 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As babies grow, with practice they become faster breastfeeders. The newborn who used to feed for 40 minutes may be done in 10-15 minutes at six weeks. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By Nancy Mohrbacher, IBCLC, Ameda Products
Co-author of Breastfeeding Made Simple and The Breastfeeding Answer Book |
|
|
 |
|
| Length: 5 minutes 4 seconds |
|
|
|
|
|
| Your breastfeeding comfort depends on where your nipple lands in baby's mouth. And that depends on how your baby takes the breast, or latches on. |
|
| To understand this better, use your tongue or finger to feel the roof of your mouth. Behind your teeth and the ridges, it feels hard. When your nipple is pressed against this hard area in your baby's mouth, it can hurt. |
|
|
|
| But if you go back farther in your mouth, you'll feel where the roof turns from hard to soft. Some have nicknamed this "the comfort zone." Once your nipple reaches your baby's comfort zone, breastfeeding feels good. There is no undue friction or pressure on your nipple. |
|
| To make this happen during latch-on, first click on "Babies Are Born to Breastfeed," which explains your baby's inborn feeding skills and how to use them. When your baby lunges toward the breast, support her body and: |
|
- Adjust her body so it is facing yours (not turned or twisted), with feet, hips, and shoulders in a straight line, and pressed firmly against you with no gaps.
- Align your baby so that her nose is in line with your nipple.
- Let her head tilt back a bit. (Avoid pushing on the back of your baby's head.)
- Move her lightly toward and away from you so her chin touches the breast and then moves away.
- Repeat until your baby's mouth opens wide like a yawn and she lunges for the breast, chin first.
- As your baby lunges for the breast, give a gentle but firm push from behind her shoulders.
|
|
| That last gentle shove helps the nipple reach the comfort zone. It tends to feel better when your baby latches on off-center, so her lower jaw is as far from the nipple as it can be. This lets the nipple roll back into the comfort zone. |
|
| SIGNS OF A GOOD LATCH-ON |
- You feel a tugging at the breast but no pain. (In the first week or so, you may feel some pain at first that eases quickly.)
- You hear your baby swallowing.
- Both of her lips are rolled out.
- You see more of the dark area around the nipple above your baby's upper lip than below, which means the latch is off-center as it should be.
- Your baby breastfeeds with a wide open mouth, not a narrow mouth.
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Breastfeed until the baby's done. When she comes off the breast, burp her or change her diaper. Then, offer the other breast. Babies take one breast at some feedings and both breasts at other feedings. |
|
| If breastfeeding hurts, seek help right away from a board-certified lactation consultant (IBCLC). Nipple pain can almost always be fixed. The sooner you see someone who can help, the better. |
|
| This is general information and does not replace the advice of your physician or healthcare provider. If you have a problem you cannot solve quickly, seek help right away. |
|
Every baby is different, and your baby may not be average.
If in doubt, contact your physician or other healthcare provider. |
|
|
|
|
