Remember this is a learning process! Your baby has to learn how to eat, how to breastfeed, how to coordinate breathing, sucking, and swallowing. Your newborn has a lot to adjust to the first few days! It is also a learning process for you as well. Even if you have breastfed before, every baby is unique.
Get clean and comfortable!
Wash your hands before nursing. Be sure to be in a relaxed position. supporting your back, and bring the baby to you. Don’t lean over and bring yourself to your baby.
Chest to chest and nose to nipple
Your baby’s chest should be facing your chest, not the ceiling. You should be chest to chest. Be sure your baby’s mouth is at same level as your nipple. Your baby’s neck should be in a neutral position. The chin should not on her chest and her head should not be looking up towards the sky.
Shape and support your breast
Use your free hand to support and to shape your breast for your baby.
Open wide!
Get your baby to open her mouth WIDE! You can stroke her cheek or lips with your nipple or hand. Wake your baby up more if you need to.
Aim and On!
Bring her head and mouth onto your breast, chin first then mouth. Her chin will probably rest on your breast, and her nose will not as much. Her lips should be flared out and your whole nipple should be in her mouth. A little pain or discomfort the first 10-15 seconds is normal; pain after that indicates that something is wrong with the latch or you already have some nipple irritation. If the pain continues and you don’t already have nipple damage, then take the baby off and reposition her.
Signs of a good latch
- Your whole nipple is in baby’s mouth with lips on your areola
- Lips are flared outward
- Chin on your breast and nose a little off the breast
- No pain after the first few seconds
- Your baby sucks several times then pauses to swallow