing pillow:

Another very comfortable position is lying in bed : a perfect solution for the night and very comfortable even during the day, as in the image that appears at the beginning of the article.

Another position, which foresees a different contact from the "belly to belly" position, but is nevertheless effective, is that of a rugby ball, that is with the feet facing backwards, as in this photo.

This position is especially useful immediately after the caesarean section, when the baby's feet can cause discomfort by hitting against the mother's scar, or when two twins are to be fed in tandem.

Other tips for a correct breastfeeding position

  • The child's neck should be straight or slightly bent backwards .
  • If you want to support the breast during feeding, it is preferable to do it with the palm of the hand instead of holding the scissor fingers. If you really prefer the latter solution, to avoid covering the areola you should position your fingers so that one is very far from the other.
  • When breastfeeding you lie down, the child must be completely facing the mother and not just turn the head.
  • If the breast is very voluminous, it may be useful to compress it a little with the fingers, always being careful not to cover the areola, so that the baby can take it more easily, especially the first few weeks, when the mouth is very small.
  • A nursing pillow can help to promote a correct position.

Breastfeeding, 3 simple tips to overcome the first difficulties

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