The Best Positions To Breastfeed The Newborn
Knowing the various positions to breastfeed the newborn is very important, as they not only allow the mother and baby to be comfortable, but also to experience the fantastic experience of breastfeeding with success.
One of the fundamental aspects to properly breastfeed the newborn concerns the positions assumed by the mother when she gives the breast; the correct adhesion of the baby’s mouth to the mother’s breast will depend on them.
It is important that both of you are comfortable while breastfeeding, also because two main problems or problems can occur following poor posture : insufficient milk production, known as hypogalease, and irritation of the nipple.
Both problems can be solved with good breastfeeding technique, which can be achieved, to a large extent, by adopting the right positions to breastfeed the baby.
The best positions to breastfeed the baby
Do not worry! Adopting the right posture is simple. Below we present five positions suitable for breastfeeding correctly. There are many, so in addition to these you can also consider others, perhaps suggested by the pediatrician, and choose the one that suits you best.
Remember that the most important thing is that you and your little ones are comfortable in order to ensure a peaceful and successful breastfeeding.
Mother and baby lie down in the best breastfeeding positions
This is one of the most useful breastfeeding positions. To adopt her, mother and child have to lie down; the baby’s face must be facing the mother’s breast.
The baby’s abdomen will be parallel to the mother’s body who will be able to rest her head on a folded pillow and support the baby’s head.
Traditional position
The mother must be seated with her shoulders relaxed and the baby lying on her forearm, right under the breast with which she will be nursed.
In this way, the baby’s head rests on the inside of the angle formed by the arm with the elbow and oriented in the same direction in which it will be nursed. Her belly is resting on her mother’s abdomen and one of her arms surrounds her. The head also lies on the mother’s forearm.
Position of the transverse hug
It is a variant of the previous position in which the mother puts her hand on the same side as she is breastfeeding in the “U” position and holds the breast, while with the other she supports the back and the nape of the baby’s neck.
It is necessary to have a pillow to put the baby’s body up to the breast. This position is very useful for giving both breasts without moving the baby, perfect for when the little one likes to suck more on one side than the other.
Sitting position
The mother sits with her back straight, shoulders relaxed and a stool or footrest so that her legs do not hang down. The baby looks at the mother, belly to belly, and puts a pillow underneath to bring it closer to the mother’s breast if necessary, and not the breast to the baby.
Position in rugby
In this position it is necessary to support the baby on the forearm of the side with which he will breastfeed, the baby’s body will surround the mother’s waist, so the hand can direct the baby’s head, especially if supported by the nape of the neck.
Among the positions for breastfeeding this is very useful in case of cesarean delivery, if the nipple has fissures or when two babies are breastfeeding at the same time.
More advice on breastfeeding positions
Whatever position you choose to breastfeed the baby, the baby ‘s head must always be aligned with the mother’s breast and his mouth must be level with the nipple, and he must not turn, bend or stretch his neck. It is also good to know that if the lips and tongue are at the right height, the baby will suck properly in any position.
The baby’s mouth should be wide open and the breast should be inside the mouth, with the nipple close to the upper lip; in this way the necessary space is created to position the tongue between the areola and the lower lip, as the baby sucks by pressing the tongue up and towards himself.
According to what the specialists confirm, it is possible to understand that the baby is sucking correctly when you notice that it “works” with the jaw.
In this exercise the jaw movement is rhythmic and extends towards the ears and temples. The cheeks, moreover, do not appear sunken, but rounded. When the baby sucks in this way, the mother does not feel pain even in the case of fissures.
