1. NOTES FOR POSITIONING & LATCHING
BREAK-OUT GROUPS

2. Introduction Introduce yourself
# of kids and your breastfeeding experience
Explain that breastfeeding is an ACQUIRED skill and not instinctual for the mother.
Mothers need to know that breastfeeding is natural but mastery comes from practice.

3. Positioning
Positioning is how mothers hold the baby when breastfeeding
Mothers will be breastfeeding every 2 to 3 hours in the first weeks of life
It is important that mother and the baby be comfortable at ALL times

4. Positioning
The preferred method of teaching is to demonstrate with a doll what they should do
Then ask them to repeat with their own baby
We want to avoid touching the mother’s breasts during the instruction

5. Positioning For all breastfeeding positions:
Breast must be easy to get to
Mother needs to be comfortable
Back straight & arms supported (use pillows under your elbow and at your back)
Knees level with hips when sitting (footstool or directories to elevate your feet)
Remove extra clothing (for more skin-to-skin contact)

6. Positioning
Remind mothers to bring baby to breast instead of breast to baby (“Mohammed to the mountain and not the mountain to Mohammed”)
If you bring breast to baby, you end up being hunched over & your back will be sore
Baby’s head, chest & knees face same direction (do the drinking water demo)

7. Positioning 4 common positions Cradle Hold (traditional)
Cross-Cradle Hold (transitional)
Clutch Hold (football)
Side-lying Hold

8. Cradle Hold
Breastfeeding position used most often. The head is supported in mother’s elbow. Make them do it and show them where mothers might get stiff (shoulder etc)

9. Cross-Cradle Hold Helpful in early weeks of breastfeeding
Note - Helpful that you wear the breast bikini when demonstrating this hold
Helpful in early weeks of breastfeeding
When baby’s neck needs more support
When breast needs more support
“Joystick – more manueverability”
Move to cradle hold after baby has latched on

10. Clutch Hold (football)
Good choice:
after c-section
premature infants
mothers with large breasts
most newborns
Twins/ tandem nursing
Mothers can see baby’s mouth open wide & help them latch

11. Side-lying Hold When mothers want to rest
Avoid breastfeeding in waterbeds or with fluffy blankets/comforters
Use lots of pillows
Can start in cradle hold at side of bed & slowly lower yourself & baby to a lying down position
SHOW how to transition from one side to other

12. Latch-On Way the baby attaches to the breast
Correct latch-on is important to:
Make sure baby gets enough milk
Avoid sore nipples
Get the breast to make more milk
NOTE: Wear your breast bikinis to show how to latch.
Though the steps we are about to explain seem long, it actually happens fast

13. Steps to a Successful Latch
“Ridge” the breast (sandwich)
Bring baby’s nose toward nipple
Tummy to tummy, chin to chest, nipple to nose
Lower lip touches breast first
Mouth takes in the underside of the areola & breast
“Breastfeeding” not “Nipple feeding”
At least 1 inch radius of the areola should be in baby’s mouth
Fix latch, if needed

14. Steps to a Successful Latch
Remind them that nipples do not need to be cleaned before a feed.
Teach how to unlatch correctly.
Do hand over nose demo to show you cannot suffocate & say that babies will not choose food over air.

15. Latch-On
After demonstrating/teaching the latch, the best position when observing the mother repeat what you taught is to stand behind them
This way, you have the same viewpoint as the mother and you can see what they see

16. Signs of a Good Latch Lack of constant pain Lips curled outward
Mother is relaxed
Chin touching the breast
Cheeks rounded
Nipple may come out longer, not pinched or discolored
Lips curled outward
Lower lip should not be pursed inward
Nostrils barely touch breast but nose rests on breast
Baby’s swallows can be heard BUT sucking should not be heard
Breasts are softer & feel lighter after feeding

17. A Good Latch END OF NOTES
©B. Wilson-Clay/Kay Hoover, The Breastfeeding Atlas, used with permission.