The best position for you is the one where you and your baby are both comfortable and relaxed, and you don’t have to strain to hold the position or keep nursing. Here are some common positions for breastfeeding your baby:
1. Cradle position.
Rest the side of your baby’s head in the crook of your elbow with their whole body facing you. Position your baby’s belly against your body so they feel fully supported. Your other, “free” arm can wrap around to support your baby’s head and neck — or reach through your baby’s legs to support the lower back.
2. Football position.
Line your baby’s back along your forearm to hold your baby like a football, supporting the head and neck in your palm. This works best with newborns and small babies. It’s also a good position if you’re recovering from a cesarean birth and need to protect your belly from the pressure or weight of your baby.
3. Side-lying position.
This position is great for night feedings in bed. Side-lying also works well if you’re recovering from an episiotomy, an incision to widen the vaginal opening during delivery. Use pillows under your head to get comfortable. Then snuggle close to your baby and use your free hand to lift your breast and nipple into your baby’s mouth. Once your baby is correctly “latched on,” support the head and neck with your free hand so there’s no twisting or straining to keep nursing.
4. Cross-cradle hold.
Sit straight in a comfortable chair that has armrests. Hold your baby in the crook of your arm that’s opposite the breast you will use to feed them. Support their head with your hand. Bring your baby across your body so your tummies face each other. Use your other hand to cup your breast in a U-shaped hold. Bring your baby’s mouth to your breast and cradle them close, and don’t lean forward.
5. Laid-back position.
This position, also called biological nurturing, is a lot like it sounds. It’s meant to tap into the natural breastfeeding instincts you and your baby have. Lean back, but not flat, on a couch or bed. Have good support for your head and shoulders. Hold your baby so your entire fronts touch. Let your baby take any position they’re comfortable in as long as their cheek rests near your breast. Help your baby latch on if they need it.
6. Koala Hold
Some babies must breastfeed in an elevated position. Babies who have reflux are more likely to keep down breast milk if they feed while sitting upright. The koala hold offers convenience for moms of these babies, as well as moms on the go. The koala hold is similar to the side-lying position, only both of you sit up. Place your child on your lap, and use either hand to guide the infant’s mouth to the breast. This stance can be easier for mothers of older babies who can sit up. In this position, an older infant can nurse and still be able to look around to some degree
7. Breastfeeding While Standing
If you are a mother to multiple children, you do not always have the opportunity to nurse one child while chasing another. Being able to breastfeed while standing or walking is a skill that helps busy moms provide milk for their babies. You do not need to use a baby carrier, but a sling or wrap could make holding the position easier on your arms. Loosen the sling or wrap and shift into the position of your preference. Moms often prefer the cross-cradle hold or koala hold while standing. You may have to practice doing it at home a few times before you feel comfortable nursing and walking in public.
8. Nursing in a Sling
This is a complicated and complex way of nursing but very helpful to mothers who are on the go. With a little practice, you can nail it too. In this position, you breastfeed your baby in a sling. To do this,
- The baby should hold the head up here. So, the feeding position is not for entire newborns
- Use a sling or stretchy wrap or carrier around you.
- Let the baby’s face and chin be against you and not sure they aren’t pressed against tightly
- Hold the head up and let the breast reach out to his mouth.
Tips for New Breastfeeding Moms
Some things help you prepare for breastfeeding:
- Get regular prenatal care to help you avoid preterm birth.
- Tell your doctor you plan to breastfeed and ask what support the facility you plan to deliver in offers to help you breastfeed after birth.
- Take a breastfeeding class.
- Ask your doctor to connect you with a lactation consultant, who can teach you breastfeeding basics and help you if have issues.
- Talk to your doctor about any health conditions you have or medications you take that could interfere with breastfeeding.
- Tell your doctor and hospital health care providers that you want to breastfeed as soon as possible after delivery.
- Talk to friends who breastfeed or join a support group for breastfeeding.
- Stock up on the supplies you need for breastfeeding, such as nursing bras and other items.
These tips, called the ABCs of breastfeeding, will help you and your baby get comfortable with the process:
Awareness. Watch for your baby’s signs of hunger, and breastfeed whenever your baby is hungry. This is called “on demand” feeding. The first few weeks, you may be nursing eight to 12 times every 24 hours. Hungry infants move their hands toward their mouths, make sucking noises or mouth movements, or move toward your breast. Don’t wait for your baby to cry. That’s a sign their too hungry.
Be patient. Breastfeed as long as your baby wants to nurse each time. Don’t hurry your infant through feedings. Infants typically breastfeed for 10 to 20 minutes on each breast.
Comfort. This is key. Relax while breastfeeding, and your milk is more likely to “let down” and flow. Get yourself comfortable with pillows as needed to support your arms, head, and neck, and a footrest to support your feet and legs before you begin to breastfeed.
Are There Medical Considerations With Breastfeeding?
In a few situations, breastfeeding could cause a baby harm. Here are some reasons you should not breastfeed:
- You are HIV positive. You can pass the HIV virus to your infant through breast milk.
- You have active, untreated Tuberculosis.
- You’re receiving chemotherapy for cancer.
- You’re using an illegal drug, such as cocaine or marijuana.
- Your baby has a rare condition called galactosemia and cannot tolerate the natural sugar, called galactose, in breast milk.
- You’re taking certain prescription medications, such as some drugs for migraine headaches, Parkinson’s disease, or arthritis.
Talk with your doctor before starting to breastfeed if you’re taking prescription drugs of any kind. Your doctor can help you make an informed decision based on your particular medication.
Having a cold or flu should not prevent you from breastfeeding. Breast milk won’t give your baby the illness and may even give antibodies to your baby to help fight off the illness.
Also, the AAP suggests that — starting at 4 months of age — exclusively breastfed infants, and infants who are partially breastfed and receive more than half of their daily feedings as human milk, should be supplemented with oral iron. This should continue until foods with iron, such as iron-fortified cereals, are introduced in the diet. The AAP recommends checking iron levels in all children at age 1.
Discuss supplementation of both iron and vitamin D with your pediatrician. Your doctor can guide you on recommendations about the proper amounts for both your baby and you, when to start, and how often the supplements should be taken.
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