One of the most important concerns that a mother faces, especially as a first time mother is if her baby is getting enough nutrition and if the breastfeeding position she has adopted is working for the baby or not. You might also be worried if the position for breastfeeding your baby is comfortable or not in the breastfeeding position you have adopted. The next time this worry plagues you, please do remember that breastfeeding is a process that takes time for a mother to master. You just need patience and trial and error to get it right for you and your baby. One of the easiest ways of checking if your baby is getting enough milk is to check if your baby is satisfied after the feeding, after which the baby should gain a considerable amount of weight steadily after the first week of birth. However, also remember that it is normal for a new born baby to have lost some weight in the first few week of birth.
Though this may very well be but the silver lining is that you don’t have to rely on just one breast feeding position when it comes to feeding your baby. Before you decide on which breastfeeding position works best for you and your baby, try out the different breastfeeding positions and see which one is the most comfortable for both you and your baby. Check which positions for breastfeeding help your baby to get a good latch. Find the best one for you. It may take time to figure out the perfect position. The reason to repeat it is that the position that may work for one feed may not work for the next one.
Here are the different breastfeeding positions that work best for new moms:
The cradle hold
The cradle hold is an easy, comfortable and the most commonly used position for breastfeeding. In this position you hold the head of your baby with your forearm. In this position, your baby’s whole body is facing yours. You will need to position your baby in the same arm that is on the same side of the breast you are using to feed your baby on.
The cross cradle or the transitional hold
In this position for breastfeeding, you need to hold your baby in the opposite arm of the breast that is being used for the feeding. Once you have this position ready, place your palm around your baby’s neck in such a way that you are supporting your baby’s neck properly. This position is usually great for a baby that has a weak suck or for premature babies, especially as it provides the baby with extra support for the head, which will help the baby latch on to the nipple better.
The football or the clutch holds
For this particular position you have to hold your baby by its neck or by its back, along your side, keeping the baby in line with your nipple. Next you have to provide support to the baby’s neck with your hand, at the base of your baby’s head. This position is particularly useful for the mothers who have had a C-section delivery and those who have large breasts but large or flat inverted nipples. This position will also help you keep your baby away from C-section incisions.
Side-lying position
To get into this position, you will have to lie down on your side and keep your baby close to your body while the baby faces your breast. Next pull the baby gently closer towards you and keep a pillow behind the baby’s back to prevent the baby from rolling back. This position is also very good for mothers who have had a C-section delivery and have a difficult time sitting up after the delivery or the mothers who simply also want to catch up on some rest while feeding the baby.
