Check out the best breastfeeding positions for me and my baby and which breastfeeding position should you use.
It can take several weeks sometimes months to find the right breastfeeding position and hold for you and your baby.
Holding your baby correctly at the breast can help protect your nipples from damage and allow your baby to empty the breast more easily.
Many factors can affect which position is most comfortable for you and your baby(s), such as breast and body size, baby size and shape, and preference when it comes to comfort.
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Best Breastfeeding Positions For Me And My Baby
Here are the most common breastfeeding positions you can try:
1. Just starting?
The cross-cradle hold is the same as the cradle hold, but it gives you more control. You hold your baby’s head with your index finger facing the breast you will be feeding from. You support your baby’s body across your lap’s arm.
The cross-cradle hold gives you great control of your free hand over your baby’s head. It makes it easier to guide your baby to latch, but it can get tiring to hold your baby close to the cross-cradle position with their weight in the correct position for an extended period.
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2. Side-lying position
This position is ideal for breastfeeding at night or for older babies who have had a Caesarean section.
You will lie on your side with your baby facing you and your baby will be able to feed while lying parallel to your body.
This position allows for a restful feeding session, especially at night. It is also a good option for mothers who are recovering from a caesarean. However, this position can be difficult to get your baby to latch correctly.
3. Laid-back breastfeeding
This position (also known as biological nursing) is often the first position that new mothers try.
If you place your baby on your chest or belly soon after they are born, they will instinctively crawl to one of your breasts to latch on.
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It’s called ‘breast crawling’. Skin-to-skin contact stimulates their feeding instincts, and gravity helps them latch and stay in place.
This position isn’t just for newborns, it can work well for babies of all ages.
4. Football hold
The football position is a good position to hold your baby if you have had a Caesarean section or if you have big breasts.
Your baby’s face should be at your side under one breast or your arm, and your baby’s feet should be pointing towards your back.
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This position allows you to see your baby’s nose and mouth better, which makes it easier for your baby to latch properly.
It also helps to relieve pressure on your abdomen, which can be helpful after a Caesarian section. However, this position can be a little uncomfortable, especially for first-time moms.
5. Nursing in a sling
Slinging your baby can be a great way to go when you’re out and about, taking care of older kids, or even when you’re just doing some housework.
This method typically works best when your baby is a skilled breastfeeder and can hold their head up on their own.
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6. Double rugby ball hold
This is one of the best breastfeeding positions for twins and one of the few breastfeeding positions that allows you to feed them cross-cradle or tandem while your hands are relatively free.
Other positions like this may require the use of a twin breastfeeding pillow, especially early on.
7. Upright breastfeeding
The upright is a feeding position in which the baby sits on the bottom of your arm, leg, or hip with their back and head straight.
This position is suitable for babies with a tongue tie, low muscle tone, and older babies who can sit on their own.
8. Dangle Feeding
In this breastfeeding position, your baby is on his back, and you crouch over him on all fours, dangling your nipple in his mouth.
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Some moms find this position useful for a short time if they have conditions such as mastitis and don’t want their breasts crushed or touched by little ones.
Which breastfeeding position should you use?
These positions are just ideas. It is important to try different positions to see what works for you and your baby.
If your baby prefers a cross-cradle position on the right side and a soccer position on the left side, try them!
If you and your baby are comfortable, your baby is transferring milk effectively and efficiently, and your baby is happy after feeding, that is all that matters.
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A Word From GetMe Treated
It takes patience, practice, and love to learn how to breastfeed. It can take some time to find the right position for your baby, but with a bit of patience and practice, you’ll find the position that fits you and your baby best.
The most important thing to remember is that breastfeeding is comfortable and fun for you both. If you’re having trouble breastfeeding, don’t worry, you’re not alone. There are plenty of resources available to help you on this wonderful journey.
FAQs Related To Best Breastfeeding Positions For Me And My Baby
What position should the mother and baby be in during breastfeeding?
Hold your baby close with their nose level with your nipple.
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What is the best position to breastfeed to increase milk supply?
Sit in a chair with a cushion or pillow along your side. Position your baby at your side (the side you want to feed from), under your arm, with their hips close to your hips.
Your baby’s nose should be level with your nipple. Support your baby’s neck with the palm of your hand.
What position should you avoid while breastfeeding?
Avoid holding the back of the baby’s head, allowing the baby to tilt their head to one side. This allows your nipple to pass through the soft roof of the child’s mouth and end at the rear of their mouth, against their soft palate.
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What are the three rules for any position for breastfeeding?
Place your baby so that their head is not in front of your breast, and their mouth and nose are in front of your nipple. Your baby’s hips should be flexed, and their body should be as close to yours as possible.
What are the best breastfeeding positions?
The cradle hold is one of the most traditional breastfeeding positions.
How do you breastfeed a baby in a football position?
Roll your arms over your baby’s shoulders like a football. Put your baby on the side, waist to shoulder, facing you.
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Rest your upper arm on the baby’s back and cup the baby’s head in your breast. (A woman breastfeeding her baby in this position is known as the football hold.). Lying on your side, place your baby nestled next to you.
How do you breastfeed a baby in a cradle-hold position?
In a cradle hold, place your baby so that their head is in the curve of your elbow, on the side that you will be nursing, with your hand on the side that supports the rest of your body.