On Becoming Baby Wise: Giving Your Infant the Gift of Nighttime Sleep

(Nora) #1

assortment based on situational needs. A pillow may be helpful under
your supporting arm to lessen stress on your neck and upper back. Correct
positioning of your precious bundle is imperative in successful lactation.
Also, how comfortable you are with this experience is directly affected
by the angles you impose on baby and yourself.
With your nipple, stroke lightly downward on your baby’s lower lip
until she opens her mouth. Take care not to touch her upper lip as this
creates confusion for baby. As her mouth opens wide, center your nipple
and pull her close to you so that the tip of her nose is brushing slightly
against your breast and her knees are resting on your abdomen. With baby
correctly latched on, nursing should not be painful. Successful latching is
made difficult if the baby’s head is toward the breast but the body is
allowed to turn away. If there is discomfort, remove her and try again.
Patience in the process pays off as you discover what’s best for you both.
When the baby nurses, she should take both the nipple and all or
much of the areola into her mouth. Encourage the baby to latch on to the
areola, though she may seem satisfied with only the nipple. Also, see that
your baby’s entire body is facing you (head, chest, stomach, and legs).
She will not latch on correctly if her head is facing you but the rest of her
body isn’t. While this may sound awkward and impossible, baby has only
one thing in mind when approaching the breast. Ideal positioning is not
an issue for her consideration. You need to take charge here.
A nursing baby often has a remarkably strong suck. If you try to pull
the nipple away, she will just suckle harder. Just once interrupt a feeding
suddenly to answer the door and you will quickly discover baby’s
intensity in this area. It’s a lesson that endures. To remove her without
hurting yourself, slip your little finger between the corner of her mouth
and your breast. That will break the intense suction, allowing you to take
her off easily. To further assist in achieving successful feeding, there are
three correct and interchangeable nursing positions: Cradle, side-lying,
and football hold.


Cradle Position

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