You’re Both New To It
Unless you’ve had a child before, in all likelihood you’re going to have some difficulty getting the hang of nursing. Certainly, there are mothers who seem to have no trouble, and can nurse their child almost immediately. However, sometimes the baby has trouble figuring out how to latch, and there are things you can do to help the little tyke along. We’ll explore a few.
1. Learn The Signs Of A Good Latch
A good latch is comfortable, it doesn’t hurt, and the chin of your baby touches your breast. The child’s mouth should open wide enough to cover more than just the nipple. You should see the baby’s lips turn outward.
Look for signs that the baby is swallowing. You should either be able to see the action or hear it. Also, check to see if the baby’s ears move slightly. This site has some more in-depth information on what a good latch looks like.
2. Let The Baby Get Their Mouth Opened Right
Don’t try to initiate the latch too soon. Wait until the baby’s mouth has opened wide enough, and then gently complete the “seal”, as it were. If you try to get the ball rolling too soon, the baby’s mouth may not close around the nipple sufficiently enough to create the right seal. This can make nursing difficult, and it may lead to avoidable rawness.
Also, it’s possible that poor latching technique can initiate milk duct blockages and other issues. Inflammation can lead to infection, and this can be a problem. Sometimes you’re just dealing with the normal soreness that comes with nursing. There could be an issue, though. Some blood in breast milk isn’t a big deal, but if it’s chronic longer than a week, seek help.
3.Get Guidance On Latching Positions
Traditional latching positions may not work as well for you as you may have expected. Thankfully, there are multiple ways to position your child during breastfeeding. Here’s a website that can provide a little information on different breastfeeding positions to help you get the balance right.
It may be worthwhile to lie down on your side with the child on the bed, you might want to try a “football hold”, there is also the “dangle hold”, and the traditional cradle position that is common throughout the world. Different positions work for different mothers.
One thing is sure: you’re not looking for what looks normal, you’re looking for what works. Find the position where latching is easiest and most comfortable. Stick with that position as it’s possible.
4. Switch Breasts
If you’re dealing with milk duct blockage in one breast, switch to the other to complete the feeding and see what you can do about the duct blockage after. There are things that can be done at home, experts can advise you. If the problem persists, it may be worthwhile to have yourself looked at.
Establishing A Solid Latch
Sometimes you need to switch breasts more often, getting guidance from lactation professionals on latch positions is a very good idea, waiting for the baby to open wide enough tends to help initiate a better latch, and if you know what a good latch looks like beforehand, you can confirm everything is going as it should.
The good news is, the more you nurse your baby, the less difficult it will be to get a good latch. You’ll find your balance eventually, and you’ll have less trouble with future children.
