Breastfeeding Part 2 (Latching)

It is important for your baby to latch well. An infant’s mouth has to be filled with breast tissue so that there is no space left in the mouth and your nipple is places as far at the back of the baby’s mouth as possible. When that happens your baby will be able to reach the part of your breast where the milk is, behind your areola (the brown part which surrounds your nipple). It is necessary to understand that the baby is breastfeeding– not nipple feeding.

Your nipple is out of the way of the strong little jaws and should be free from pain and damage. The tongue will be lying under your breast tissue and reach baby’s gum line. This is what is meant by breastfeeding and not nipple feeding.

Photo Source: www.thenewparentsguide.com/breastfeeding

When you are holding your baby in a firm hold, you are in control. Baby is facing your breast with mouth facing your nipple. Now you have to have patience and wait for a big mouth–as big as a yawn. A baby will do this if hungry.

Sometimes, touching baby’s lips gently with your nipple may tease the mouth open. When you see that big mouth, very quickly pull the baby on to your breast. Do not try to push your nipple into the mouth, it will just get stuck at the front of the mouth which will be painful. If you feel pain it means the jaws are coming together on your nipple. If this keeps happening, your nipple will get ver sore and may bleed.

It is hard for you to see what the latch looks like, but you can feel it. You should not feel pain. Your baby’s nose will be touching your breast and the lower jaw will be under your areola. Some mothers become concerned that their baby won’t be able to breath. Don’t worry– if an infant is having trouble breathing it will come off the breast on its own.

If there is any space between baby’s nose and your breast, the baby isn’t on your breast enough or its head may be tilted too far back. If the nose is buried in your breast tissue, baby is too high up. Noses make good direction signals. If you can feel or see any of the above or feel pain, take your baby off and try again. When the baby is latched on well with a big mouth, the lower lip will be curled down and will be well under your breast. To take the baby off the breast, insert your finger in baby’s mouth to break the suction.