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| |    Breastfeeding Positions by Dr. Benjamin Spock reviewed and revised by Laura Jana, M.D., F.A.A.P. Breastfeeding will be most enjoyable for you if you take the time to make yourself comfortable. In whichever position you choose, the most important things to remember are that:
• You should support yourself comfortably enough that you won't become stiff or sore if you find yourself nursing in that position for some time. Most mothers prefer to nurse sitting up, even in bed in the hospital.. The two common ways to nurse a baby while sitting up are the "cradle hold" and the "football hold". Lying down positions are described below. The cradle hold The cradle hold works best for most mothers. Hold the baby across your lap with his head in the crook of your elbow facing your breast and with his back supported by your forearm. You can hold his bottom or thigh with your hand. His face, chest, stomach, and knees should all be facing you. A pillow under him and another under your elbow will provide good support. With your opposite hand, support your breast by placing your four fingers under it and your thumb on top, well behind the areola (the dark skin around the nipple). Gently tickle the baby's lips with your nipple until he opens his mouth very wide. (Be patient-this sometimes takes a some effort.) When the baby's mouth is wide open, pull him in close so his mouth is over the nipple and his gums are well behind the nipple, with most or all of the areola in his mouth. (This is called latching on.) His nose will be close to but not buried in your breast. If his breathing seems at all obstructed, make sure you are not pressing the back of his head into your breast. Pull his bottom closer to you, or press your breast gently out of the way. This will make the extra space he needs to nurse without his nose being blocked. The football hold The football hold is one you can use if you had a cesarean section birth, to nurse a small baby, or just for a different position. Sit in a comfortable chair (most prefer a rocking chair) or in bed with lots of pillows keeping you upright. Rest your arm on a pillow and tuck the baby's trunk and legs under your elbow along your side, with his head resting in your hand and his legs pointing straight up the back of the chair or the pillows behind you. Then help him to latch on to the breast as described for the cradle hold. Lying down If you prefer to nurse lying on your side, or if you're more comfortable that way because you've had a caesarean section, have someone help you position pillows behind your back and between your legs. The baby should lie on his side facing you. You may need to experiment with pillows under the baby and under your head and shoulder to bring the nipple to the right height for the baby. If you're on your left side: curl your left arm around the baby in the cradle hold and then get him latched on as described above.
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