Section 5: Teaching the Skills of Breastfeeding Flashcards
Cross cradle nursing position
- Align baby’s so that it doesn’t go past the nipple
- Right hand under baby’s face - pillow for cheek, support weight of head with hand
- sit baby’s bottom on arm (as if it were a shelf)
- or let baby’s bottom fall diagonally a bit and squeeze against rib cage
- Wrap body and legs around mother
- Pull baby’s bottom into body with inside/underside of forearm
- this brings baby to breast with nipple pointing to roof of moutn
- Head supported but NOT pushed against breast
- Head tilted back slightly, nose up and chin coming into breast (nose never touches breast)
- Use whole arm to bring baby onto breast when mouth is wide
- Baby’s chin should be far away from chest

Proper latching
- WATCH LOWER LIP, aim it as far from base of nipple as possible, so tongue draws lots of breast into mouth
- Move baby’s body and head together – keep baby uncurled
- If you keep your wrist straight, with baby’s cheek resting on your fingers, then baby’s chin will not bend down toward his chest
- Once latched, baby’s top lip will be close to nipple, areola shows above lip
- Keep baby’s chin close against your breast
- move baby toward breast, touch top lip against nipple
- move mouth away SLIGHTLY
- touch top lip against nipple again, move away again
- repeat until baby opens wide and has tongue forward
- Or, better yet, run nipple along the baby’s upper lip, from one corner to the other, lightly, until baby opens wide

Avoid placing baby down in a feeding position until
- you are completely ready to latch baby
- The longer baby waits while you get ready (undoing your breast, etc) the more frustrated baby gets and the less open baby’s mouth will go.
Mother’s view while latching baby

Mother’s view of nursing baby

Mother’s posture when nursing
- Sit with straight, well-supported back
- Trunk facing forwards, lap flat
Baby’s Position Before Feed Begins
Nipple points to the baby’s upper lip or nostril
Baby’s Body when nursing
- Placed not quite tummy to tummy, but so that baby comes up to breast from below and baby’s eyes make contact with mother’s Support Breast
- Firm inner breast tissue by raising breast slightly with fingers placed flat on chest wall and thumb pointing up (if helpful, also use sling or tensor bandage around breast)

Move baby quickly onto breast
- Head tilted back slightly
- pushing in across shoulders so chin and lower jaw make contact (not nose) while mouth still wide open
- keep baby uncurled (means tongue nearer breast)
- lower lip is aimed as far from nipple as possible so baby’s tongue draws in maximum amount of breast tissue
Mother needs to AVOID
- pushing her breast across her body
- chasing the baby with her breast
- flapping the breast up and down
- holding breast with scissor grip
- not supporting breast
- twisting her body towards the baby instead of slightly away
- aiming nipple to centre of baby’s mouth
- pulling baby’s chin down to open mouth
- flexing baby’s head when bringing to breast
- moving breast into baby’s mouth instead of bringing baby to breast
- moving baby onto breast without a proper gape
- not moving baby onto breast quickly enough at height of gape
- having baby’s nose touch breast and not the chin
- holding breast away from baby’s nose (not necessary if the baby is well latched on, as the nose will be away from the breast anyway)
Strategies that promote breastfeeding success include
- initiating early breastfeeding,
- encouraging frequent breastfeeding,
- encouraging rooming-in,
- providing skilful assistance,
- discouraging routine formula supplementation,
- teaching mothers to recognize the signs of adequate milk intake in their infant
- most important of all, educating mothers about the association between sustained milk supply and efficient removal of milk from the breast.
What is the most important strategy for breastfeeding success?
educating mothers about the association between sustained milk supply and efficient removal of milk from the breast.
The optimal time to initiate breastfeeding is
- as soon as the situation allows
- If the birth has been uncomplicated, the mother should be encouraged to breastfeed immediately.
The benefits of early initiation of breastfeeding for both mother and baby include the following
- Reducing postpartum blood loss because infant suckling stimulates the uterus to contract.
- Taking advantage of the newborn’s alertness immediately following birth to establish latching-on and suckling.
- Ensuring the baby will receive the immunologic and laxative benefits of colostrum. The laxative effects stimulate the elimination of meconium.
- Ensuring the stimulation of milk production and reducing the risk of engorgement.
- Increasing infant/mother bonding.
- Enhancing breastfeeding success and contributing to the continuation of breastfeeding.
In order to support a new mother and her infant as they initiate breastfeeding, it is important to
- Provide an environment that is private, quiet, and conducive for teaching and learning.
- Find the most comfortable position for the mother
BF positioning for cesarean delivery
- Women who have had a Caesarean delivery may find sitting in bed withthe support of several pillows comfortable
- ask her what will help to achieve the most comfortable position for her.
Chair sitting positioning for breastfeeding
- choose one with low arms that can accommodate pillows
- have the mother sitting as close as possible to a 90° angle
- This will allow her breasts to be at an angle that will accommodate latch-on
- use a footstool to raise the mother’s kneesslightly above her lap.
Lying down position breastfeeding
- mother well supported by pillows under head, at her back, between her knees, and at the foot of the bed to raise her knees slightly
- baby should be at breast level.
The following principles apply to all breastfeeding positions:
- Supporting the breast because - firmer for easier latch-on, keeps the weight of the breast off the baby’s chin.
- Bringing the baby to the breast, not the breast to the baby.
- Having the baby directly face the breast.
- Making sure the baby’s body is well aligned.
- Stimulating the rooting reflex by tickling the baby’s lips with the mother’s nipple.
- Bringing the baby quickly to the breast when his or her mouth opens wide.
- Ensuring the baby’s nose and chin are touching the breast.
One of the most important factors in breastfeeding is always
maintaining correct positioning of the baby while suckling at the breast
Cradle Hold Position
- mother sits with back supported,
- baby at breast level,
- baby’s body directly faces breast
- baby’s head on mother’s forearm, not in the crook of the elbow,
- mother supports her breast with her opposite hand,
- mother’s other hand is on baby’s bottom to help pull the baby in close to her body, “tummy to tummy”
- pillow for arm rest or foot stool optional

Lying Down Position
- baby’s body well aligned at breast level,
- baby facing mother’s body and breast
- slight elevation of mother’s head
- pillows to support mother’s back and between her knees,
- the hand on the mother’s top side supports the lower breast and guides it into the infant’s mouth,
- the mother supports her breast with one hand and holds the baby close with the other
- the baby’s position can be maintained by supporting the back with a rolled towel
- it is sometimes helpful for the mother to roll slightly toward the baby to geta deeper latch.

Lying down position is beneficial for mothers who
have had Caesarean births, or are unable to sit comfortably.
Foodball hold position
- baby is tucked like a football under the mother’s arm on the same side she is nursing from,
- baby should be facing the mother’s breast with feet pointing toward the mother’s back,
- baby is raised to breast level and lined up “nose to nipple,”
- baby’s head is held behind the ears,
- baby’s body directly faces the mother’s breast,
- baby’s body is well aligned,
- mother’s hand supports her breast position,
- mother’s back is supported in a comfortable straight-backed chair tomaintain a 90° angle
- mother has both feet on a footstool.








