6 breastfeeding positions: How can I carry them out?

When our baby is born, we want to do everything perfectly. Every moment is new, and breastfeeding is no exception. We are concerned about feeding him properly. There are positions to breastfeed and facilitate this process. Do you know which ones they are? We share with you 6 breastfeeding positions and how to carry them out.

Breastfeeding has multiple benefits; it is a way of transmitting defenses against diseases to our children, but it is also a moment of intimacy with the little one in which we generate emotional ties.

The most important thing is that you feel comfortable; find the position in which you feel best. Remember that you must wash your hands before and after breastfeeding.

María Fernanda González Lazcano, lactation consultant, commented that it is not normal that breastfeeding hurts. She highlighted the importance of having a good technique in which you enjoy that moment of closeness with your baby.

“There is no one position that is the best; the best is the one in which the mother and the baby adapt. There are some in which the mother or the baby is not comfortable and must be changed. The position does not mean this is what you have to do. It’s about being comfortable and getting results.”

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The Nemours Kids Health organization recommends the following postures:

Cradle hold

It is the most common. It consists of carrying your baby in your arms, with his head resting on the crook of your arm, so that your little one’s nose is facing your nipple. You can support your breast with your free hand.

Cross-cradle hold

It is a variant of the previous one, except that in this position, you take your baby’s head with the opposite hand to the side of the breast with which you will breastfeed, and your child’s body will rest along your arm. You can use a pillow and place it on your lap to bring him closer to you.

The advantage of this position is that it gives you more control of your child’s suckling, and by supporting his head with your hand, he has more of a hold on your nipple.

The side-lying position

It is a very comfortable position for moms, especially those with a C-section, because the little one does not pressure the abdomen. It consists of lying on your side and placing your baby next to you so that his nose is in front of your nipple.

Wrap your forearm around him to bring it closer to you. You can roll up a sheet and put it under your child’s back to make him more comfortable.

The clutch or football hold

This position is also very comfortable for C-section moms and those with twins if they want to feed them simultaneously, and it also allows babies to take milk more efficiently.

Place a cushion close to your body and support the little one on his back with your arm. Use the palm of the hand of the arm with which you are supporting your child and position him so that his side is next to yours. His legs should be under your arm.

Laid-back hold

You can lie on your back, bare-chested, and place your baby on top of you in this position. Instinctively he will look for your nipple. This position is also used for the kangaroo mother care method and strengthens the bond between mother and child.

Koala hold

If your baby suffers from reflux, this position could prevent heartburn. It consists of sitting your little one on your leg so that he approaches your breast.

Regardless of the position you choose, you should be comfortable in all of them and have support for your back so that it is straight and relaxed to maintain the position during breastfeeding.

The American Academy of Pediatrics explains that if the mother is reclining or leaning forward, it can be difficult for the little one to latch on to the breast.

Maria Fernanda Gonzalez Lazcano, a lactation consultant, affirms, “The mother’s back has to be straight when she breastfeeds to avoid tension and pain”.

Cleaning and care

Dr. Josefina Lira, a gynecologist at Hospital Ángeles, comments, “Breast hygiene is very important during breastfeeding”. She recommends cleaning them with a damp cotton ball before and after each breastfeeding session.

In case of dryness in the nipple, apply a hypoallergenic cream that is not greasy so that it is not difficult to clean the area to breastfeed.

“A proper breastfeeding technique is important to avoid those cracks in the nipple. If there are cracks, the patient can express the milk mechanically, let it rest for a couple of days, and apply some healing cream. She can also wear a nipple shield, so she doesn’t interrupt breastfeeding”.

Do not forget that breastfeeding is a moment that you should enjoy. What position works for you?

Translated by: Ligia M. Oliver Manrique de Lara

Spanish version