How to breastfeed while lying down. Proper breastfeeding: tips for a nursing mother. Main positions and photos

Undoubtedly, every mother wants her baby to be healthy. Therefore, most women want to feed their babies with their own milk. True, it turns out this is not the first time for everyone. It is very important to correctly put the baby to the chest. After all, not only the health of the crumbs depends on this, but also the health of the mother. Therefore, today we learn everything about such an important action as the correct application during breastfeeding, postures (photos are given in the article) used in this process. We also define the basic rules that a woman should not neglect if she wants her boy or girl to grow up healthy and strong.

Signs of Correct Attachment

Signs of misapplication

An uncomfortable position of the baby can interfere with its satiety, and also cause In this case, prolonged eating by the child may not be possible. Understand the correct application during breastfeeding or not, you can for certain signs. So, the signs of an incorrect application may be the following:

The baby tilts his head down or turns it sideways.
The baby opens its mouth not wide, while its sponges do not turn out, and the cheeks are retracted, although they should be inflated.
The baby does not exercise sucking, but chewing movements.
Only the nipple is in the baby’s mouth, while the areola is completely visible.
When feeding, you hear a clatter of your tongue, as well as a smacking.
The baby spits up a lot after application due to the large amount of swallowed air.
The baby is troubled, he cries, stops taking breasts and again demands food.
Mom feels pain during feeding or discomfort at the same time.

If there is any one or even several situations described above, then this means that the woman is not correctly applying to the breast of the child. Then it is necessary to complete the feeding and correctly position the baby. To do this, you can insert the fingertips into the corner of the mouth of the crumbs and gently press on the lower jaw. In general, proper application during breastfeeding is a procedure that needs to be learned gradually. Therefore, the main thing that mom should think about at this time is about her state of mind. Even if nothing works out the first time, do not despair, because the second or even the tenth time, everything will certainly be different. In extreme cases, you can contact a pediatrician who will help my mother in this seemingly difficult task.

How to give a breast?

Since the baby in the first days after his birth does not understand anything, then the mother should help him eat. For this, a woman should do the following: before each feeding, hold the nipple in the mouth of the baby strictly from top to bottom. You never need to move it from side to side! In this way, the mother will teach the child only to turn his head, but will not achieve a wide open mouth.

Top-down movements should be repeated as many times as needed. And how is it - in all its breadth? Mom should catch the moment when the baby yawns or, for example, cries. At this time, a woman should pay attention to how widely the crumbs can open her mouth, and strive for this. Also, the mother can catch the moment when the baby yawns, and quickly put a breast into his mouth. You need to do this with lightning speed, otherwise you can be late.

Possible poses

Proper nesting when feeding a child clearly intersects with the choice of position of the mother. At the same time, both the woman and the baby should not feel inconvenience. Therefore, the choice of posture is a crucial moment. He is influenced by many factors: the weight of the crumbs, his manner of sucking, the health of his mother. Depending on these circumstances, the following postures may be acceptable:

"Cradle". The initial position of the woman is sitting, she holds the baby in her arms, pressing his belly to her. In this case, the baby should grab the nipple without turning the head.
The Cross Cradle. The mother defines the child on her hand, with the palm of his hand holds his back. With the other hand, the woman should support the breast.
"From under the arm." The baby lies on a pillow, while his body is located at the mother's back. In this position, the baby receives milk from the lower and upper lobes, where lactostasis most often appears.
"On the chest." Mom in a reclining position determines the baby on herself. This pose is convenient for an excess of milk, when it flows heavily, preventing the baby from sucking.
"Standing." This pose can be used if the mother wants to rock the baby. In this case, the woman should hold the baby in her arms in the "cradle" position.
"Hang". The initial position of the mother is lying on her side. The woman turns the baby facing her and feeds, leaning on her elbow.

If during feeding both the mother and her baby do not feel discomfort, they are relaxed, and the chest is emptied perfectly, which means that the position was chosen correctly. Applying the postures of which were described above is carried out correctly. Women can experiment with positions to understand which position is best for them to give their babies milk.

Pose for feeding if mom doesn’t get enough sleep

Often, mothers complain that the baby does not give them a normal rest. After all, even at night you have to feed babies. However, you can learn to attach the baby to the chest and at this time continue to rest. To do this, it is enough to feed him lying down. Below, we consider how to properly attach the baby so that both he and his mother feel good.

A woman should lie down comfortably. Do not lean on your elbow. Only mom’s head can be on the pillow. The starting position is strictly on one’s side, one cannot deviate either forward or backward.
The child should also lie on her mother’s side under the arm. The shoulder, thigh and ear should be in line. The tummy should be pressed to the mother, the head is slightly thrown back, then the mouth will open easily.
It is necessary to conveniently serve the baby's chest. If this is the left mammary gland, then the baby should be supported by the shoulder blades with the left hand, and the breast should be served with the right.
Throughout the feeding, the child should be supported so that he does not roll onto his back. You can define a roller under its back.

These are four points that ensure proper attachment when these conditions are clearly observed, then mom will be able to relax and the baby will be full.

Basic rules for breastfeeding an infant

Early breastfeeding

Obstetrician-gynecologists advise women in labor to feed the baby, or at least try to do it no later than an hour after the birth. This is very important, because in this case the first contact of the mother and the baby will be made. The duration of the first feeding should be at least half an hour.

Early proper application during breastfeeding will encourage the formation of milk, as well as contribute to the rapid passage of the placenta and will be an excellent prevention of postpartum hemorrhage. In addition, the baby will quickly form the intestinal microflora, as well as immunity.

Faithful Attachment

This item has already been examined in detail, but it is worth mentioning how good the correct application is. If the baby correctly captures the mother’s breast, does not cause the woman pain or discomfort, drinks plenty of milk, this protects the woman in labor from mastitis, cracks and other troubles.

On-demand feeding

This is another important rule that you should pay attention to. Feeding not by the hour, but at the request of the baby is one of the principles of such a basis as proper application during breastfeeding. Komarovsky E.O. - An experienced pediatrician with his own program on babies on television claims that crumbs should be given breasts for any reason from the first months of life. It is necessary to provide him with access to milk when he wants. This is very important, because this way the baby will not only get enough, but it will also contribute to his psycho-emotional comfort. After 4-5 months, the child will develop its own regimen. Komarovsky E.O. notes that it is advisable to feed the baby at least six months, and preferably up to a year.

Duration of application

All mothers should remember that it is not worth interrupting feeding, taking away their breasts from satiety, then he himself will stop sucking. Different babies remain at the chest for varying lengths of time. And this is normal. Therefore, do not worry if the neighbor's crumbs are at the chest for 40 minutes, and yours is enough for 15. Why is it not worth taking breasts yet? It turns out that at the beginning of feeding the baby receives earlier milk, rich in water, carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins. But after 5-7 minutes of sucking, he comes to late milk, which contains proteins and fats. That is why it is so important not to interrupt this process.

Alternate feeding

Proper application during breastfeeding can not do without this item. Specialists strongly recommend that all mothers give one breast to the baby for one feeding. If a woman is in a hurry and wants to give a second as soon as possible, then the baby will not receive late milk rich in fats. As a result, he may have problems with stool. To prevent this, the mother should know that she can offer the same mammary gland to the child for 1-2 hours. And only then change it to another. Feeding from both breasts is allowed only if the baby is already 5 months old, that is, when he is already short of milk from one breast and still needs to.

Now you know everything about such an important action as the correct application during breastfeeding (photos of this process and appropriate poses are presented in the review). We found out what is the indispensable product that babies should eat. After all, it contains all the necessary vitamins and minerals that are so important for the health of children.

Fifteen breastfeeding positions

Irina Ryukhova, teacher AKEV, member of the International Lactation Consultant Association (www.ilca.org)

Fortunately, times have long passed when mothers were ordered to feed the baby in the same position - sitting on a chair and substituting a special bench under her foot ... Now the benches have changed pillows for feeding, and the nursing mother knows that any position that is comfortable for her is good herself and the baby! However, skills usually come with practice, but what should mother, who has given birth to her firstborn just recently, or is only thinking about the upcoming breastfeeding in the last days of pregnancy?

Rule one - when feeding, we try to ensure comfort for ourselves and the baby. Feeding for both of you should be a vacation! This is a time of peace and relaxation, a time of love and the closest possible communication between mother and baby. Nothing should distract or annoy you, so immediately try to take a comfortable position; if necessary, put pillows under your back and arms (as during pregnancy), or put them under the crumbs, or settle in a chair (for many mothers, a rocking chair is a great purchase). With a long, relaxed feeding, a glass of drink or food for a small snack at arm's length will not hurt at all, because flushing of milk can cause thirst or hunger.

Second rule - in the very first days after the birth, try not one, but several options for the location when feeding the baby. But even deciding that one position is best for you - do not stop there! From time to time, offer the baby a breast from other positions, because your baby grows so fast - and the behavior of the chest changes as it grows. What seemed uncomfortable yesterday may be most appropriate tomorrow.

Rule three - there are times when a change in feeding position is not only desirable, but also necessary. In the first days of the baby’s life, this may be necessary for nipple injuries, when it is necessary that the working parts of the crumb’s mouth fall into other, undamaged places (just remember that just changing the position is not enough, you need to establish and eliminate the cause of the problem - most often this is a consequence of improper breast capture ) Then feeding from “non-standard” positions may be needed to help mom cope with milk stagnation. Well, walkers, like acrobats, effortlessly control their mother’s breasts from any position!

We will tell and show in more detail various variations in the provisions for feeding.

Mom feeds while sittingThe cradle The most common feeding position that many artists have captured in their paintings. It provides, perhaps, the greatest comfort for the child - it lies in my mother’s hands, as in a crib, from where this pose got its name. Mom sits down, takes the baby in her arms, so that his head is in the elbow, turns him to her tummy - and gives the breast. The palm of the mother’s other hand covers the ass or supports the back. For proper grip of the chest, it is very important that the baby’s head is at the same height as the nipple, so at first you’ll have to raise your elbow high enough (a pillow can be useful here: either an ordinary one or a special one for feeding). Please note that the baby’s head is slightly thrown back - this provides an effective, deep attachment to the chest, in which the baby can suck out the greatest amount of milk.

“The reverse cradle”

This kind of “cradle” position helps the baby to grab the chest well the first time after birth, when he is still very tiny and needs more help from his mother. Under the baby’s head is not the elbow bend, but the mother’s hand - this allows you to hold well and, if necessary, control the baby’s head. In this case, the arm opposite to the nursing chest serves to support; the baby’s palm is located under the back and shoulders, the head is between the thumb and forefinger. At the very beginning of application, the second hand supports the chest from below; when mom made sure that the baby took the breast well, it can be removed. Since the hand that holds the baby can quickly get tired, you need to either put a pillow under it to support it, or, after the baby has taken the breast well, gently swap hands and feed them further in the traditional “cradle”.

This position is the next most prevalent in the cradle. Of course, it is most often used at night or during daytime rest (if the baby sleeps with mom, then feeding on its side allows both to almost never wake up while feeding), and in the first days of life, crumbs are very popular with mothers who gave birth by caesarean section and should now avoid pressure on the stomach. When feeding while lying, mother and baby lie on their side, turning to each other, mother takes the baby. The simplest lying position, as in the photo, is usually used already with older children - the smallest ones to feed this way can be inconvenient because of the difference in the height of the baby's nipple and mouth.

But this option of the same position is usually used by mothers of newborn babies. To ensure that the mouth is at the level of the nipple, the mother feeds the baby with her upper hand. It will be very convenient for mom if she puts her pillow so that only her head is on it, and her shoulders are on the plane of the bed.

Baby lies on a pillow

You can put the baby and not on your own hand, but on a flat pillow. Moms sometimes complain that feeding them while lying is uncomfortable: this usually happens if the mother tries to maintain balance by leaning on her elbow - of course, in this case the hand gets tired quickly and the body becomes numb. In fact, it’s quite simple to take a comfortable position, when the mother herself is lying on the pillow, not resting on her elbow.

Upper breast feeding

If it is more convenient for mother to feed on one side, then it is possible to feed not only the lower breast facing the baby, but also the upper. In addition, it is this position that will help the baby to cope with stagnation of milk if it suddenly appears in the lower inner part of the chest.

Relaxed feeding

One of the wonderful things that helps both mother and baby is to relax and rest as much as possible while feeding. Mom is reclining, with her head and shoulders slightly raised, surrounding herself with a comfortable pillow support and providing herself with complete comfort. The child lies on the mother, which helps him find the chest and kiss. Besides the fact that the mother herself is relaxed, the baby himself is perfectly calm in this position: it is especially good for troubled children, whose mothers say that the child waves his arms and legs and twists his head. Being at such a feeding on the mother’s belly, the baby does not interfere with itself by the chaotic movements of the arms and legs, but either crawls to the chest or quietly sucks, turning the head left and right here turns into up and down movements that help to better capture the chest. As a result, often the child takes his chest deeper and the tongue when sucking works more actively than in other positions. Also, this position allows the baby to regulate the flow of milk himself, which is especially true with a strong reflex of milk production, when when feeding in the usual position, the baby can choke.

Jack Feeding

Rarely used position comes to the rescue in case of milk stagnation. If for some reason more milk has arrived than the baby can handle, then when feeding in the same position there is a danger of stagnation. The baby empties her mother’s breasts unevenly - best of all, he sucks milk from the part of the breast where he points when feeding his chins. This should be guided, if necessary, to cope with stagnation. This position is used if it is necessary for the baby to help resolve the relatively rare seals in the upper chest.
MOM FEES STANDING
Motion sickness Also one of the basic positions. Standing feeding combined with a gentle wiggle helps to euthanize a baby who is upset or nervous.

Kid is standing

So usually grown up children are applied “on the run” in order to quickly restore peace of mind with a brief but gentle contact with mom and again take up their very important children's affairs.

Baby on mom's hip

This position during feeding can be useful if the baby is prone to regurgitation - the vertical position of the child greatly softens, or even solves this problem.

SPECIAL OPTIONS

Overhang feeding If the mother has a desire to help the reflex of milk, the mother can feed the baby, hanging over him with support on the elbow. In this position, under the influence of gravity, milk is easier to descend along the ducts, which can be especially important when transferring babies from bottle feeding to breast feeding. However, feeding so long is difficult, the hand quickly gets tired.

Sling Feeding

An active mother who carries her baby in a sling will certainly not leave him hungry either - like no other accessory, the sling promotes breastfeeding, helping to maintain close contact of the baby with the mother and her breast without undue stress!

... well, and when your little one grows up, you will see for yourself that a tender love for mother’s mom allows you to feed as you like, almost upside down! The main thing is to provide the opportunity itself
We thank the mothers who acted as models and the photographers Olga Ermolaeva and Alena Akimenko.

When my eldest daughter read the topic of the article I was working on, “How to Feed a Newborn Baby,” she grunted and said, knowingly, “How to feed a newborn ?! Usually. Breast. "

Future mothers can also reason until they put a newborn in their arms. In this exciting moment of the first applications, often all the theoretical aspects of feeding and application, about which they heard or read, are lost somewhere.

It would seem that the topic of feeding a newborn is well covered in various sources. Everyone knows about the benefits of breastfeeding, etc. Questions on how to feed a newborn are always understood in the classroom at the "School of Young Moms."

But with the advent of the baby, newly-minted mothers inevitably have questions: how to feed properly, in what position, how much time, whether a regimen is needed, how to understand whether a baby has enough milk, whether the baby is correctly seizing the chest, etc.

Especially a lot of questions arise in the first (adaptation) month of the baby's life. At this stage, the baby and mother learn to interact with each other, adapt.

The first milk, the first days after birth

Immediately after giving birth, it is very important to attach to the mother’s chest. Even if during this application the child receives literally a few drops of colostrum.

Early attachment of the baby to the chest offers many advantages.

It contributes to:

the rapid formation of lactation and stimulation of the production of breast milk in a larger volume;
more rapid adaptation of the child to conditions outside the mother’s tummy, as the baby’s intestines are more quickly colonized with useful bifidum flora. And this means that the adverse period of transient intestinal dysbiosis is reduced;
strengthening feelings of motherhood, lowering the level of stress hormones in a woman’s blood, accelerating uterine involution (restoration of antenatal size).

This contact “skin to skin” allows the baby to feel motherly warmth again, to smell the mother, the beating of her heart. It is proved that the earlier establishment of such psychological contact gives a powerful impetus to the normal development of the baby's psyche.

In the first 2-3 days after the birth, the woman does not produce milk, but colostrum - the most valuable product of the mammary glands for the newborn.

Mom should not be afraid that colostrum initially stands out in a meager volume. Due to the high calorie content and nutritional value, a small amount of colostrum is enough for a child.

It is rich in proteins and fats. And, unlike mature milk, there is not much water in colostrum.

The child also needs time to change to another - enteric (by mouth) - type of nutrition, to launch the gastrointestinal tract and its enzymatic activity. And colostrum, like nothing else, helps in this small organism.

In colostrum, there are many enzymes that help the infant's fragile digestive system cope with its function.

Colostrum has a mild laxative effect. Thus, it helps to cleanse the baby’s intestines from the original feces (meconium).

Colostrum is also a kind of immune vaccine. It contains maternal immunoglobulins. These are immune proteins that transmit immunity from the mother to the baby. They will protect the baby from infections before the age of six months. After all, his immunity has yet to form for some time.

Early immunity of the sterile intestines of the newborn with lacto- and bifidobacteria, which are found in large quantities in colostrum, also helps to establish immunity.

Based on the above, colostrum is a most valuable and unique product for feeding only a baby born. Therefore, it is important not to miss the opportunity to start breastfeeding the baby from this important stage.

And there is no need to rush to feed it with milk substitutes (mixtures), hoping that they are better than this small amount of colostrum.

How to arrange breastfeeding?

In order for breastfeeding to be successful, long and pleasurable for both participants in this process (mother and baby), you need to learn how to properly place the baby on the chest.

After all, when the baby correctly captures the breast, he eats well, does not capture a lot of air during feeding. And my mother does not have pain during feeding, no cracks and chafing on the nipple.

Consider the application of the classic feeding position as an example. This is the so-called "Cradle" pose. This is a comfortable position, mom can relax and even relax while feeding.

I’ll tell you in more detail what kind of "Cradle" is.

Mom sits down, leaning her back on a comfortable support. Support is required, otherwise it will be difficult for mom. After all, the first feedings can last up to 40 minutes.

Additionally, for convenience, it is better to put your legs on a small stool or delivery, otherwise the legs will be unnecessarily strained.

Mom keeps the baby in the elbow, holding by the neck and back. The baby should be deployed to mom and pressed belly to her belly.

Thus, the ear, shoulder and thigh of the baby is on the same line. It is important that the baby does not throw his head back, does not bend.

It is important to hold the child not at the back of the head. Otherwise, when holding the baby by the head, he leans back, worries, is naughty at the chest. It is more correct to hold the neck and upper shoulder girdle.

It is most convenient for mom to feed the right breast with her left hand, and the left with her right.

Take the chest, placing the thumb on top a little further than the areola (the dark area of \u200b\u200bthe nipple), without covering it, and the remaining four fingers - from the bottom.

A fairly common grip with “scissors”, when the nipple remains between the index and middle fingers, does not allow the baby to put his chest deep enough into the mouth.

At the time of application, the baby's nose should be opposite the nipple.

Having squeezed out a drop of milk, move along the lower sponge of the baby. After waiting for the baby to open its mouth wide, insert the nipple into the baby's mouth. With your other hand, slightly move, point the baby to the chest.

Thanks to this oncoming movement, the grip of the chest will be deeper and more correct.

Here are a few criteria for the correct capture of the baby's chest:

The baby's mouth is wide open.
The sponges are well inverted and cover most of the areola.
The chin of the baby rests on the chest.
The baby's cheeks are not sunken.
You can hear the baby swallowing milk, but there are no popping, smacking, or other loud noises when sucking.
The baby is turned to his chest with his whole body, and not just his head.

If the mother, when preparing for feeding and when applying to the breast, does everything correctly, then she will not experience pain and discomfort during feeding.

With this technique of application, the tip of the nipple abuts against the transition zone of the solid (bone) into the soft (muscle) palate of the child. And the wave-like movements of the baby’s tongue do not traumatize the delicate peritoneal skin.

After feeding the baby, be sure to hold it upright for several minutes. You probably heard the expression - "hold the column."

This is necessary so that the child can get rid of air bubbles that could get into the stomach during sucking.

If this is not done, then excess air will enter the intestines. Thus, they will provoke an attack of intestinal colic in the baby.

Also, if you do not wait for the excess air to escape from the stomach (belching) after feeding, then such a gas bubble will provoke regurgitation in the baby.

Do I need to wash my breasts before and after feeding?

The breast does not need additional washing before feeding. After feeding, washing the breast is also unnecessary. The fact is that after feeding, a natural protective film appears on the skin of the nipples, which prevents the growth of pathogenic bacteria.

Excessive hygienic procedures, especially with the use of soap, especially laundry soap (some grandmothers advise), dry the thin skin of the nipples. And this is fraught with the appearance of cracks on them and discomfort during feeding.

It is enough for a nursing mother to take a shower twice a day and there is no need to “steam up” about additional washing of the breast.

An exception is cases when a nursing mother uses any medications for nipples in the form of ointments or gels.

Moreover, the drugs used by the mother are not always the exception requiring washing the breast before feeding. Some specialized gels for the treatment of nipple cracks do not need rinsing.

To flush or not flush the drug from the breast before feeding, always check with the doctor who wrote the prescription, the pharmacist in the pharmacy or in the annotation of the drug.

As for the regimen of feeding a newborn, experts differ.

The size of the stomach of the newborn is still small and its physical strength for a full long-term meal is not always enough. Therefore, the newborn just needs to be applied to the chest more often than once every two, two and a half hours.

Let me remind you that the neonatal period is the first 28 days from birth, that is, about the first month of life.

Also, in this adaptation period, immediately after the birth of mother's, the breast of the newborn can satisfy not only its nutritional needs, it satisfies hunger. When sucking, it also quenches thirst, gets rid of fears, enjoys maternal smell and warmth.

Also, sucking stimulates peristalsis (wave-like contractions) of the infant's intestines, which contributes to the passage of gas. Therefore, often babies poop when they suckle.

The feeding regime by the clock in the first month inhibits lactation, and its frequent application stimulates.

Rare and incomplete breast emptying is the main cause of lactostasis. This is stagnation of milk in the milk ducts, which develops into mastitis within three days, manifested by all signs of inflammation (redness, swelling, pain, fever).

From the second month of life, a child begins to develop a certain sleep and feeding regimen. Therefore, in the future, mothers can establish a feeding regimen by the hour after 2-2.5 hours.

This applies more, of course, to socially active or working mothers.

But even an ordinary idle mother, who is always next to the baby, will not hurt to establish a feeding regime in the future. Otherwise, there is a not very pleasant prospect of turning into a "mother-pacifier", on which the baby will hang 24 hours a day.

The duration of feeding is determined by the baby. But this is not an absolute statement.

For example, during the neonatal period, feeding less than 15 minutes does not allow the baby to get enough. In this case, infants often quickly get tired, fall asleep. Therefore, if your newborn baby is too lazy to work well at the chest and falls asleep, you will have to slow him down.

On average, the first feedings last up to 30-40 minutes. An older child eats up much faster.

What to do with night feedings?

It is at night that the hormone prolactin, which is responsible for stimulating milk production, reaches its peak activity. Therefore, nightly applications provide sufficient milk production and contribute to the stimulation of lactation at the stage of its formation in the first month.

Long breaks in feeding and incomplete emptying of the breast during feeding, on the contrary, inhibit lactation. The body will not spend energy on the production of milk, if it is not in demand.

So you need to feed the newborn at night for both the baby and the mother.

Newborn babies on average can wake up at night for feeding 2-4 times. After six months, the child can sleep all night and not wake up to eat. But in my practice there were few such kids.

If a child gains weight well and sleeps at night for 4 or more hours, then he should not be awakened. But if your baby is behind in weight gain and at the same time likes to sleep, then it is necessary to wake up and feed him.

There are many different poses for feeding a baby. We will consider the most common and suitable for a newborn baby.

Cradle and Cross Crib Poses

These are postures for feeding a baby while sitting.

All the features of the location of the baby when feeding in the pose "Cradle" we have already considered above.

This is a widespread pose when the baby is in her mother’s arms, like in a cozy crib. With this position, the baby’s head lies on the elbow bend towards the chest from which it sucks.

I write about it again, because I want to talk about another variation of this pose. This is the so-called "Cross cradle."

In this position, the mother holds the baby with her hand, opposite the chest, from which she is going to feed. The child is located on the forearm of the mom’s bent arm. At the same time, the mother supports the baby’s head with the palm of this hand and can easily guide him.

Thus, the other arm is released from the mother in order to feed the breast correctly and adjust the baby's grip.

This pose is more suitable if the baby is weak, premature. These babies usually have difficulty grabbing the nipple and sucking.

Mom when feeding in the "Cross Cradle" pose can sit on a chair, in an armchair, on a fitball or even walk and rock a baby.

It is worth saying that for the first feedings, which last for 30-40 minutes or more, the “Cradle” and “Cross cradle” poses are not very convenient if there is no support for the back and footrest. Mom's legs, arms, and back are often numb.

Therefore, be sure to take care of your comfort in advance. Place a pillow on your knees to hang and hunch over your baby. Place a small chair under your feet. Sit on a chair with a comfortable back. Place a pillow under the back and under the arm holding the baby.

It is more convenient for some mothers to feed while lying down, especially after childbirth, when it is still difficult or even impossible to sit.

Pose "Lying on its side"

Mom and baby are lying on the bed, stomach to stomach. Mom rests her shoulder on the bed or puts a pillow under her head. It is important that you put a pillow under your head, and not under your shoulders!

Under the back of the baby, you can put a roller twisted from a diaper or blanket so that the baby does not roll on its back.

At the time of application, the nipple should be at the level of the nose of the crumbs.

This position is suitable for women who should not sit down after childbirth or if after a cesarean section the woman experiences pain while sitting while feeding.

Also this pose is ideal for feeding at night. From this position, you can, without shifting the child to the other side, attach immediately to the other chest, slightly hanging over the child.

Pose "Lying on your side with a jack"

With this position, the mother and baby are in opposite directions, that is, the legs of the crumbs are directed to the head of the mother.

In practice, I have not often encountered such a feeding method. This pose also has a right to exist, and sometimes it is recommended specifically. In particular, feeding with a jack helps to cope with stagnation of milk in the upper external lobes of the mammary gland.

It is noticed that in those areas where the chin of the baby is directed, breast milk does not stagnate. Therefore, it is logical from time to time to use feeding with the "jack" to evenly free the breast from milk, thus stimulating lactation.

Pose From the Hand

Mom with this position can be sitting or half-sitting. The child lies on a pillow near his mother’s hand, his legs are directed to her back.

It is necessary to ensure that the baby's feet are below the level of his head. Mom baby can hold with one hand, more precisely, can hold and guide with one palm.

With this posture, it’s easy for mom to control, adjust, correct her grip on her breasts, stir up the “lazy pine”, as she has the other arm free.

This position is perfect for stagnation of milk in the lateral and lower segments of the mammary gland.

Also, if a woman has already formed nipple cracks on one side, then changing the pose, where the baby's chin is directed in the opposite direction, will make feeding less painful and facilitate healing of the cracks.

Natural Attachment (Australian Pose)

This is more likely not a pose, but a technique of self-attachment of a newborn baby, which helps the baby to grab the breast correctly, and the mother to relax while feeding or even to nap.

The methodology suggests that the mother should take off her clothes from the upper half of the body and allow the baby to find the chest himself and kiss in the way that suits him.

Mom’s position - reclining on her back with support on the head of the bed or pillow. The baby lies on his mother stomach to stomach. With a little help from his mother, he finds a nipple and is applied to his chest. This is self-attachment.

In the future, the baby's head can be held with a hand bent at the elbow joint. And put a pillow under your arm.

Very often, mothers of newborns ask the question: “What should I do if milk from my chest pours quickly and the baby does not have time to cope with this flow, is naughty at the chest?”

Self-attachment solves this issue, with such a horizontal position, the flow of milk will be less.

Another way to slightly reduce the flow of milk is to express it a little and apply the baby when the milk starts to flow less quickly. This option is suitable if your mother has a lot of milk.

Do I need to drink the baby with water?

If the baby is breast-fed, then it is not necessary to give him extra water. It is believed that up to six months, the child on natural feeding does not need additional drinking and the introduction of complementary foods.

Breast milk can quench both thirst and hunger of a child. Front milk acts as a drink, as it contains more water and less fat than rear milk.

Sometimes water is needed according to indications, for example, if the baby has problems with stools. Specific recommendations on this subject will give your pediatrician.

Dummy, bottle and other nipple substitutes ...

If you want to feed your baby breast milk for a long time and successfully, then you should not offer him "substitutes" in the form of a dummy, a bottle.

The fact is that sucking these devices does not at all resemble a breast sucking. When the baby is sucking, the nipple is in the soft palate. When sucking a dummy, its top does not reach this zone. The child gets used to the wrong sucking.

If a child sucks a dummy, then his grip often deteriorates. Further, in the process of sucking, the baby "slides onto the nipple." Feeding when a baby sucks only a nipple is ineffective and very painful for mom.

It is easier for children to suck from a bottle, therefore, if a mother is feeding from a bottle, then sooner or later the child prefers it and refuses to suckle.

Is there enough milk?

During the formation of lactation, milk is not always produced evenly by mom. There are peaks and falls in this process.

At about the 3rd - 4th week of the baby’s life, the mother may experience a decrease in milk production. This is the so-called lactational crisis.

Such a crisis occurs during periods of maximum growth of the child, when the need for milk increases sharply, and the amount of milk produced remains at the same level.

The child at such moments often requires breasts, is naughty. This situation is fixable and does not require specific treatment.

Mom needs to put the baby to her breast more often, eat hard and drink warm drink.

Stimulation of the nipple gives a signal to the woman’s brain that milk should arrive. The hormone prolactin is produced, which triggers and stimulates the production of milk.

Lactation crisis lasts an average of 1-3 weeks.

Moms often have the question of whether the baby has enough milk, whether he eats up.

Briefly, the true signs of milk shortage are:

Small weight gain or child weight loss;
The number of soiled diapers has decreased (the child rarely pees and poops);
The stool of the child is sparse, rare and dense.

If you, having left the baby for a day without disposable diapers, counted 10 or more soiled diapers, then you have no reason to worry about a lack of milk.

Practicing pediatrician and twice mother Elena Borisova-Tsarenok told you how to feed a newborn.

How to breastfeed? There are dozens of doubts of the young mother on this issue. How to attach? What pose to take? When to pick up breasts? How often to give? Can I feed while lying or sitting? On choosing the right position for starting and successfully continuing breastfeeding.

Proper feeding of the infant begins from the moment of its birth. This is the first requirement that WHO makes to employees of maternity hospitals, and which should be brought to the attention of expectant mothers by obstetrician-gynecologists during the period of gestation. During the first thirty minutes of life, the baby should get your breast milk, because it is important for both of you!

The importance of the first application is due to several reasons.

The moment of meeting with mom. During childbirth, the child has come a long and hard way. He is tired, needs the warmth of his mother’s body and the peace that only breast milk can give him. The composition of colostrum, which is already being developed in women at these moments, contains painkillers and hormones that allow the baby to fall asleep calmly after hard work.
Protection against bleeding. Stimulation of the breast by sucking promotes the separation of the placenta in the mother’s body, causing the multiply enlarged uterus to rapidly decrease. This becomes the best and safest way to prevent postnatal bleeding.
The formation of lactation. It is in the first minutes after birth that the female body begins to produce milk. Already, the foundations of lactation, in particular, the amount of food required by the baby, are being laid. The first correct attachment to the chest gives the body a signal: it's time! The most beautiful time in the life of mother and baby begins!

Unfortunately, many maternity hospitals still have outdated approaches to breastfeeding. Women are not taught basic positions, rules of application, which is extremely important for successful feeding. Let us dwell on two postulates of how to properly feed an infant, which is important for every mother to know about.

Basics of applying to the chest

Breastfeeding counselors maintain a position of feeding on demand. This means that the baby should be applied to the chest as many times as necessary.

“Feeding on demand is the most important thing in successful feeding, because only in this case your body will produce enough milk,” said Irina Ryukhova, AKEV breast-feeding consultant. - Supply and demand - these are the main factors stimulating lactation. The more the baby sucks, the more food is for him. ”

Proper feeding of the infant "on demand" is necessary to avoid pumping. The need to express breasts was “invented” in the twentieth century to help women maintain their lactation and protect them from mastitis. The main threat was the need to be applied to the breast by the clock, not more than six times a day.

Today, the complete inconsistency of this approach to the physiology of women and newborns has been proven by numerous studies. The absence of the need to decant if you give the baby a breast every time he needs it, confirmed by WHO recommendations.

rules

Regularly. It is important to offer baby breasts "at first peep." Drop the stereotypes and prejudices that every young mother and grandmothers and experienced aunts actively supply. Their prejudices are formed by the stereotypes of the last century, in which the longest lactation did not exceed four months. Feed the baby when he began to sob, woke up, trying to sleep. In the early days, it will seem to you that you spend all the time with him “in your arms”. Gradually, your regimen will come to ten or twelve feedings during the day.
Day and night. Night feeding is important for stimulating lactation. They maintain a sufficient level of prolactin, which determines the production of breast milk.
One breast. So that the baby is full, do not rush to change the breast during feeding. Try to feed him only one breast in one feeding, as with prolonged sucking of the mammary gland, the baby "gets" to the back milk. It is thicker than the front, it contains fats, nutrients that support satiety. The first liquid milk of the baby is more likely to get drunk than to eat. But it is also necessary to quench the thirst of a child.
Without feeding. Lack of supplementary feeding and dosing with water is the main factor in the question of how to properly breastfeed a newborn. Until he is six months old, he needs nothing but your milk. Dosing and feeding violate the natural intestinal microflora, prolong the process of maturation of the gastrointestinal tract.
No dummies. The nipple, bottle, dummy are the main enemies of full breastfeeding. They form the wrong sucking skills in the baby, which negatively affects the level of lactation, eliminates the full emptying of the breast, creates a risk of injury to the nipples in the mother due to improper grip.

These rules are easy to follow. They only testify that for a successful start and continuation of breastfeeding, mother and baby do not need anything at all other than staying close by.

Equipment

It is believed that nature has laid a sucking reflex in each child, so the baby will surely suck the breast correctly. This is not true. The sucking reflex does exist, but to realize it so that breastfeeding does not cause discomfort in the mother, only the mother can. The baby can suck anything: from the nipple to his finger. But breast sucking is fundamentally different from sucking objects from outsiders.

Proper application during breastfeeding is the foundation of all foundations. Only by learning it, mom will avoid injuring the nipples and the appearance of cracks, many times reduce the risk of congestion and mastitis, or never encounter them at all! Breastfeeding should not be perceived as a source of numerous problems, since problems are caused by a violation of its basic rules.

Let us dwell on the technique of attachment to the chest.

Take the baby in your arms or place it next to you. The baby should lie flat, face turned to the chest.
Swipe the nipple over the lower sponge. A light touch on her prompts the baby to open his mouth. Do not touch the upper sponge, as the child closes his mouth when exposed to it.
Make sure that the mouth is wide open and put the breast into it. To do this, combine two movements. You should push the baby’s head on the nipple and lean forward slightly. “Breast to baby - baby to chest” - GV consultants call this movement. In this case, the location of the nipple in the mouth will be correct.
Inspect the grip. In the oral cavity should be the nipple (it is located in the sky in the mouth of the crumbs) and the main part of the areola. Visually, its edge or protrusion for a couple of centimeters (if the areola of the chest is large) can be noticeable. The baby's lips are turned outward. The chin touches the chest.
Rate your feelings. Proper attachment to the chest eliminates pain during feeding. If you are in pain, it means that only the nipple has captured the baby or damage has already occurred on the skin of the chest as a result of improper grip. The latter is always traumatic, causing the formation of painful cracks. If the skin is slightly damaged, which happens in the first 6-7 weeks of feeding, a mother can feel some soreness only at the beginning of feeding, literally for a few seconds. Then she does not feel pain. Preserving pain requires stopping the feeding, carefully removing the breast from the baby's mouth and offering it again, controlling the correct grip. Pulling the chest is unacceptable. Get your little finger from the corner of your baby’s mouth to loosen it.

Proper attachment ensures silent sucking crumbs. You should hear him swallow. His mouth is always relaxed, and a tongue may appear under his chest.

In these situations, breastfeeding is fraught with damage to the mother’s breast:

the baby sucks loudly, smacking it, makes chewing movements;
only the nipple is in the mouth;
the chin is far from the chest, the child is not located under it, but opposite you;
the mouth is slightly ajar, the lips and cheeks are pulled in;
sponges or gums of the baby are located on the nipple;
you feel pain.

These signs indicate improper attachment. They are dangerous, as they can cause damage to the mother’s breast with the development of inflammatory processes. The mammary glands cannot be fully released, so the question of how to properly breastfeed a newborn, with natural and mixed feeding, is extremely important.

Basic poses

There are at least fifteen breastfeeding positions. There is no need to master everything, although mothers of “adult” six-month-old babies easily use most of them, noting any difficulties. The child can be fed sitting, lying, standing. The main thing is that both of you should be comfortable.

The choice of position for feeding depends on several factors.

The convenience of mom. After childbirth, it is usually difficult for a woman to feed while sitting, pain from tears and sutures is felt. Optimum postures are those in which the mother is lying on her side, and the baby is next to it.
Motion sickness. Babies in their first year of life quickly fall asleep only under their breasts. You can use this advantage for speedy bedding crumbs. A standing pose with uniform swaying of the baby is suitable.
Problem solving. As a rule, feeding in one position provides uniform release of only some milk fractions. In others, located on the other side of the mammary gland, milk stagnation can form, which provokes the development of lactostasis. In order to prevent this or effectively eliminate the already formed lactostasis, you should use unusual positions for you that allow you to release other chest lobes.

Regardless of what the pose of proper attachment to the chest will be, both mom and baby should be comfortable. You can relax and sleep, enjoying each other's company. You can lay on pillows to avoid unpleasant sensations in the back, arms. You can purchase a rocking chair so that you and your baby can rest during feeding.

Sitting

The technique of applying a baby while sitting is considered classic. This is the same "cradle" in which the baby lies with her mother in her crossed arms and peacefully sniffs under her breast.

Prepare a place for feeding, put a pillow under your back. The technique of applying in a sitting position is as follows.

Take the baby in your arms. Place his head on your forearm.
Press the tummy to your stomach. In this case, the legs should be extended, and the ear, shoulder and thigh should be in line. The nose and stomach of the baby look one way.
Hold your baby with one hand. You can fix the ass with the elbow, and the head with the palm of your hand. When positioned correctly, the baby will be under the chest, with the head slightly tilted back. In this case, he will be able to open his mouth wide.
Feed your chest with your free hand. At the same time, place your fingers parallel to the baby’s lips, tighten the skin so that the nipple “looks” at the baby’s nose. Only place your chest in a wide open mouth.

When the baby grabs the mammary gland well, you can correct it in your arms. If the nose rested on the skin, you don’t need to hold it with your finger, so you interfere with the outflow of milk. Lower the baby down a little.

Lying down

The technique of properly feeding a newborn lying down is quickly mastered by each mother. She is the most comfortable, as it allows a woman to fully relax. Feeding and sleeping at the same time is the perfect solution during the day when mom wants to relax. At night, the pose will be the key to a restful sleep of the whole family.

Lie down on a bed or sofa. Ideal when there is a support behind. Avoid leaning on your elbow so you quickly feel uncomfortable. Place a pillow under your head and relax.
Put the baby on the side on the side. His body should be like a straight line. Hold it against your stomach, lower it slightly below your chest so that the head is raised up. Hold crumbs under the shoulder blades.
Touch the nipple of the lower sponge, wait until the baby opens its mouth wide. Insert your chest into your mouth with your free hand, pushing it with your thumb.
Change your hand to fix the baby when he takes his chest well. It is convenient to grab it with the same hand on which you just lay. So you will hold both the shoulder blades and the baby’s ass.

In each case, you should stop feeding if it hurts you. Loosen the grip of the breast with your little finger, and attach the baby again.

The question of how to breastfeed a baby involves many nuances. But dealing with them is easy. With experience, understanding comes that feeding is not at all the “hard work” that our grandmothers represent it. A real pleasure and the possibility of a comfortable stay with your baby.

Breastfeeding is one of the most important links in the proper development and health of the baby.

It is not surprising that most mothers tend to breastfeed their baby as long as possible, spending several hours a day on this procedure. In order for this process to bring both mother and baby only joy and pleasure, you need to choose the right posture for feeding newborns.

What are they like?

What poses should be preferred depending on the situation?

In this article, we will reveal all the secrets of proper breastfeeding.

Feeding Poses

The Cradle Pose

Pose cradle

This is the most famous posture for breastfeeding, when the baby is in her mother’s arms, as in a cozy crib. Consider how to keep the baby while feeding in the cradle position:

the baby’s head should be placed on the elbow of the arm, located on the same side as the chest, to which the baby will be applied;
with the brush of the same hand it is necessary to support the back or ass of the baby;
the palm of the other hand should be located in the lumbar region of the child;
mom should turn the newborn to her and press him to her belly.

There is another variation of this posture called the Cross Crib. Its differences are as follows.

The baby’s body is completely located on the forearm of the mother’s bent arm, which with the hand of this arm supports him just below the back;
With the palm of her second hand she must hold the baby’s head.

Cross crib

Holding the baby in the “cradle” pose, the mother herself can take different positions:

sit in an armchair or chair;
sitting on a bed or floor with legs crossed in Turkish;
sit on a fitball;
stand or walk around the room.

The last two poses are used if the mother is also trying to rock the baby so that he quickly falls asleep.

It should be noted that for a woman all varieties of “cradle” are considered not the most convenient postures for feeding a newborn. If the process lasts more than 15 minutes, then her back may begin to hurt and her hands become numb. To alleviate these symptoms, she is advised to lie back in the chair and often change the arm holding the child.

Important! For greater convenience, when seated, a pillow can be placed under the bent arm on which the baby’s weight is held. There is even a special pillow on sale - a boomerang with ties at the back, which allow it to be fixed under the mother’s chest.

The baby in the “cradle” position feels comfortable and safe, can tightly grip the nipple and hold it tightly during the entire feeding. In this position, he quickly eats up, and the heat from his mother’s body warms his tummy, which improves the digestion process.

Pose From the Hand

The pose for feeding from the armpits gives mom more freedom, because the baby does not need to be held in her arms. It should be put on the side at hand at mom's. The baby's body must be placed perpendicular to the mother (legs should go behind her back). In this case, the child’s head should be in the direction of the mother’s knees. It is best to place a pillow or folded blanket under the baby so that his head is at the level of the nipple.

This position is perfect for feeding with lactostasis, since in this position it provides complete removal of milk from the middle and lower segments of the mammary glands. Also, the “out of hand” position is recommended to be used:

after cesarean section;
women with large breasts;
women with flat nipples;
when feeding twins.

Mom can sit or recline on the bed, leaning on her elbow. Use your bent hand to hold the baby’s head. Also, with this position, you can sit in a chair with wide armrests.

Pose "Hanging"

Not very comfortable, but quite useful position for feeding. The child needs to be put on the bed, turning it slightly on the side. Mom should stand near the baby on all fours, as if hanging over him. In this position, the milk descends to the bottom of the chest and leads to swelling of the nipple.

This posture is suitable for the prevention of all types of lactostasis (Important article on the topic: Lactostasis in a nursing mother \u003e\u003e\u003e). Also, this position needs to be mastered by those who ask the question: "How to breastfeed?"

Lying Pose

In this position, both the mother and the newborn lie on the bed, facing each other. Mom's head should be on a pillow or lean on a bent arm. The baby’s head can be located on the elbow of the mother’s arm or on a specially laid pillow. With the other hand you can:

to press the crumb to itself;
stroking his back;
hold your chest.

When getting to know how to properly feed a newborn with breast milk while lying down, it is important to remember that it must be located on its side. If only his head is turned, this will greatly complicate the process of swallowing milk. For better fixation of the baby, you can put a special roller on the side under his back.

The convenience of this position is that the baby can be fed with one and the other breasts, without turning over and shifting. To feed the upper breast, the mother only needs to turn more to the side, slightly bending over the baby.

Another variation of the “lying” pose is the arrangement of the mother and child with the “jack”. This is considered a very useful posture for feeding with lactostasis, since in this way the baby's chin is directed towards the upper segments of the mammary glands, which contributes to a more complete emptying of this area from the milk and prevents its stagnation.

The lying position is convenient for use:

at night time;
with a long feeding process;
after cesarean section.

Pose "The child is sitting"

During feeding, the mother needs to support the newborn with one hand by the head or back, and with the other hand - slightly raise or hold her breast.

A similar arrangement for feeding is suitable in such cases:

a child older than 6 months;
the baby often spits up;
the baby has a stuffy nose or ear pain;
milk flows from the chest very strongly;
the newborn swallows a lot of milk.

Since in this position the baby is not very closely pressed to her mother and has a wide range of visions, he can often be distracted. It is necessary to ensure that the baby constantly sucks milk and does not allow it to turn its head strongly.

For mom, this pose is convenient in that it allows her to significantly reduce the load on her hands (at six months of age, children weigh about 8 kg). But, on the other hand, with this arrangement, the child will not be able to rise or transfer to another place without interrupting the feeding process.

Pose “From Above on Mom”

This position has several other names:

australian
self-attachment;
relaxed feeding.

Breastfeeding pose “From above on mom”

It can be considered another variety of ways to breastfeed while lying down. Mom needs to lie on the bed (it is better to put several pillows under the head and under the arms), and put the baby on top of her stomach. The kid himself will intuitively find the nipple, the mother should only support him and slightly guide.

This pose allows the woman to relax and rest while feeding. It is also recommended for hyperlactation or a strong flow of milk. In the position "on top of the mother" the child will not choke, because the pressure of milk will significantly weaken.

Rules for a comfortable posture for feeding

In order for mother and baby to be comfortable during feeding, the following factors must be taken into account

In any position, the baby's body should be in the same plane. It is important to ensure that the head, chest, abdomen and legs are turned on one side. Otherwise, the muscle may occur in the newborn, which leads to difficulty swallowing;
The head must not be allowed to be excessively tilted or tilted forward. Mom with a hand should correctly fix the baby's head. However, do not press it too hard, because many children may not like it;
It is necessary to ensure that the baby's mouth is always at the level of the nipple. You also need to watch so that the baby can breathe freely with food;
It is important to remember that you need to put the child to the chest, and not to bend over to it;
During feeding, mom needs to get as comfortable as possible. It is necessary to sit straight, without warping to one side. It is recommended that you lean your back against a vertical surface. Use pillows, folded blankets, or large towels. They need to be placed under the lower back, back or arms, so that with prolonged feeding to avoid the occurrence of pain;
When using the feeding position while lying on your side, it is advisable to put a special roller under your back, and hold a thick sofa cushion between your legs.

Improper positioning of a woman or baby when he is eating can lead to various problems, such as:

the appearance of cracks in the nipples;
swallowing air;
the occurrence of stagnation in the mammary glands.

In an uncomfortable position, it will be difficult for the baby to suck out milk, so he can get tired earlier than he has time to eat and remains hungry.

There is no one correct posture for feeding a newborn suitable for continuous use. It is recommended to change the position of the child during the day. This has important practical meaning, since this ensures the emptying of all segments of the breast and prevents the occurrence of stagnation of milk.