Attachment
Like poor positioning, poor attachment can be the cause of many breastfeeding problems. So once you get this right and you know what to look out for, you might find that there is no turning back.
If breastfeeding your baby is painful for the whole feed it may be a sign that your baby hasn't latched onto your breast properly. You might like to break your baby's suction by putting your small clean finger in between your nipple and his or her mouth and try to get your baby to latch on again.
What can you look for to tell you that your baby has latched on properly?
• It's helpful to keep everything out of the way, fingers, bra, clothes, baby's clothes, etc. Your baby needs to be snuggled in nice and close to you so unwrapping them can also help.
• Often mums find that their baby is able to latch on better when they are able to move their head back to open their mouth widely. A way to help your baby do this is by supporting his or her neck and shoulders rather than head.
• It helps to have your baby's chin touching your breast so that there is a gap for air between their nose and your breast.
• Check that you are comfortable and that your shoulders are relaxed.
I found that using a breastfeeding pillow -any pillows will do really- helped to keep my baby at breast level. I didn't use one with my first baby and from fatigue and poor posture I used to hunch low so that he could reach my breasts...I had a very sore back and shoulders for a long time after that.
• Look for the special K at the side of your baby's mouth. Are your baby's lips turned out over your breast or is your baby sucking part of their lip?
• check that your baby has a good mouthful of breast and that he or she is not sucking on the tip of your nipple.
Often babies will suck only the nipple when they haven't opened their mouths wide enough to take in the areola as well. To encourage this you can position your baby's mouth and nose directly opposite your nipple. You might like to try tickling your baby's nose with your nipple so that the smell of your breast milk encourages him or her to extend their neck, open their mouth and latch onto your areola.
Making sure that your baby is properly attached will help to prevent many breastfeeding problems. When your baby is latched on correctly he or she si more likely to drain your breast which can help to prevent mastitis, blocked ducts, and low milk supply.
Helping your baby attach to your breast properly can help prevent or minimize the soreness many mums relate to breastfeeding as well as prevent cracked nipples.
So while attachment is a topic that I personally find not many information sources talk about, it can make breastfeeding a lot easier.
Please always remember to consult your health professional to find out information that is relevant to your specific situation.
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Return from Attachment to How to Prepare for Breastfeeding
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Go to Breastfeeding Positions
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