Breastfeeding is not just a meal for a baby. These are moments of mom and newborn unity, time spent in absolute peace and confidence, in love and support, care and attention. It is therefore very important that during the feeding and the mother, the baby was equally comfortable. A selection of the best poses will help you choose the most convenient and suitable position for you and your baby for HB. Read and try!
TOP 10 proven poses for breastfeeding
The properly chosen position helps to solve several problems of mother and baby at once:
- allows mom to completely relax while feeding,
- prevents flowing of hands and back,
- promotes easier and more uniform secretion of breast milk,
- serves as prevention of ingestion of air and subsequent colic,
- Allows the child to cling perfectly to the areolae with his lips and to clean each milky duct so that the nursing mom does not have lactostasis afterward.
Each mother intuitively selects the most appropriate position for feeding, focusing on their own feelings and the reaction of the newborn. However, it is not always easy to choose the best easily and painlessly – sometimes it takes several not very pleasant weeks, full of pain from cracked nipples, sore back and falling off hands. In order not to waste time on the “invention of the bicycle”, we suggest using a selection of the 10 most successful positions approved by pediatricians, consultants on GW and millions of mummies around the world.
1. Cradle from mother’s hands
This is perhaps the most popular and universal pose for feeding a newborn. It is equally convenient for newly born children, and for those who have already managed to grow up a bit and get the first tooth, or even more than one. In this case, the head of the baby as if rests on the elbow bend of one hand but sticks with the palm of the other hand, while the child itself faces the body towards the mother’s stomach. Thus, the mother’s hands imitate the cradle, and the breast is right at the toddler’s mouth.
If at the end of feeding you begin to slightly rock the crumbs, it is highly likely that he will fall asleep in such a warm and reliable “cradle”. And all you have to do is to put him in the crib and get some rest.
2. Standing crib
This position completely copies the popular “cradle”, but the mother does not sit at the same time, but stands to simultaneously rock the baby. This position is most relevant among those children who do not fall asleep well and often are capricious – so they can be easily and quickly calmed down. And for mom, this position will be an opportunity to pump up your arms and hips a bit in order to quickly get back the “pregnant” forms.
3. Support crib
This option is most relevant if the child is premature or too weak (for example, after a cold). The only difference is that the head is fixed not only by the elbow bend but also by the palm of the other hand. So the mother simultaneously supports the body of the baby, his torso and head at the right distance from the breast and can adjust the intensity of sucking, slightly removing or, conversely, bringing the baby closer to herself.
4. Lying on the side
The most comfortable, but not the safest posture for night feeding. In this case, both mother and child are lying on the bed facing each other, and the feeding itself is carried out from the lower breast. And although such a position allows the mother to practically not wake up at night, it is impossible to feed through sleep – the baby can choke or choke, so it is imperative to support his head and be awake until he eats and falls asleep.
If you feel the approach of the “kingdom of Morpheus” and the crumb doesn’t eat up, change your position to a less convenient one – this will allow you to keep your mind clear no matter how tired you are. And if you do not want to sleep at all, without fear, enjoy a relaxed position, lying next to your tot!
5. Lying, but from the upper chest
Features, nuances, and warnings regarding this pose are no different from the previous one. The only “innovation” is the use of a flat pillow or a plaid folded several times to be placed under the newborn. This will slightly raise it above the bed level and help you reach the upper chest without problems. Of course, you can also lean on your elbow and slightly lower the body – then the crumb will not have to lift. But in this case, the hand will quickly tire and begin to tingle, and the feeding itself will turn into torture.
6. From under the arm
This position has become real salvation for those who by nature are endowed with flat nipples, too big breasts or undergone a cesarean section. This position allows you to completely relieve tension from the abdominals, relax your hands and feed both one baby and twins at the same time.
In what position to be a mother, each woman chooses independently. She can sit with pillows around her (or wrap a nursing pillow around her waist) or recline, leaning on her elbow and thigh. In this case, the child’s legs will be located behind the mother’s back, the body will pass under the arm, resting on the pillow, and the head will be securely fixed by her mother’s palm at the chest.
Since in this case, the mammary glands are slightly above the level of the mouth of the crumbs, milk will be much better to evacuate from the lower and lateral lobes, which means that if you have stagnated in this area, be sure to switch to feeding “from under the arm” – this will help to remove unpleasant symptoms.
7. Valetik
This posture looks rather nontrivial, but it is indispensable during the stagnation of milk in the upper segments of the mammary glands – from there it will be removed in the first place if you place the baby “Valetik”. To do this, lie on the bed and place the child next to you so that his legs run parallel to your face and your chin is near the top of the areola. In this case, you can support it under the back of your hand or put a roller so that the crumb does not turn over during feeding.
8. Overhang
This posture is quite specific and not too comfortable for a woman, but sometimes you can’t do without it. In this case, the newborn should lie on a bed or changing table, and the mother – as if to hang over him, standing on all fours or bending over the table (as it is more convenient for someone). As a result, the nipple will be just at the baby’s mouth, and it will be very easy for him to suck.
Important! In no case do not feed the crumbs, if he lies on the back – he may choke. Make sure that when feeding his head was turned a little to one side – then nothing will interfere with proper swallowing.
To feed the baby, hanging over it, is especially useful in the following cases:
- with lactostosis, in order to empty all the lobules of the mammary glands;
- if the baby is weak and cannot fully suck;
- When transferring from artificial feeding to HB — naturally, it is much easier to get food from the bottle, and at first, the baby may be lazy to suck breast.
9. Sitting on your lap
If the toddler has already learned to sit, he will certainly like to eat at mom’s knees. To do this, sit him face to face, stretching his legs in different directions. So he can cling to his chest, independently adjusting the duration and volume of feeding. However, it is worthwhile to hold the restless head a little bit so that it does not twist and because of your pain by careless movement.
This position will become a lifesaver during a cold when nasal breathing of the infant is difficult. Sucking milk with a stuffy nose is not the easiest and most enjoyable experience for the child, and in the sitting position, the cold is usually not so strong.
10. Baby riding mom
If the lactation is too strong, for the convenience of the child it is better to lay his tummy on his stomach, slightly turning his head to the nipple. Such a posture will allow you to control the intensity of the streams and slightly alleviate the tides, and the baby will not choke with too much pressure of breast milk, which he is not able to cope with.
In addition, in such a position, it is more difficult for the baby to swallow oxygen, and if this suddenly happened, it can easily burp an air bubble and continue feeding. Close physical contact with mom will be an added bonus!
Signs that the posture for feeding is chosen incorrectly
- The little body of the child is directed in one direction, and the head – in another. In this case, the crumbs quickly neck, and feeding will be tiresome for him.
- The peanut can freely turn in different directions and be distracted from the chest.
- The newborn does not open the sponges enough, pulls them out with a “tube” or, on the contrary, turns those inwards.
- The crumb smacks loudly, pulls in his cheeks, and the sucking movements are too sharp and spontaneous – it means that it is extremely inconvenient for him to get breast milk.
- You have to constantly pull the head of the child to the chest, to direct it. With a correctly chosen pose, such adjustment occurs independently.
- Gums crumbs are constantly slipping from the areola to the nipple – it means that keeping the breast in such a position is problematic for him.
- You feel sore wherever you are – in your chest, neck, arms, or other parts of your body. Change position immediately, otherwise feeding will turn into a test of strength.
Why is it important to choose the right position?
Every mother by nature tries to sacrifice herself, doing everything to please the tiny creature for whom she is responsible. However, guided by this, choosing postures for breastfeeding is a premature failure. In addition to psychological comfort and enjoyment from the first months of motherhood, the correctly chosen position will become the prevention of lactostasis, protect against nipple cracks and other complications of the lactation period.
Tip! Alternate your favorite positions at least 1-2 times a day to regularly empty all lobes of the breast. The most active sucking is observed in those segments where the baby’s chin is attached. Knowing this, you will be able to choose the most rational poses to completely empty your chest.
Do not think that the main thing is the comfort of the child, because both of you should be equally comfortable and pleasant to enjoy the minutes of breastfeeding.