The purpose of this article is to teach you how to position and lock your baby during SickKids for effective breastfeeding. Observe the baby’s following feeding tips before feeding. The early tips are stirring, mouth movements and head-turning to touch the face. The middle hint is stretching, increasing body movement, and hands to mouth. The hint is a crying baby. Before trying the latch, take some time to calm down a crying or agitated baby.
Breastfeeding Position
Environment and Preparation
Tail breastfeeding is established, and it is necessary to maintain breast pumping and coordinate with feeding attempts.
It is recommended to pump milk immediately after feeding to provide the baby with full breasts. However, there are some exceptions when it is recommended to perform partial pumping before feeding.
If your milk supply is large, or your baby has just started breastfeeding, you can use breastfeeding signs and sieves to ensure breastfeeding during breastfeeding. In the privacy feed, you can wear a robe as a sweater to maintain comfort. Breastfeeding pillows or folded blankets can be used to raise the baby to breast level.
If the baby’s temperature is stable, it is recommended to feed only diapers to maintain skin contact. This may also help keep the baby alert and awake throughout the feeding process.
Positioning:
Taking time to position the baby will better lock the baby and feed the baby more effectively.
For any position, the following points are important:
- You should sit comfortably with good back support and relaxation. The baby’s shoulders and body are supported by your hands and arms;
- The baby’s head is flush with your breast;
- The baby’s ears, shoulders, and hips are aligned; The baby needs to tuck your belly together unless you use a football tent;
- Your nipple should point towards the baby’s nose, and your chin should be inserted into the breast first;
- If this is not the case, move the baby instead of the breast, so that the nipple can be correctly placed in the baby’s mouth, making the nipple more comfortable and effectively compressing the breast duct. For babies learning to breastfeed for the first time, two positions are suitable:
- Cross cradle;
- And football games.
The cross cradle is the most common breastfeeding position because it provides the baby with maximum support and assistance to lock it. Look at how your parents sit comfortably when they are comfortable and supported.
The breastfeeding pillow raises the baby to the height of the breast, so parents can maintain a good posture and support the baby well. The baby’s side is completely facing the parent’s body, with the shoulders and hips aligned. Pay attention to skin contact.
The baby is supported by the arms, as opposed to the breasts used; the forearms support the back and bottom, and the hands support the neck and shoulders. Do not hold the back of the baby’s head, as this will put the baby in a position that is difficult to lock.
Tilt the head back slightly so that the baby comes to the chin first. This is usually called a sniffing position. The parent’s other hand supports the breast, and the shape of the breast can help the baby lock it if necessary. To solve the problem of latching, try to make the breast fit the baby’s mouth, hold and squeeze the breast with your thumb and fingers far enough away from the areola (the darker area around the nipple) so that they do not interfere with the latch. The breast is squeezed and narrowed enough for the baby to lock easily. This is often called a breast sandwich. Football matches are another common posture, which may be more comfortable after a cesarean section and may require more pillows or blankets.
There must be enough space behind the parents to accommodate the baby’s legs. This may mean moving forward and to the side of the chair. There are two variations: babies can lie on their backs or on their sides. Either way, the baby will be stuffed in and close to the parent.
See how the parents’ arms and hands support the baby’s neck and shoulders well; please note how effectively the baby’s nipple is locked against the nose. Tilt the head back slightly so that the baby can reach the chin first.
If necessary, parents can use one hand to support or clamp the breast. The cradle is usually used for babies who latch well and require less support and assistance to feed. After locked in the cross cradle position, the baby can transition to the cradle position; the baby’s body still faces the parent’s skin completely. The baby’s neck is supported by the bend of the parent’s elbow, while the forearm is placed on the baby’s bottom or buttocks to support the back, and the other hand can be used to support or clamp the breast.
If additional support is needed in terms of positioning and latching, specialized positions and techniques can be used. Please refer to a lactation consultant.
Remember: the correct posture is the most comfortable for you and your baby and can maintain a good latch lock and effective breastfeeding. Try different poses to see the best posture.
Latching
Once the baby is in the correct position, a good latch is likely to occur. In order to encourage the baby to touch, squeeze a drop of milk with your hand to make the baby tasteful, and touch the baby’s upper lip with the nipple to encourage rooting and open the mouth.
Remember to break the contact between the nipple and the baby’s upper lip to encourage the baby to tilt his head up and open his mouth wide. Wait for the open mouth, as if the baby is yawning, and then bring the baby to the breast without stretching the breast or bringing the breast into the baby’s mouth. Make sure the tongue is facing down and above the lower gum line; if our baby is crying, the tongue will touch the top of the mouth and it will be difficult to lock; in this case, you need to keep the baby calm before the latch. Usually, use clean fingers to suck for a while, otherwise, put the baby upright on the chest, between the skin and the skin, and then gently stroke the back.
Once the baby is locked, look for the following items: Open the mouth, the angle of the corner of the mouth should be greater than 130 to 150 degrees, and the corner of the mouth should not touch. The baby’s chin touches the breast; the baby comes to the chin first; the head is slightly tilted back, the nose does not touch the breast; the latch is asymmetrical. This means that more areola can be seen above the baby’s upper lip, and then lips can be seen below the lower lip.
For difficulty in locking, try to sandwich the sandwich in the breast. Remember: breastfeeding should not be painful. The tip of the nipple needs to be located where the top of the mouth becomes soft. Stretch your tongue along the top of your mouth to where it feels soft.
When the latch is not deep enough, the baby’s nipple is located at the front of the mouth, squeezing the nipple between the tongue and the hard pa.
This can be painful and can damage the nipples and reduce the amount of milk flowing to the baby. See the difference in milk flow when compressing the areola and not just the nipple. To break the latch, place your finger at the corner of the baby’s mouth, and gently push the lower jaw down.
How Do You Know When To Change Breasts?
When you are no longer observing effective swallowing, switch breasts to ensure that your baby gets more calorie-rich milk at the end of eating. If breastfeeding has not been established, remember to pump water immediately after feeding.