Making sure that your baby is properly attached and positioned at the breast is essential. If you get this right, you shouldn’t find breastfeeding painful and your baby should thrive.
To make sure breastfeeding is comfortable for you and your baby, you need to hold the baby in a good position so that he can attach to the breast.
Holding your baby
Firstly turn your baby towards you with head and body in a straight line. His neck should not be twisted.
Hold your baby close to you with his bottom tucked in to your side and his head and body facing the same way.
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Support the baby’s neck and shoulders, but not the back of his head. This is important because the baby needs to be able to tilt his head back. |
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Supporting your breast
Some mothers find it helpful to support their breast. It is important to bring your baby to the breast and not to try and put your breast into the baby’s mouth. It is the baby who attaches to the breast, not the other way round.
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If you need to hold your breast then place your fingers flat against your rib cage underneath your breast and with your thumb on top. Your fingers and thumb should be well away from the areola (darker area around the nipple) so that they are not in the baby’s way. |
Helping your baby attach to the breast
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Move your baby so that he starts the feed with his nose facing your nipple. |
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If your baby’s mouth is not wide open, encourage him to open his mouth wide by gently rubbing your nipple against his upper lip and moving away until he opens his mouth wide. Baby with mouth wide open to attach When your baby’s mouth is wide open, bring him to your breast in a swift movement allowing his bottom lip or chin to make contact with the breast first |
Signs that your baby is well attached
- The baby’s chin is close to the breast and should touch the breast.
- The baby’s mouth is wide open.
- You may not be able to see the areola (darker area) around your nipple, but if you can, there is more showing above the baby’s top lip.
- You may be able to see that the baby’s lower lip is curled back, however it isn’t always possible to see this if the baby is well positioned and is close to the breast.
- The baby’s cheeks are round and full, not sucked in or dimpled.
- No smacking or slurping sounds will be heard.
- At first the baby’s sucks may be fast and then they become slower and longer.
- It should feel like a strong drawing sensation. This may be a bit uncomfortable for the first few sucks, but after that it should be pain free.
Finally, if your baby has been well positioned and attached for breastfeeding, he will finish the feed by coming off the breast and will appear sleepy and satisfied.
Signs that your baby is not well attached
- Feeding is painful.
- There is no change in the rhythm of the baby’s sucking – it stays as short flutter sucks.
- His cheeks are drawn in and dimpled.
- The baby is restless and keeps coming off the breast.
Other positions
There are several different positions which you might want to use for breastfeeding. You may want to feed sitting up with your baby across you or lying down or perhaps holding your baby underarm. Whatever position you choose, it should be comfortable so that you are able to stay in the position without it being a strain.
Pillows or cushions are sometimes useful in the early days. However sometimes nursing pillows can make breastfeeding more difficult as the baby may be too high and you end up fitting the baby around the pillow which leads to poor positioning.
If you need practical help with positioning and attachment, ask your midwife or health visitor to watch you feeding. You can also visit your local breastfeeding support group – see our section on support groups for details.
If you wish to speak to a breastfeeding counsellor there are a number of voluntary groups you can contact.
La Leche League 0845 120 2918
National Childbirth Trust 0870 444 8708
Breastfeeding Network 0870 900 8787