Learn different breastfeeding positions to know how to feed your baby with care?
Let’s learn different breastfeeding positions if you are a first-time mother and not sure which breastfeeding position is suitable for you as well as your baby.
Just like anything new, breastfeeding takes practice. The priority of practice is based on how a baby latches on and breastfeed correctly from her mother. Let’s learn some of the breastfeeding positions that will help the mother to feel comfortable while nursing her baby.
When a married woman is becoming the first-time mother, generally she doesn’t aware of that how to take proper care of her baby after birth. It is necessary to guide her under perfect guidance.
Immediately after birth; a baby is eager, alert and ready to breastfeed, also mother should be alert and ready for nursing.
Before you begin breastfeeding, take a look at your surroundings that should be a healthy and comfortable atmosphere.
It is also important to find a comfortable nursing position for you and your baby. Many mothers feel very uncomfortable during nursing her baby in the early stage of her delivery.
So, here I am considering some of the best breastfeeding techniques which are very useful for every mother and her baby.
Breastfeeding Positions:
Breastfeeding process is natural for every mother. It is very important for a mother to know the right position when she starts to feed her baby. There are five best breastfeeding positions that will help baby latch and feed comfortably and properly from his/her mother.
- Cradle hold
- Crossover hold
- Laid Back Position
- Football Hold
- Side lying position
All positions are described as follows:
1.) Cradle Hold:
This is the first technique which every mother should learn and try to feed her baby in her early stage after delivery. This is the most common breastfeeding position and works almost everywhere.
Make sure that your back is straight and supported with a pillow. Cradle your baby’s head in the crook of your arm as his/her entire body is facing to you and the tip of your baby’s nose is in front of your nipple.
Make sure your baby’s belly is touched with your belly so that you can know your baby is in proper position and ready to latch on.
After making sure your baby is ready to feed, bring your baby close to you and you can now bring your baby’s mouth to the nipple (rather than the nipple to his mouth) without making him turn his head.
Avoid too much-pushing baby’s head to your breast, because this will cover their nose and block your view of their face.
2.) Crossover Hold:
This is the second position which is quite similar to cradle hold position, but you are holding the baby with opposite arms. Once your baby is becoming experienced to latch on properly, mothers usually continue with this position.
Like cradle holds position, you should sit comfortably and give support your baby’s body by holding your two arms. Make sure your arm should be supporting your baby’s back and head.
If you have your baby in your right arm, feed him/her from your left breast and when your baby is in left arm; place him/her to right breast for feeding.
You can hold your breast to feed your baby comfortably.
3.) Laid Back Position:
Many moms and babies like the Laid Back position or Biological Nursing Position because it’s so natural for baby and relaxing for mom.
This position is not about just breastfeeding; rather the approach in itself encourages the mothers to keep the baby in right place.
It helps baby to breastfeed deeply from their mother. When you are comfortable, place your baby on his front on your body.
If you have had a vaginal birth, position your baby so that his feet are near your thighs and his head is near your breasts.
Laid Back Breastfeeding introduces the concept of nurturing and enjoyment.
4.) Football Hold:
This is the fourth helpful technique of breastfeeding for those babies who are facing trouble latching on. This position is also called clutch hold.
In this position, you sit on a bed or couch and your baby is tucked under your arm and lying along the side you will be feeding on.
The baby’s head is in your hand and the upper body is supported by your arm or a pillow. You can also control your baby’s head to bring your baby’s mouth for the latch.
This position is very helpful for those women who delivered by cesarean delivery.
5.) Side-Lying Position:
This is the comfortable position for experienced breastfeeding mothers who try during sleeping time. For beginners, it is rather a difficult position.
This position is relaxing and gets you more and much-needed sleep. In this position, you and your baby are lying on your sides facing each other.
You can place pillows or blanket behind the baby for support and leave her head free to tilt back. Most mothers like their baby’s head resting on their arm.
Place your baby on her side facing you and nestled in your arm. Pull her feet and bottom in close. Slide baby up or down to get her mouth lined up with your nipple.
There are certain breastfeeding positions for common problems such as large breasts, sore nipples, and cesarean. Mothers can go to the above best positions which are suitable for them for feeding her baby.
Many mothers with large breasts find side-lying position is the best & easy position as they can use the bed to support the weight of their breasts and while getting a good view of baby’s latch, but remember to hold your breast throughout the nursing session to keep from putting a lot of weight on baby’s chin.
Actually, there is no perfect position for a sore nipple. Most cases of nipple soreness are caused by an improper latch on and positioning. So, a mother needs to know in which position her baby is latched on properly. It doesn’t matter how often or how long your baby nurses, it shouldn’t hurt.
Many moms find the side-lying position is the most comfortable during the first day or so in cesarean condition. It’s an easy way to nurse. Because it isn’t possible for a mother to sit immediately after birth and breastfeed her baby. After cesarean, she can feed her baby in bed using side-lying position.
All above the positions are helpful and required for a mother to latch on properly her baby and also helpful for the development of their growth.
Importance of Mother’s Diet in Bread feeding:
It is incredibly important to eat healthy while breastfeeding. As quickly as a mother is feeling comfortable to feed; her baby can consume more milk form their mother that helps to make them internally strong.
A mother is solely responsible for her baby’s growth and development. So, she should be aware of the foods during breastfeeding.
Let’s have a look at the brief discussion about nutrition foods that a mother should intake during feeding her baby.
To keep baby healthy mother should take balanced diet during breastfeeding which is a combination of healthy foods. Diet doesn’t mean to lose weight. Don’t try to lose weight by dieting until at least two months after your baby is born.
These balanced diet containing iron, calcium, vitamin, etc. which are helpful for breastfeeding mothers. This includes protein foods such as meat, fish, eggs, dairy, rice, beans, bread, nuts, vegetables, fruit and also drinks plenty of water.
Breastfeeding also requires extra calories because your baby is consuming food as milk from you. So, you should intake more food during breastfeeding.
At last…
Many new mothers find breastfeeding to be one of the most amazing acts of motherhood. Mothers are also ready to provide nourishment for their baby.
Breastfeeding is a way of feeding that both you and your baby must learn together. It isn’t a one-and-done process.
It takes time, patience and practice for both you and baby to get adjusted to the different breastfeeding positions. So a mother should hold her breath while learning the process for her baby.