How to Latch Baby in Side Lying Position

Just because breastfeeding is natural doesn't mean information technology'll exist second nature. Sometimes it takes fourth dimension, practice and a whole lot of trial and error to get into a breastfeeding groove. Patience and persistence may be called for—correct from 24-hour interval one. A healthy newborn's instinct to breastfeed peaks about 20 to 30 minutes subsequently they're born, so yous want to have baby right at that place next to y'all, gear up to potable up your colostrum—that'due south the nutrient-packed early milk you express after delivering. While you're in the infirmary, take total reward of the nurses and lactation consultants who can help you lot and infant perfect the latch and find the best newborn breastfeeding positions for you both.

"Baby's latch depends on many factors, such as the size of your breasts and your ain comfort level," says Natasha 1000. Sriraman, Md, associate professor of pediatrics at Children'due south Hospital of the Male monarch's Daughter in Norfolk, Virginia. "The goal is to have baby's oral cavity broad open, mentum dropped and touching your chest, tongue downwards, with their lips flanged—not puckered in—on the areola." Luckily, you lot can achieve the platonic latch in many dissimilar breastfeeding positions, so experiment and find the one (or ones) you like the almost. Read on to learn about some of the best breastfeeding positions out there, how to perfect them and which holds to use in diverse circumstances.

Breastfeeding Positions

First off, there'southward no correct or incorrect fashion to go about breastfeeding baby: "The but right type of breastfeeding position is a comfy one that works best for Mom and baby," Sriraman says. So experience free to try one or all of these breastfeeding positions—and go on in mind that what might work for yous today can modify down the road as baby grows and you lot both get more comfortable with the whole feeding thing.

Image: Decue Wu

Laid-back breastfeeding

"Many moms and babies love the laid-back breastfeeding position because it'south so natural for baby and relaxing for mom," says Stephanie Nguyen, RN, IBCLC, a board-certified lactation consultant in Scottsdale, Arizona. To do this 1, y'all recline back about 45 degrees wherever you like to nurse—on the burrow, in bed, on a recliner—and babe lies face up downwards on top of your breast with their arms hugging your breast on both sides.

Image: Decue Wu

Football hold

Of the breastfeeding positions, this one—as well sometimes called a clutch agree—is oft the kickoff moms learn. With the football game concur, babe is tucked nether your arm off to the side (yep, like a football game) and held with one arm while yous support your breast with the other arm. If y'all're belongings baby on the right side, infant will latch onto your right breast while you back up it with your left paw.

Epitome: Decue Wu

Side-lying position

For this in-bed breastfeeding position, prevarication downward on your side with babe facing y'all. (You can put a breastfeeding pillow or a roll-upwards towel behind babe to support their back.) Baby nurses from the breast that's resting on the bed. "Some moms may find it easiest to latch baby while sitting up and and so slowly lie down until they get the hang of this position," Nguyen says.

Epitome: Decue Wu

Cantankerous-cradle hold

"Out of all the breastfeeding positions, this is the ane most moms prefer because infant is draped across your torso and you lot can easily run into what they're doing when latching," Nguyen says. It's also the easiest nursing-in-public position. To use the cantankerous-cradle position, bring baby across your body, tummy to tummy, so if baby is nursing on your left side, you hold baby—supporting their neck—with your correct arm and support the breast with your left hand. Lots of moms use a breastfeeding pillow when nursing in this position, since it can make it even easier and more comfortable. FYI: This is also a favorite position for bottle-feeding.

Image: Decue Wu

Cradle hold

This type of concur is very like to the cross-cradle, only in this i yous support baby with the arm on the same side equally the breast they're feeding from, not the opposite arm. This is one of the pop breastfeeding positions during the start few weeks of nursing, when you're getting comfy with your new job. Like with cantankerous-cradle, a breastfeeding pillow can help elevator baby and back up your elbows.

Paradigm: Decue Wu

Upright breastfeeding

For this breastfeeding position, sometimes chosen the koala or upright football agree, have baby sit upright, facing yous and straddling your knee. You'll back up babe with the arm on the same side as babe is feeding and back up your breast with the opposite hand, like in the football hold.

Epitome: Decue Wu

Positions for breastfeeding twins

If y'all have twins, your hands will certainly be total. "Simultaneous breastfeeding can be difficult and stressful," Sriraman says. "When y'all're only starting out, endeavor breastfeeding each baby separately before trying to attempt two at time." When you're ready to nurse in tandem, try these positions for breastfeeding twins:

Double-cradle hold
This breastfeeding position allows moms of multiples to nurse in tandem, ofttimes with a breastfeeding pillow under both babies. Each infant lays in the crook of each elbow, crisscrossing each other in your lap.

Double-football hold
In this hold, your babies' bodies rest on pillows along your sides and under your arms. You can as well agree one baby in a cradle and one in football.

Breastfeeding Positions for Common Bug

Different moms are going to find that different breastfeeding positions work best for them. But when yous're facing a common breastfeeding effect—whether it's dealing with large breasts or nursing babe with reflux—certain breastfeeding holds tin can be ameliorate than others. Here, a few of the challenges many breastfeeding moms confront, and the all-time breastfeeding positions to use.

Breastfeeding positions for big breasts

"Moms with big breasts often have difficulty supporting their breast during a feed and worry that the breast will smother baby during the feed," says Sahira Long, Medico, a lactation consultant and medical director of the Children's Health Heart at Anacostia, part of Children's National Health Arrangement in Washington, DC. Many moms with large breasts discover it easier to nurse in the side-lying position, so they can use the bed mattress to support the weight of their chest while getting a good view of baby's latch, Long says. Another favorite breastfeeding position is the football game hold. It can provide a amend view of baby's sucking, but remember to hold your chest throughout the nursing session to keep from putting a lot of weight on baby'south chin.

Best breastfeeding position for sore nipples

It'southward common to feel some discomfort when you're just starting out as your breasts get used to the process of nursing. "But there's really no ane breastfeeding position that's best for sore nipples," Long says. "Rather, it's often advised that moms effort to rotate betwixt breastfeeding positions when their nipples are sore to avoid putting a lot of pressure from the baby'southward oral cavity on the same location." When breastfeeding, many moms feel a pinching sensation that lasts merely a few seconds—but if that compression doesn't go away immediately, or if your nipples keep to be sore three weeks afterwards baby'southward nativity, there could be a problem with baby'due south latch. It's best to see a lactation specialist to accept the latch evaluated, Long says.

Breastfeeding positions after cesarean

When recovering from a c-section, it'southward important to find a breastfeeding position that doesn't put a lot of pressure on your surgical scar—otherwise, you tin can irritate the incision site and worsen your hurting, Long says. Ii best breastfeeding positions for moms who have had a c-section? The football concord (in that location's less rubbing on the incision) and the side-lying position (so you can rest your tired body while baby feeds).

Breastfeeding positions for babies with reflux

For babies with reflux, upright or semi-upright positions are best, like the koala hold or laid-back position, since gravity will help with digestion, Sriraman says. "If baby is reluctant to nurse because of reflux, effort standing or walking while breastfeeding," Nguyen says. "The gentle movements tin help calm babe and encourage eating." It'south also important to keep baby upright for 15 to xx minutes later on a feeding, either property them over your shoulder or upright in an baby carrier. "Afterwards a feeding, it's best to avoid seats or swings that identify baby at a 45-degree bending," Nguyen says. "This position really puts pressure on the esophageal sphincter, making reflux worse."

Breastfeeding position to preclude gas

Babies can get gassy for different reasons. 1 culprit could really be your own diet: Some foods may irritate infant'south digestive organization if they accept a nutrient sensitivity (in which instance, switching breastfeeding positions isn't going to do much). Another crusade is when baby takes in a lot of air during feedings. "This air has to be released in one direction or another. If infant doesn't burp, they'll probable become gassy," Long says. Good news: This tin be remedied with the proper breastfeeding positions, including upright or semi-upright positions, like the laid-back position. "Considering milk isn't flowing down with gravity into infant's mouth, they tin command the milk catamenia better in this position, which helps avert gas," Nguyen says. If infant is experiencing a lot of painful gas, cheque on their latch. "If they're gulping or taking in lots of air while nursing, they're going to be gassy, no matter what position you feed in," she says.

Switching Sides While Breastfeeding

Now that you've zeroed in on the best breastfeeding positions for you and babe, yous've got to larn how to exercise it on both sides. Here, some tips to help you go adjusted:

How to brand the switch

If baby doesn't suspension their latch by themselves, help by gently sliding your finger into the corner of their rima oris, between their jaws. Baby will open up their rima oris, breaking suction and freeing your nipple. "Once baby has had a satisfactory nursing session on the first side, it'south a good thought to take a minute to burp them before offering the other side," says Kathleen F. McCue, DNP, FNP-BC, IBCLC-RLC, a nurse practitioner and lactation consultant in Bethesda, Maryland.

When to change sides

"There's no ready amount of fourth dimension that makes upwardly a normal nursing session, merely seeing active suck/swallow patterns from baby will let you lot know that they're nonetheless receiving milk," McCue says. One time that active pattern has stopped, yous can move over to the second side. Most babies need to nurse from both sides to get enough milk. However, some babies will simply need to eat from 1 side at a feeding. "Either option is normal as long equally infant is gaining weight, producing both wet and poopy diapers, and doesn't flat-out refuse breast number two," McCue says.

What if baby prefers one breast?

"Many women have 1 breast that has a faster flow of milk, which can make baby favor that side," McCue says. As well, if you're more comfortable nursing your newborn in, say, the cross-cradle concur and feeding from your left breast, babe may kickoff to prefer that besides. "In most cases, there's nothing that needs to be done about the preference. But if babe begins to refuse a side, you'll demand to focus on maintaining the milk supply in that breast via hand-expression or pumping, McCue says. You'll also demand to try gentle strategies to bring babe back to the other breast. 1 manner is to offer your (total) neglected breast when infant is lightly sleeping or simply waking upwardly, or when they're in the sling and you lot're moving around.

Get More Breastfeeding Help

Nursing isn't a ane-and-done procedure. It can have fourth dimension for both you and babe to get adjusted to the different breastfeeding positions. Plus, bug can come up right from the showtime, or any time along the way. Here are a few more than helpful tips to get you over any challenges.

Find a support system
If y'all want even more than guidance on best breastfeeding positions and solutions to nursing issues, looking for a local lactation consultant or breastfeeding-friendly pediatrician is a neat identify to start. "Mother-to-female parent groups similar La Leche League tin provide excellent back up for a new mom and help her feel more comfy with normal breastfeeding behaviors," McCue says. 1 affair to remember is that breastfeeding advice varies greatly, so if you aren't getting the answers you need, don't get defeated. Just move on and endeavour getting another opinion.

Get a nursing pillow
"A breastfeeding pillow can be helpful when nursing in cantankerous-cradle concord or football game hold," Nguyen says. The all-time nursing pillows support baby and give your tired artillery a break. (When nursing in the football game hold, it's really best to turn the pillow to your side.) Some brands accept a firm top and a strap that can secure the pillow around your waist. Avoid a soft sleeping or sofa pillow, which can put baby at take chances of suffocation.

Utilize a nipple cream
A poor latch is often to arraign for many a sore nipple, then to truly fix the trouble, yous'll want to start by working on that latch. Simply to soothe already-sore nipples, effort a nipple cream. Await for ones that are prophylactic to be in baby'southward mouth (key) and contain no allergens or additives, so information technology's safe for your skin too.

Try a nipple shield
These flexible silicone covers fit over the nipple and areola and can help infant if they're having problem latching. To work effectively, nipple shields demand to be sized properly for both your nipple too as baby'due south mouth, and they need to exist fastened so they draw in a lot of your chest. Since baby may get less milk if the shields are used incorrectly, it's all-time to talk with a lactation consultant so they can aid go you set up and make sure you're using them the right mode.

Updated February 2020

Proficient bios:

Natasha One thousand. Sriraman, Doctor, MPH, FAAP, FABM, is a pediatrician at Children'due south Hospital of the Rex's Daughter in Norfolk, Virginia. In addition to seeing patients, she is an acquaintance professor of pediatrics at Eastern Virginia Medical School. She received her medical degree from St. George University Schoolhouse of Medicine.

Stephanie Nguyen, RN, IBCLC, is a registered nurse and board-certified lactation consultant in Scottsdale, Arizona, likewise equally the founder of Modernistic Milk a community wellness middle that offers lactation support.

Sahira Long, MD, is a pediatrician and lactation consultant and serves every bit medical director of the Children'southward Wellness Centre at Anacostia, part of Children's National Health System in Washington, DC. She earned her medical degree from George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences in 1999.

Kathleen F. McCue, DNP, FNP-BC, IBCLC-RLC, is a nurse practitioner and lactation consultant in Bethesda, Maryland. She has helped more than than 5,000 moms reach a positive breastfeeding experience.

Please notation: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and practise not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not exist used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional near your specific circumstances.

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