Feed your baby frequently

• Anticipate the baby’s feedings by watching for early “hunger cues”.

Get comfortable

• Sit up in a chair to support your back. Use a footstool or some telephone books to rest your feet on so your knees are slightly higher than your hips. Use pillows to raise the baby to breast level.
• OR, lie in bed on your side, with pillows to support your head and back.

Position the baby correctly

• Turn baby to face you.
• The baby’s knees, tummy, and chest should be touching your body.
• Baby’s ear, shoulder, and hip should be in straight alignment.
• Support your baby’s head by placing your hand at the base of his/her neck, with fingers behind baby’s ears, and your arm supporting the baby’s back.

Use careful latch on technique

• Cup your hand underneath your breast, behind the areola.
• Try gently “sandwiching” the areola by compressing the breast behind the areola in the angle of the baby’s mouth.
• Gently tickle the baby’s mouth with the nipple.
• When baby opens wide, guide him/her onto the areola. (Be patient, this may take some time)
• After the baby has latched (the suck becomes steady and rhythmic) you may release the breast. NOTE: Most large breasted women will need to support the breast throughout the feeding until the baby gets bigger.

Detaching baby (if needed)

• Slide your finger into the baby’s mouth between the gums to release the suction. Keep your finger in place while taking baby off breast.

Nipple care

• Coat nipples with drops of milk after feedings.
• Air nipples between feedings as much as possible.
• May apply Lanolin sparingly to air dried nipples as needed for comfort.
• Do not wash nipples with soap.
• Rotate positions of baby at feedings.
• Start on the least sore side.
• Expect nipples to feel better within a few feedings, and to look and feel significantly better in 2 to 3 days.
• If nipple soreness does not resolve as expected, refer to the lactation “warmline” (784-2804).