What Is the Correct Posture for Breastfeeding?

Which Breastfeeding Posture Is Comfortable?

It can be daunting to breastfeed a newborn child. New moms have no prior experience. It is quite a new thing for them. Therefore, they do not know the correct posture for breastfeeding yet.

First of all, there is no right or wrong breastfeeding posture! Each mother finds a perfect position that also comforts the baby. What’s important is nourishing the child and ensuring he is full.

You can try several techniques and positions to find the correct posture for breastfeeding. This post will provide some aid for that. So, continue reading to learn more about different postures for breastfeeding.  

What Are Some Popular Breastfeeding Postures?

The following breastfeeding postures are quite popular nowadays:

Cradle hold posture

It is the most common breastfeeding posture. Most new mothers practice it during the pregnancy period. You have to sit in an upright position. The baby will be positioned on your side and his neck and head will be along your forearms. The position is accurate if the baby’s body is against your tummy.

This breastfeeding posture is quite common, but not always comforting for the mom and the child. You may find it a bit tough to offer ample support to the newborn child. Therefore, some mothers use a pillow or cushion to offer proper support in this position.

Laid-back posture

This posture is also called biological nurturing. New moms always try this posture to feed the baby conveniently. The mother will lie on the bed using a cushion. The baby will rest on the mother’s stomach or chest for feeding.

This position is perfect to feed a newborn baby. The baby can easily take the nipple in his mouth and suck milk to fill his tummy. This position offers skin-to-skin contact to comfort the child. That’s why babies are first fed in this position.

Football holding posture

This position is perfect for mothers with large size breasts. It also helps mothers with inverted breasts in feeding their child. Place the baby’s body on one side and hold his head and neck with the forearm. At the same time use the same hand to keep the breast against the child’s mouth. Use the other hand to hold the baby’s butt and tummy.

This position will feel quite comfortable when you are sitting on a couch or chair. You can easily observe whether the baby is feeding properly or not. It will be easy to adjust the position if the baby doesn’t suck milk conveniently.

Side-lying posture

It is probably the most comforting way of breastfeeding a child. You just lie on your side and hold the baby next to the breast. Put one arm below your head and another to hold the child. It is super easy to adjust the position of the child and breast in this position.

The side-lying posture is quite comforting for mothers who have undergone a caesarean section. Most babies find it easier to consume milk in this position. Therefore, most mothers feed their babies in this position regardless of their age!

Cross-cradle posture

This breastfeeding posture is quite similar to the cradle posture, but your arms will switch. Suppose the child is feeding through the left side breast, your left arm will hold the child’s butt and legs. The right side arm will keep the baby’s head and neck in the right position.   

This breastfeeding position is best suited for newborn babies with latching difficulties. Both your arms support the baby to latch accurately. Thus, breastfeeding becomes an effortless task for the child.

How to Breastfeed A Newborn Child?

Follow the below-given tips to breastfeed your newborn child properly:

• Hold the baby in your arms.

• Gently open the child’s lips to open his mouth.

• Once his mouth is open, you should hold his face in front of your chest.

• Baby’s mouth should be open enough so that his lips can cover the areola.

• Make sure the baby’s nose is not pressed against the breast. He won’t be able to breathe if his nose is pressed tightly against the breast!

Note:

• Gently pull the nipple out of your baby’s mouth if his milk sucking speed is too fast. It can cause choking and the baby might get short of breathe!

• The mammary gland releases milk smoothly. Therefore, the mother should ensure the baby sucks milk slowly!

What Are the Commonly Asked Breastfeeding Questions?

Breastfeeding is quite important to nourish the baby. Breast milk supplies all the nutrients required for the rapid growth of the child. Therefore, WHO and doctors suggest parents breastfeed until the child is 6 months old!

You would like to do everything accurately if you are soon expecting a child. That’s why you might have some questions about breastfeeding. We have answered some commonly asked questions, which are:

How to know the baby is full or not?

There are some effective ways of judging whether the child has consumed enough milk or not. His urination and defecation patterns can give you a hint about his diet. Your baby will urinate at least 6 times a day if his tummy is full. He will also defecate at least 3 times a day. His weight loss will be quite low during the first ten days!

If the child is not urinating 6-10 times a day, it’s a sign that he is not getting enough milk. You should check whether the baby is facing troubles with sucking milk or not. This problem can also occur because mammary glands are not producing enough milk.

How to check there is enough milk to feed the child?

The baby’s milk sucking sound indicates whether there is enough milk or not. The mother can also feel lactation and the child will also make swallowing sound. These signs indicate that the baby is getting ample milk to stay full.

You can also check whether the breast feels softer after feeding or not. If it does feel soft, the baby has consumed sufficient milk. Your child will look satisfied and he will get quite active after having the meal. These things indicate the baby is having enough milk to soothe his hunger.

How much weight the baby gains when breastfeeding properly?

Your baby will gain at least 125 grams of weight each week if his tummy is full after breastfeeding. A newborn child will need food every 2-3 hours for the first two months. This frequency will reduce the child’s growth. His weight gaining speed will be the same for the first few months.

Why do some babies cannot suck milk?

The baby will find it quite difficult to consume milk if he is born before the expected date. Premature babies are quite weak. Therefore, they are often fed with a milk bottle. Doctors use a breast pump to collect the mother’s milk and they feed it to nourish the child.

Some normal babies also find it daunting to suck milk. They only take the nipple in their mouth and try to suck as hard as possible. It makes things quite difficult for the child. He gets tired and stops sucking milk. Mothers should ensure the child’s mouth covers the areola so that he can suck milk easily.

How to allure a newborn child to consume milk?

Breastfeeding is quite a new experience for a newborn baby. He knows nothing about it! You might be wondering how to allure the child for breastfeeding.

Your newborn baby doesn’t know how to suck milk, but he seeks breast milk. You just need to squeeze the breast gently to get milk drops out. Take your child’s lips close to the nipple and he will start sucking the breast.

You should ensure the child is wearing comfortable clothes. Keep him close to your body so that he can feel the warmth of your arms. Thus, your baby will feel safe and consume milk patiently.

Should you follow a schedule to breastfeed the child?

Babies do not have any schedule. They do things whenever they want. Therefore, you cannot plan things in advance! All health experts advocate on-demand breastfeeding. Feed the child when he is hungry, not when it is convenient for you!

There should be no restrictions. The baby should get ample milk to soothe his hunger. Your child may get weaker if you do not feed when it is necessary. Do not take such risks because they can severely affect your child’s health. Be there to nourish him when the child desires food.  

Conclusion

Breastfeeding mothers establish an unbreakable bond with the child. That’s why every person is closer to the mother. The mother is the first person a baby trusts. That trust is quite important for the complete growth of the child.

Breastfeeding allows you to establish that trust. So, find a posture that comforts you and feed the baby whenever he is hungry. He may cry, look around, or suck his fingers when hungry. Recognize these signs and feed the milk your baby needs for proper development.  

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