The most important thing to remember for successful latching is a calm mother and calm baby. Find whatever position best suits you and your baby. If your baby is hungry and frustrated, you may have to express a small amount of breastmilk and give it to your baby in a cup, spoon,or dropper to settle baby before latching on.
When you are getting ready to breastfeed, wear clothes that make it easy, for example, loose blouses or T-shirts. Some women find it easier to remove their clothing to the waist.
◆ Make sure your baby properly grasps or latches onto your breast.
◆ To help your baby latch onto your breast, bring him near your breast with his head slightly tilted back and his nose at the level of your nipple. Touch or stroke his lips with your nipple. Be patient and wait for baby’s mouth to open wide like a yawn with his tongue down. Aim the nipple toward the roof of the baby’s mouth. The chin and lower jaw should make first contact with baby’s mouth open wide. The baby’s lower lip and jaw should be as far away from the nipple as possible so his tongue draws lots of breast into his mouth. This also makes it easier for thenipple to extend well back in the baby’s mouth where the hard and soft palates meet.
◆ Your baby should have a deep latch with a large amount of your areola and breast tissue under your nipple in his mouth.
◆ If your baby has problems breathing while at the breast, move his bottom and legs closer to you. This will position his head so he can breathe. You do not need to push your breast away from his nose since this may cause a blocked duct in your breast. You can remove your handfrom supporting your breast once your baby is latched on. If you have large breasts, a tightly rolled facecloth placed right up under the breast helps give support.
*adapted from The Breastfeeding Handbook 2010. Gov. of Newfoundland and Labrador
