Breastfeeding is a gift of nature for both the mother and the baby. Skin-to-skin contact during the early months of birth is helpful for babies to have a strong connection with their mothers. The position in which you and your baby feel comfortable and provide proper milk extraction from the breast or effective suckling confirms you are in the best position for newborns to latch. Breastfeeding protects newborns against severe illnesses and diseases. If your newborn has proper latching, it will reduce the chances of certain health risks such as diabetes type-1, asthma, or obesity. This also avoids SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome), stomach bugs in babies, and ear infections.

Latching Positions for Newborn

Cradle Hold

The most famous breastfeeding position is cradle hold, which allows newborns to latch correctly. The mother must sit in a comfortable chair with armrests. You can also keep a cushion or pillow around you while holding a cradle.

Tips for cradle hold position

  • Make your newborn lie across your lap so their face is in front of you, or both of you see each other appropriately.
  • Put the baby’s head on your forearm and place the baby’s nose towards your nipple.
  • You must place your hand around their body length to provide proper support. Keep your baby’s lower arm under your arm.
  • Make sure that the baby’s shoulder, ear,  and hip are in a straight line. While sitting on a chair, place your feet on a small table or stool to raise your feet to avoid leaning forward so your back doesn’t hurt and you can easily feed your baby with a better latching position.

Lying on your Side

If you’ve had a cesarean or had a problematic delivery, this position is best for you, or it helps when you have to breastfeed your newborn in the middle of the night. This position would be helpful.

Tips for lying on your side to make your newborn latch

  • First, you need to be comfortable by lying on your side. Make this position as your tummy touches the baby’s tummy and your baby lies facing you.
  • Ensure your baby’s shoulder, hip, and ear are not twisted but straight.
  • You must keep some pillows or cushions on your back for support. Roll up the blanket of your baby and place it behind the baby. This will help provide support to the baby.
  • Remove that rolled blanket from the back of your baby after breastfeeding. If you place a pillow under your head, ensure that it’s not very close to the head or face of your newborn.
  • Ensure that your baby’s position isn’t altered due to the pillow, so tuck the arm you’re lying on under your pillow or head and use your free arm to provide support and move your baby’s head to your breast.

Laid-back Nursing

This is also known as biological nursing or laid-back breastfeeding. You have to lie back on a bed or on a cozy sofa in a semi-reclined position that is comfortable for you. If you have had a C-section or cesarean, you can place your baby across you, and that will keep them away from your incision.

Tips for laid-back nursing

  • Slant back on a bed or a sofa but not in a straight position.
  • Brace yourself with pillows or cushions to support your shoulders, back, and neck.
  • When you feel congenial, you can place your newborn on your front. Make their tummy rest on your tummy. As soon as you feel uneasy, lie the baby to one side.
  • Make yourself upright to look into your baby’s eyes quickly.
  • When you support your baby, gently move your baby to your nipple.

Rugby Hold

This is the best position for mothers with cesarean as there would be no pressure on the area of the scar and tummy. Rugby hold, football, or clutch is helpful for twins. You can breastfeed both of them at the same time.

Tips for rugby hold

  • Always place a cushion or pillow along your side while sitting in a chair to get an easy and comfy position.
  • Place your baby’s position at the side where you want to feed your baby. Hold the baby under your arm by making their hips close to your hips. The nose of your newborn baby should be level with your nipple.
  • Provide support to the neck of newborns with your palms.
  • Move the baby gently to your nipple.

Koala Hold

For babies with the following conditions: ear infection, tongue ties, or reflux, this position is best to latch on. With the support of mothers, born can successfully latch into this position.

Tips for Kola: hold the latching position.

  • Get on your newborn in an upright position on your thigh or around your hip.
  • Provide support to the back of your newborn with your one hand, and try to bring the baby close to your breast for breastfeeding.

Conclusion

Latching is vital for successful breastfeeding. This is the position in which a newborn attaches to the breast efficiently. A good latching position and proper latching or suckling are essential for the baby to easily extract milk, prevent uneasiness in the mother, and avoid nipple-related problems. Kola hold, rugby hold, laid-back nursing, lying on your side, and cradle holds are all beneficial positions for mother and baby to latch.