breast. Many parents immediately find their own method to perform this pose.
Best for: Newborns, infants with latching issues, and women who wish to relax and breastfeed.
2. Cradle Hold
For older babies, this is the easiest nursing position (three months and beyond). It’s ideal for discreet mums.
How To Do The Cradle Hold
Cradle your infant in your breastfeeding arm (left arm for left breast; right arm for right breast). Your infant should lie on their side with their head on your arm as a cushion. Use cushions to raise your baby’s mouth to breast level. Newborns should have aligned bottoms and heads. Lower older infants’ bottom. Support your breast with your free hand.
Best for: Quick, simple breastfeeding for older, more experienced infants and discreet public nursing.
3. Cross-Cradle Hold
This posture is similar to the cradle hold but better for newborns learning to latch or not eating successfully.
How To Do The Cross-Cradle Hold
Place your baby on a breastfeeding cushion on your lap. If you’re breastfeeding on the left, cradle the baby’s head in your right hand with your thumb by one ear and your forefinger by the other. The thumb-forefinger gap should support your baby’s neck. Hold your baby’s top back with your palm. Lean on your left breast. Tickle your baby’s top lip with your nipple, and when it opens its mouth, use your right hand to press your baby’s back into the breast to obtain a deep latch.
Best for: Latching-challenged newborns and preterm babies.
4. Football Hold
This position prevents babies from pushing on Caesarean incisions. Ideal for twin parents or tandem nursing moms. Sleepy newborns require more skin-to-skin contact; therefore, this position is not optimal.
How To Do The Football Hold
Your infant should lie on their back with their legs at your side (under your arm). Pillow your infant at breast level. Like the cross-cradle hold, support your baby’s head with their sidearm. Bring your baby’s face to your breast with your other hand. Your baby will lean. To avoid fatigue, elevate your infant and arm with cushions.
Best for: C-section births, tandem nursing, and twin mothers.
5. Side Lying
This position is hardest to get down yet most useful. Mastering the side-lying breastfeeding position saves co-sleeping families and others. You can nap while breastfeeding. This posture helps you sleep, which is crucial in the early days of a newborn.
How To Do Side-Lying Breastfeeding
Lie sideways with your arm under your head or around the baby (you may also use a rolled-up receiving blanket to keep your baby from rolling away). Your infant should be on their side, mouth near your breast. Support your lower breast with the other hand. Sitting on your elbow may assist baby latch. Hold your baby with your lower arm and position your breast with your upper arm. After latching, lie down carefully. To avoid sitting, ask your spouse to assist you latch the baby.
You may also lay down with your kid on their side and prop yourself up with your elbow till you’re comfortable. Pull your baby closer or slide to meet it until it can latch on. Hold your breast in front of your infant to latch. Once latched, you may recline with your head down and your elbow supported by your head or around the baby while the baby feeds.
Best for: Nighttime breastfeeding, weary moms, or sick moms. Best for older, breastfed infants.
6. Baby Carrier Method Of Breastfeeding
Babywearing can facilitate a stronger breastfeeding relationship, as more skin-to-skin. Nursing in a baby carrier may also improve breastfeeding rates.
How To Baby Carrier Breastfeed
Lean their face on your breast and latch on. Your infant will breathe easier when nursing.
Best for: Experienced breastfeeding newborns with strong neck control. An excellent job for discreet moms.
RELATED: 6 Ways To Prep Your Body & Home For Breastfeeding
Some Tools That Can Help Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is hard, but it gets easier when you find the perfect tools. Here are some of the best:
Breastfeeding Pillow
A nursing pillow accommodates your contour and eliminates the need to stack bed pillows. The Boppy and My Brest Friend are popular breastfeeding pillows. Though expensive, the Nesting Pillow fits you and your baby perfectly.
Breast Pump
Manual breast pumps are great for parents who want breastmilk insurance in their freezer. The electric breast pump is a lifeline for working parents, low-supply moms, and women who need to pump often. Manual pumps take half as long. Some bras let you pump while working, texting, exercising, or driving.
Nipple Cream
Nipple soreness when feeding a hungry infant is the worst. Nipple creams, like this one from Mother’s Love, are prepared from extra virgin olive oil, beeswax, shea butter, marshmallow root, and calendula, and may relieve soreness between nursing without harming your infant. This homemade nipple cream calms the mom’s tissue and promotes the baby’s microbiota.
Breast Pads
You may run to the shop for five minutes in the early weeks and return with a drenched shirt. Breast pads help. They may dry your bra and shirt between feedings till your supply runs out. Disposable and washable breast pads are available.
Breastfeeding positions and breast grips make it easier. Call a lactation consultant if you need help. Few women cannot breastfeed owing to anatomy or supply. Most women can breastfeed, so you probably simply need more help. If you can’t breastfeed, you can still raise a healthy, happy baby using natural formula.