Breastfeeding Positions
When I used to think of breastfeeding positions, the main one that came to my mind was the cradle hold. And if you're a new mum this may be the position that you feel most comfortable with which is great...but it's good to know the alternatives.
Changing positions can help ease many breastfeeding problems like blocked milk ducts, sore nipples, mastitis, and the list goes on.
With my first baby the only position I used was the cradle hold as I didn't feel up to trying anything different. The cradle hold is where you hold your baby across your body on their side, with their mouth aligned to your nipple. Your hand supports your baby's shoulders and neck, not their head. Your baby's body is turned towards you and against your tummy, and their lower arm is tucked around your waist, so that it's not in between you. Your baby's mouth and nose are directly opposite your nipple, and you baby's chin is in towards your breast so that their nose has a gap for air. Feels like a long checklist but if you are having problems with attachment, going through it step by step may help you find what could be missing.
While breastfeeding my second baby I needed to try different breastfeeding positions to clear some blocked milk ducts. You see, the movement of your baby's chin while breastfeeding gives your breast a great massage. So if you find that you have a blocked duct, sometimes a great way to clear that duct is to position your baby in a way that their chin will rub on or around it.
I went from the cradle hold to the football hold and this change made all the difference. In the football hold you're basically holding your baby like a football, so that he or she is lying under your arm. So if you are breastfeeding from your left breast, your left arm supports your baby's back and neck and your baby is lying on his or her back so that they are looking up at you. Again, your baby's mouth and nose will be opposite your nipple.
The other breastfeeding position I tried was lying down in the hope that I could get more rest, or even sleep while my baby fed. I found this a little uncomfortable at first, but after a while it got better.
If you do try this, you might find it helpful to lie on your side with lots of pillows to support your shoulders and back. Again, if feeding from your left breast, your left arm will be up around your baby's head. This should help to stabilize you and prevent any pillows from moving down over your baby's head. Your other arm will support your baby while he or she is lying on their side and facing you.
I have small breasts and I found that I could also feed from my right breast while lying on my left side, all I had to do was lean slightly more forward...but I was afraid to fall asleep this way in case I rolled over...sometimes mums with larger breasts also find this cross over more comfortable.
Another breastfeeding position which isn't as commonly used but is great for clearing ducts is lying or leaning over your baby. The amount of support your baby needs for this position will depend on your baby's age. You may like to try lying your baby down on your bed or a change mat and roll up some towels to wedge beside your baby so that they don't roll away from your breast.
In this position your baby will be lying on their back, with you either leaning over them or on your knees and elbows above them so that your breast is suspended over your baby's mouth..it doesn't sound very comfortable I know, but used short term it can help to clear up many breastfeeding problems as it really drains the breast.
As you become more used to breastfeeding you may find that you and your baby start to find your own breastfeeding positions. And with any breastfeeding position you can lean back if you have a fast let-down so that your milk flow works against the pull of gravity. You can also lean forward at the end of a feed to really make sure that your breast is completely drained. This can often help with increasing your breast milk supply as well as draining blockages.
It's really helpful, no matter how you breastfeed, that you ensure your baby is properly attached. Like poor positioning, poor attachment can be the cause of many breastfeeding problems so I invite you to read more about attachment.
Please always remember to consult your health professional to find out information that is relevant to your specific situation.
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