Babies Know How to Latch and Feed

Did you know that an alert, healthy newborn infant can latch on to the mother's breast with little or no help? Babies are born knowing how to find the breast and suckle all by themselves. All they need is a chance to practice. The more milk your baby removes from the breasts the more milk you will make. Immediately after birth, ask the hospital to delay unnecessary procedures, if possible, and to allow you and your partner some quiet time to snuggle with your baby during the first hour or two.

Learning to "dance":

• Learning to breastfeed is like learning to dance. It is best to wait until you and your baby are calm. Hold your baby, wearing only a diaper, skin-to-your-skin up against your bare chest and upright with his or her head under your chin. Your baby will be comfortable in that cozy valley between your breasts. You can ask your partner or a nurse to place a blanket across your baby's back and bring your bedcovers over you both. Your skin temperature will rise to warm your baby.
• Softly talk to your baby and massage him or her with gentle strokes.
• When awake, your baby will move his or her head back and forth, looking and feeling for the breast with his or her mouth and lips. Your baby might even look up at you and make eye contact. This is an important time for your baby to learn that you are his or her mother, so enjoy this special time by talking or singing softly to your baby.
• Support his or her neck and shoulders with one hand and hips with the other as he or she twists and turns in an effort to find your breast.

You can help as your baby looks for your breast:

• Support your baby with your arms so that you both are comfortable.
• Allow your breast to hang naturally and, when your baby feels it with his or her cheek, he or she will open his mouth wide and reach it up and over the nipple.
• Your baby's head should be tilted back slightly to make it easy to suck and swallow. With his or her head back and mouth open, the tongue is naturally down and ready for the breast to go on top of it.
• You will see that, at first, your baby's nose is lined up opposite your nipple. As his or her chin presses into your breast, his or her wide, open mouth will get a large mouthful of breast for a deep latch.
• Allow your baby's arms to hug your breast.
• Do not put your hands on your baby's head. As it tilts back, you can support your baby's upper back and shoulders with the palm of your hand and pull your baby in close.

Practice makes perfect:

• During the early days and weeks during breastfeeding, you and your baby are both learning how to breastfeed. Take your time and be patient. Breastfeed as often and as long as your baby wants. Soon you will both be experts!
• As your baby gets older, you will be able to hold your baby close to you at your breast with his or her mouth at your nipple and your baby will latch on easily.
• What works well for one feeding might not work well at the next. Try different positions until you find one that works for both of you.

If your baby has trouble latching:

1. Tickle baby's lips to encourage him to open wide.	2. Pull your baby close so that the chin and lower jaw moves into your breast first.	3. Watch the lower lip and aim it as far from base of nipple as possible, so the baby takes a large mouthful of breast.

What if...

You have pain? – Many moms report that their breasts can be tender at first until both they and their baby find comfortable breastfeeding positions and a good latch. Once you have done this, breastfeeding should be comfortable. If it hurts, your baby may be sucking on only the nipple. Gently break your baby's suction to your breast by placing a clean finger in the corner of your baby's mouth and try again. Your nipple also should not look flat or compressed when it comes out of your baby's mouth. It should look round and long, or the same shape as it was before the feeding.

You or your baby are frustrated? – Take a short break and hold your baby in an upright position. Consider holding him or her skin-to-your-skin. Talk, sing, or provide your finger for sucking for comfort. Try to breastfeed again in a little while.

Your baby has a weak suck, or makes only tiny suckling movements? – Break your baby's suction and try again. He or she may not have a deep enough latch to remove the milk from your breast. Talk with a lactation consultant if your baby's suck feels weak or if you are not sure he or she is getting a good feeding of milk. Your baby might have a health problem that is causing the weak suck.

You have other concerns? – Contact a lactation consultant, peer counselor, breastfeeding-trained doula, or your doctor for help.