Breast-Feeding Positions |
There is no ideal position for breast-feeding the baby, because every mother adopts the position that she feels to be the most comfortable.
Changing the feeding position, every so often, allows the complete emptying of all the ducts and avoids stimulating the same area of the nipple, which could cause irritation.
The classic position is when the mother is seated with the baby in her arms. The mother is comfortably seated on a low chair with her feet resting on a stool, in such a way that the knees remain raised and the legs can support the baby at a sufficient height to latch on to the breast, without the latter being pulled. It may be necessary to position one or more pillows between the legs of the mother and the baby.
A mother, however, may prefer a lying down position, on a bed, with the baby at her side. This is often the case when the mother is tired or feels pain, caused, for example, by stitches after a Caesarean birth.
A third position is known as the “rugby position”, which is particularly advisable if the mother is subject to mammary congestion, as it helps to empty the inner milk ducts. The baby is held like a rugby ball. The mother supports the baby’s body with the forearm, at the height of her armpit and the baby’s head, with the hand in such a way as to position the baby at the height of her breast. This position is particularly useful in cases where it is difficult to latch the baby on to the breast, after a Caesarean birth, if the baby’s nose is blocked, or when breast-feeding twins.
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