Breastfeeding positions for mom and the baby

Published: 06/06/2010 by IBCLC Graciela Hess

The placement of the baby while breastfeeding is very important to avoid hurt nipples ensure a good transfer of milk.

The ideal time to position the baby for breastfeeding for the first time is right after birth because their
sucking reflex is strongest, if this is not possible, try it as soon as the Mom and baby are together.

Prior to placing the baby for breastfeeding, we must take into account that the body the baby is aligned with his head, so the kid does not have to turn his head or trunk to reach the breast. This provides stability on his entire body and allows him to just having to concentrate on sucking the breast and not having to maintain the balance of his body. To ensure that his body is aligned, we must observe that his nose is aligned with his navel or have his ear form a straight line with his shoulder and hip.

It is also important the way the mother holds her breast. She can hold the breast with her fingers in a scissor bite position, i.e., between the index and middle fingers or with her four fingers against her thumb. The important thing is not to cover the areola (dark part around the nipple) with her fingers.

There are different positions to place the baby to the breast as described below, to decide which one to use you will need to consider the anatomy of the mother's breasts, that is, the direction where the nipples and breast point. The head and the body of the baby should be more or less inclined according to the direction of chest's axis.