Lactation Techniques

Breastfeeding is a natural process for women and provides a precious experience. However, breastfeeding your baby properly needs patience and practice to make the process enjoyable. Breastfeeding helps in building a special and intimate relationship between mother and baby. If you are a new mom, it is very essential that you know the right lactation techniques so that your baby gets fed properly.

Proper positioning along with proper latching are the vital factors to make breastfeeding effective for both mother and baby. For the first few days, it might be a challenge for you to get the proper position for successful nursing. But as time passes, you will be able to achieve the right position which will help your baby to achieve the proper latch and feed properly. Good positioning will help you achieve the following things:

• It will let your baby milk the breasts effectively.
• Effective milking helps in stimulating the breasts, letting your body produce the exact amount of milk your baby needs.
• Right positioning while breastfeeding helps in minimizing sore nipples and various other complications.

Normally, there are four positions that are used while breastfeeding a baby :

• Traditional or cradle position: This is the most convenient position for most nursing mothers.
• Cross-cradle position: This position is quite similar to the cradle position but the only difference is that it offers more control of the baby’s head.
• Football or clutch hold: This position is very helpful for nursing mothers who have undergone C-section during childbirth.
• Side-lying position: Though somewhat awkward, this position allows the mother and the baby to relax more, and even end up dozing off while breastfeeding.

Based on the above mentioned positions, below are some lactation techniques that are helpful for breastfeeding your baby the right way:

• Sit comfortably on a chair with a back support and put your feet on a stool. It will help you to get a good posture, and prevent your neck and shoulders from getting strained. In this position, a proper latch could be attained allowing better breastfeeding.
• While breastfeeding, relax your shoulders and bring your baby to your breast not your breast to your baby.
• You should hold your baby close to you so that her nose touches your nipple, chin with your breast and bottom to your tummy.
• While breastfeeding, provide support to your baby’s neck and shoulders with your hand so that your baby’s head does not push back.
• You should support your breast underneath with the help of your fingers with touching the areolas and on top with your thumb.
• While breastfeeding your baby, you should keep in mind to place the nipple at the centre of your baby’s mouth.
• Make sure that your baby takes in not only the nipples but also areolas, as much as possible.
• As your baby starts sucking the nipple, you can relax your shoulders but make sure to hold your baby close to you.
• Once your baby starts learning the skills of milking, you can lie sidewise on bed with pillows around your head to support your shoulders. In this position, you can relax more while breastfeeding your baby.

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article sponsered by Northern Michigan certified lactation consulting and Mother Hubbards Country Cupboard