Breastfeeding Tips For A Good Latch

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Breastfeeding Tips for a Good Latch

Latching is how your baby’s mouth attaches to your nipple to breastfeed. It is an important part of breastfeeding.
Your baby may have trouble latching for a number of reasons. A poor latch may cause you to have cracked or sore nipples or other problems.

How to position your baby

Find a comfortable place to sit or lie down. Your neck and back should be well supported.
If you are seated, place a pillow or rolled-up blanket under your baby. This will bring him or her to the level of your breast.
Make sure that your baby’s belly (abdomen) is facing your belly.
Try different positions to find one that works best for you and your baby.

To start, gently rub your breast. Move your fingertips in a circle as you massage from your chest wall toward your nipple. This helps milk flow. Keep doing this during feeding if needed.
Position your breast. Hold your breast with four fingers underneath and your thumb above your nipple. Keep your fingers away from your nipple and your baby’s mouth.

Rub your baby’s lips gently with your finger or nipple.
When your baby’s mouth is open wide enough, quickly bring your baby to your breast and place your whole nipple into your baby’s mouth. Place as much of the colored area around your nipple (areola)as possible into your baby’s mouth.
Your baby’s tongue should be between his or her lower gum and your breast.
You should be able to see more areola above your baby’s upper lip than below the lower lip.
When your baby starts sucking, you will feel a gentle pull on your nipple. You should not feel any pain. Be patient. It is common for a baby to suck for about 2–3 minutes to start the flow of breast milk.
Make sure that your baby’s mouth is in the right position around your nipple. Your baby’s lips should make a seal on your breast and be turned outward.

General instructions

Look for these signs that your baby has latched on to your nipple:
- The baby is quietly tugging or sucking without causing you pain.
- You hear the baby swallow after every 3 or 4 sucks.
- You see movement above and in front of the baby’s ears while he or she is sucking.
Be aware of these signs that your baby has not latched on to your nipple:
- The baby makes sucking sounds or smacking sounds while feeding.
- You have nipple pain.
If your baby is not latched well, put your little finger between your baby’s gums and your nipple. This will break the seal. Then try to help your baby latch again.
If you keep having problems, get help from a breastfeeding specialist (lactation consultant).

Contact a doctor if:

You have cracking or soreness in your nipples that lasts longer than 1 week.
You have nipple pain.
Your breasts are filled with too much milk (engorgement), and this does not improve after 48–72 hours.
You have a plugged milk duct and a fever.
You follow the tips for a good latch but you keep having problems or concerns.
You have a pus-like fluid coming from your breast.
Your baby is not gaining weight.
Your baby loses weight.

Latching is how your baby’s mouth attaches to your nipple to breastfeed.
Try different positions for breastfeeding to find one that works best for you and your baby.
A poor latch may cause you to have cracked or sore nipples or other problems.