Positioning & Attachment of Breastfeeding.

When feeding baby, your baby should have a large mouthful of breast tissue ( Not just nipple) and his/her chin should be tucked firmly against your breast. Making sure the nose is clear of your breast for breathing.

The suckling rythem. Begins with a short burst of quick sucks followed by slower, more even, sucking with deep jaw movements. Suck-->Swallow-->Breathe

Pauses are a normal part of the feed and are more freqent as the feed progresses.

If the cheeks are being sucked in, or there is an audible clicking noise, the baby is probably not attached correctly.

In the early days it is common to experience some discomfort when the baby first latches on and this quickly eases.

It is NOT normal to have continued burning, stinging or pinching pains continueing throughout the feed.

After the feed the nipple and areola area should appear enlongated but not flattened, ridged or distorted in shape. If they are, attachment should be checked. PLEASE CALL YOUR MIDWIFE FOR ASSISTANCE.

If attachment is correct, time at the breast should be unrestricted, although it is reasonable that a feed should not go longer than one hour. If it does this tells me that there is a problem and you should again seek advice from your midwife.

The end of the feeding is evident when the baby either comes off the breast spontainiously or changes to prolonged, less vigorus, less rhythmic sucking, known as 'confort scking'. To take your baby off your breast, gently place a clean finger between your baby's cheek and your breast in the corner of the mouth to break the suction.

Hope you find these steps useful.