Getting a Good Latch
Start with the Basics:
- Place Baby at breast level, with face, chest, and knees
facing mom directly
- Position Baby with NOSE directly in front of mom’s
nipple
- Support just the Baby’s head right behind his ears
with your hand (the bend of the arm doesn’t give enough
control for latch on)
- Shape the breast to match Baby’s mouth, making an
exaggerated nipple. Think of how you compress a large sandwich
to fit your mouth!
- Lightly brush Baby’s lips with mom’s nipple,
WAIT for a WIDE mouth, then bring Baby in close, chin to
breast (note that Baby comes into breast, not breast to
Baby)
- Wait a minute. How does it feel? You should feel tugging,
not pinching. If there is pinching, gently draw out upper
and lower lips with index finger. You do not need to see
the lower lip to pull it out.
- Still pinching? You may have missed that wide mouth. Break
suction and start again. It’s worth getting right!
- Feel good? Great! Now sit back, put your feet up on a
stool, table, or box, roll Baby into you, and Relax!
Breastfeeding Resource Center
117 N. Easton Rd.
Glenside, PA 19038
215-886-2433
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