Latching and breastfeeding a newborn

I found a super good video on breastfeeding! Click on the link below before reading my blog. How I wish I had found this video before I gave birth!

Suggested Steps to Breastfeed a Newborn

To breastfeed a baby, it is easier to use the Cross-Cradle method to Latch the baby as our hand supports the baby's neck and push the head into our breast.
(You may wish to see this website for illustration of what is a cross-cradle (fig. 3). I find this website very informative.)

Follow step 1 to 6 to latch a baby on the LEFT breast.

1) Have your baby lying sideway on a pillow and her head near your LEFT breast and her body very close to you. (I used my brestfriend pillow for the first two weeks.)

2) Hold the baby's head & neck using your RIGHT hand.

3) Imagine your breast as a burger. When grabbing a burger, we usually pinch the burger with our four fingers on top and thumb below it. 

4) Similarly, using your LEFT hand, grab your LEFT breast like the way you grab a burger. But your thumb is to be on top and four fingers below. Make sure your fingers are away from aerola. 

5) Grab your breast to direct your nipple to tease her lower lips.

6) Wait till she opened her mouth big. Use your right hand to quickly PUSH her head to latch on the nipple.
(Move your baby's head so as to eat "Burger". Do not bend and feed your Burger to the baby as you will end up straining your neck or slouching for at least the next 15 minutes.)

Make sure it is a deep latch by checking if her mouth covered most of your aerola.

Follow step 7 (cradle hold) to breastfeed the baby.  (Fig 1 of the same website)

7) Once she latches on correctly, your left hand can then let go of your left breast. Then slide your left arm under her body such that her neck rests on your left elbow in a cradle hold position.

Why are there so many steps ?

Most people will use the cradle hold for breastfeeding a newborn. A cradle hold supports the baby's neck at your ELBOW. 

However, during latching, newborn has difficulty "aiming". Cradle hold is difficult to latch as you need to use your ELBOW to direct her to your nipple.

It is easier to support the baby's head and neck with your right PALM and push the baby's head to latch on left breast while your left hand holds your left breast . This is known as cross-cradle (steps 1 to 6).

After which, change your hands to cradle hold position by having your left hand letting go of your breast and sliding under baby's body such that your left elbow is supporting her neck. Changing to cradle hold is necessary as it is more comfortable for yourself and baby (step 7).

Most IMPORTANT Rule about breastfeeding

Make yourself comfortable! Have nursing pillow or normal pillows to help you.

Other Tips
1) Practice makes perfect. Use a doll to practice before giving birth.

2) Massage your breasts before latching.

3) Have a water bottle near u. (I have two, one on each side)

4) Have the remote control for air conditioner and fan beside you.

5) Wear clothing which are suitable for nursing. I wear shirts that comes with padding. I simply pull down one side to nurse.

6) Nothing beats having an experienced person to teach you how to latch and also to check on your latching. The nurses in Thomson Medical Centre were very helpful and a lactation consultant will check on your latching (first time free at Thomson).

Look out for my blog on my first breastfeeding experience at Thomson Medical Centre!