When the baby is born, he is put to the breast. How should you apply it so that the baby gets maximum milk without causing pain to the mother? How does mom know how to do this? It turns out that the child knows himself ! There is a set of reflexes that help the baby latch on to the breast exactly as needed, so as not to cause pain to the mother and to get maximum milk. They can be used while the baby is still small in order to achieve correct attachment, as well as when refusing the breast - in order to convince the child to take the breast if he refuses it, or has not even seen it for two months (especially applies to premature babies) . This technique usually works after birth, unless the baby is medicated and alert. She works with children up to 3-4 months, especially with premature babies, whose reflexes wake up later. Often used in the USA. A consultant who has had great success using this technique is Christina Smiley. To illustrate the technique, I present still frames from a wonderful video created by Ameda (see link to the video below).
Why pump your breasts?
Expressing milk from the breast can be of two types: for the sake of the breast or for the sake of milk.
Pumping for the sake of the breast is needed when the supply (production) of milk exceeds the demand (needs of the baby). The milk comes in, but there is no one to suck it out. Perhaps mom is at work or breastfeeding is over. For prevention, you need to express without fanaticism, only when you feel discomfort (lumps), only until this discomfort disappears. We must not forget that as much milk will come as was spent.
Manually expressing breast milk - how to do it correctly? Advice for parents – Union of Pediatricians of Russia
Immediately after giving birth, a woman does not have milk, but she does have colostrum, a colorless liquid that appears in the breasts in the second trimester of pregnancy. Colostrum contains a huge amount of useful substances in concentrated form. They are able to protect the newborn from infectious diseases and intestinal disorders, and allow the baby to organize full-fledged immune protection. Colostrum is 100% absorbed by the baby. It is very important that the baby receives his first food as quickly as possible, because during pregnancy he is accustomed to the fact that food is supplied to him around the clock, without any effort, that he does not know such a feeling of hunger and is afraid of these new, unpleasant sensations.
Early attachment of a newborn to the mother's breast is of particular importance for women. During the process of sucking, the production of a special hormone oxytocin is activated in the female body, which promotes contraction of the uterus and prevents postpartum bleeding. In addition, the formation of the hormone prolactin, which is responsible for the amount of breast milk, is triggered.
This is why the first breastfeeding, which ideally should occur within half an hour after birth, is so important for both the baby and his mother. It’s great if the baby receives about 50 ml of colostrum. Therefore, take your time, feed your little miracle properly, let him understand that he has come to a cozy and kind world.
How to breastfeed your baby correctly?
A newborn who has just been born does not know or understand how he should now receive nutrition, because before everything happened by itself, but what now? It should be noted that during pregnancy, all babies master the general principle of sucking. Also, while in their mother’s tummy, they suck their fingers and fists, developing a sucking reflex. Therefore, immediately after birth, the baby instinctively opens its mouth, sticks out its tongue, trying to find a source of food. This is where the mother must put the baby to her breast, filled with colostrum. Moreover, it is important to do this in such a way that the baby and you feel comfortable. With proper latching on the breast, the baby will never injure you and will not swallow air. Therefore, it is advisable to master feeding techniques while still in the maternity hospital. How to properly breastfeed a newborn:
- Step 1. Take a comfortable position. You can feed your baby while sitting, lying down or standing. It is important to follow the basic rule - the torso and face of the newborn must be in the same plane. It is advisable for mom to relax, the main thing is calm and comfort. You can put pillows under your back or cover yourself with a blanket if it’s cool, because feeding takes quite a long time. How to breastfeed a baby while lying down? Yes, just like sitting, the basic principles remain the same.
- Step 2. We take the baby, holding him tightly to us, the head should be opposite the chest, the mouth should be at the level of the areola (brown circle around the nipple). Make sure that the baby's head is not thrown back and that the shoulders do not sag between your arms. , the other to feed and guide the chest.
- Step 3. Start feeding. Using your thumb and index finger, we squeeze the areola of the breast from which we will give milk, achieving the appearance of a fold. We place it parallel to the baby’s lips. We pass the tip of the nipple along the baby's lips, wait until he opens his mouth wide, making sure that his tongue lies on the lower gum, and at this moment we pull him towards us, putting the areola deeper into his mouth. Please note that we are not bringing the breast closer to the baby, but bringing him closer to ourselves.
- Step 4. Feed. After the baby begins to eat vigorously, you can remove your fingers from the areola and relax. In the first days, you will have to start feeding several times, since the baby will turn his head, lose his breasts, and fall asleep while feeding. It is important to patiently and persistently insert the areola into his mouth, at least a centimeter. Then the baby, while eating, will put pressure on the path of milk, stimulating its production. Remember that the baby will learn to eat properly only by the second or third week, and a stable skill will be formed by two or three months.
Technique.
A child is taken, calm, hungry, but not too hungry, and not sleeping. Mom is also calm , has renounced all problems, sits comfortably reclining (for example, in a chair). The mother holds the child in her hands, talks to him, strokes him, looks into his eyes, thinks about how wonderful her child is. The child is naked (except for a diaper or completely naked). If it’s cold, you can cover yourself with a blanket (you can also unbutton the baby’s clothes so that skin-to-skin contact remains, but of course it’s better if the baby is naked or only in a diaper).
The mother places the baby vertically between her breasts, head above the chest. Mom's breasts are naked (it is very important that the naked child is adjacent to the mother's naked body!!!). The mother, reclining, always firmly supports him by the butt and hips, with the other hand on the shoulders (but not on the head!), creating a confident atmosphere. The child feels that his position in space is stable. That he's safe. Mom enjoys the child. Communicates with him affectionately, with love. He strokes it with his whole hand, not with his fingers. So he lies there, feeling his mother’s love, unity with her , acceptance of him, gentle interaction, for some time. Maybe 5 minutes, maybe 40 minutes. If it's cold, you can cover the mother and baby together with a blanket. It is very important that mother and child enjoy each other, they feel good and comfortable, nothing bothers them. Then the child, excited by the fantastic closeness with the mother, the smell of her body, touches, the smell of milk, groups up (pulls up his legs and arms), this means that he is preparing for feeding. He begins to poke his head into his mother in search of a breast. He begins to move a little to the side and down, continuing to poke at his mother. Mom helps him move, but only a little. Mom encourages him with her voice, supports him, maintaining a confident position, and at the same time freedom of movement, especially the head. It is not the mother who leads, but the child who leads - this is his innate instincts of searching for the breast. He slowly moves down and finds the nipple by the smell of milk. The nipple touches the baby's upper lip, then he reflexively opens his mouth wide and takes it. It is very important that the child does this himself and at his own request. It happens that it doesn’t work right away, the baby “gets lost” at the breast and gets upset, or latches incorrectly, painfully. In this case (in case of discomfort, pain), be sure to
you need to gently lift him back, calm him down and wait until the baby starts poking and looking for the breast again, and go all the way first.
In order for the technique to work, you must start over every time .
Maybe you need 5, 6 tries. When the baby has already taken the breast, during feeding try to press the baby's shoulders closer to you so that the head tilts back a little. It is advisable that the chin be pressed against mother's chest, then the mouth will open wider. A wonderful YouTube video created by the breast pump manufacturer Ameda illustrates self-attachment from about 2 minutes 40 seconds. The still images above are taken from this video. Unfortunately, the language of the video is English. Video address https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zln0LTkejIs&feature=channel_page
Another variation of the self-application method (on Suzanne Colson's website, see about her). Suzanne Colson calls this process biological nurturing .
About this wonderful way of feeding, which activates the newborn's reflexes and makes them work to help the mother, and activates maternal behavior, appropriate hormones, self-confidence and joy from motherhood in the mother. Details: https://www.gvinfo.ru/bn
How often should you breastfeed your baby?
The answer to this question worries all young mothers. Everything is simple here. In the first days, when the baby is just born, his ventricle is still very small and poorly adapted to feeding. Colostrum is absorbed very quickly and a feeling of hunger sets in. Have you noticed that the baby begins to cry, open his mouth, stick out his tongue, and try to suck his fist? It's time to put him to the breast, let him eat, don't finish feeding until he interrupts it himself. It is recommended to organize such a diet during the first 5 days after birth. On average, it turns out that the baby eats 15-20 times a day. Do not intentionally wake the baby, let everything around him coincide with his own rhythm. Around the fifth day, mommy will have a significant supply of milk and can already switch to the diet recommended by experts, approximately 10-12 times a day.
How to choose a position for feeding your baby
The mother's position is also very important. You need to find a comfortable position, as feeding can last up to 40 minutes and longer if the baby is weak and premature. At the very beginning, in order to avoid incorrect positioning of the baby and poor latching on the breast, you need to feed the baby while sitting or lying on its side - these are the most physiological ways.
Baby feeding positions that should be preferred
For convenience, you can use modern devices such as a feeding pillow. With its help, you can free your hands and ease the load on your back.
Once the correct grip and effective feeding are well mastered, you can experiment and try different feeding positions that will make mother and baby as comfortable as possible.
In fact, there is nothing difficult about latching the nipple correctly; children often do everything on their own as needed. Mommy will be able to master this skill in the first days after giving birth while still in the maternity hospital, when she begins to feed her baby. And in the future, all that remains is to consolidate the correct breastfeeding and enjoy motherhood.
How long should you breastfeed your baby?
The optimal period for breastfeeding a child is 2 years. Previously, pediatricians insisted that a baby should be weaned off the breast every year, but today we are talking about two years. We can conclude that this decision is largely individual. There are no hard deadlines. As the baby grows, the composition of mother's milk changes, it adapts to the child's body, the amount of nutrients in it is sufficient to satisfy the needs of the growing body. Of course, starting from 6 months, additional nutrition, juices, purees, etc. are necessarily introduced. But it is not at all necessary to deny a baby breast milk if the mother has it. The end of breastfeeding varies from family to family. Trust your intuition, but try to feed your little treasure yourself for at least six months.
To watch a video with detailed expert instructions on successful breastfeeding, you can purchase our course
Young mothers, remember the main thing - the best, perfectly balanced food for a baby is breast milk. Don't worry that breastfeeding will ruin your figure and will prevent you from losing the weight you gained during pregnancy. These are all myths.
Breastfeeding is the key to the health of not only the baby, but also the excellent health and amazing beauty of his mother!
Whether a mother will be able to breastfeed her baby for a long time and with pleasure largely depends on how she does it in the first week after giving birth. Our tips will help you get through the difficult period of starting lactation without hassle.
When to start feeding your newborn
Surely, you have more than once watched with emotion videos in which newly born baby animals, hobbling on legs trembling from weakness or funny moving their paws, reach for their mother’s nipple. These tiny, often still blind lumps are controlled by a powerful force - the thirst for life. This is how nature ordered it.
And the health of the little man largely depends on how quickly after birth he is put to the breast
. The colostrum released in the first hours is a real mother’s blessing for her baby to lead an independent life. This is a powerful amulet against many infectious (and other) diseases and an invaluable source of nutrients.
Unfortunately, colostrum very quickly loses its beneficial properties, remaining just a high-calorie food after just a few hours. Therefore, for many years, the World Health Organization has strongly recommended that all babies be put to the breast immediately after birth. Not for feeding - for a healthy future
.
Not all children, being in a state of postpartum stress, are able to immediately actively suck. Don't worry: the first tiny drops of colostrum are easily released when you press on the areola. The baby will just have to lick them off. Then he will sleep soundly for several hours, resting after a difficult period of childbirth. But when should a mother start to really feed him, teaching him to latch on correctly - read.
How to properly attach a baby to the breast
With the correct latching technique, feeding does not cause any difficulties for either the mother or the baby. Please note: the baby will latch onto the nipple correctly if he not only has his mouth open, but also his tongue is stuck out a little forward and curved in a boat shape. Then he will accept mother’s breasts tenderly, as if in folded palms, and he will suck on them so that the movements of his rough tongue will give mother unearthly pleasure.
The technique of proper breastfeeding is described in detail. Compliance with it will 99% protect a woman from the formation of monstrously painful nipple cracks, from lactostasis and mastitis. And the baby will not suffer from intestinal colic and endless regurgitation.
Why proper nipple latching is important
Proper attachment of the baby to the breast ensures:
- Complete emptying of the mammary gland. This is a prevention of mastitis and stagnation.
- The baby eats a lot of milk - this guarantees good weight gain and normal development.
- There are no problems with insufficient lactation, since the milk is consumed completely and then produced again in the required volume - the “supply and demand” principle operates flawlessly.
- Mom does not experience pain or discomfort during the feeding process.
- Cracks will not appear on the nipples.
If the baby is not latched correctly, problems with lactation cannot be avoided, since the baby will eat less and milk will be produced according to demand. In addition, breast pain and cracked nipples will become constant companions for a nursing mother.
How to properly remove the nipple from your baby's mouth
In fact, the baby does not suck milk, but presses the skin of the nipple and areola to the palate, while actively moving the tongue in the direction from the gums to the pharynx. That is, the milk is, as it were, squeezed out of the milk passages, and very quickly, since a negative pressure is created in the oral cavity, which has a strong suction property. If at this time you try to remove the breast from the child, removing the nipple from the mouth, you will most likely achieve nothing but severe and painful overstretching of the areola skin. As a result, nipple cracks form, heal poorly and quickly increase due to constant skin irritation with frequent feedings.
How to take breasts from a toddler without unpleasant consequences? The easiest way is to slightly open his gums by entering through the corner of his mouth with the tip of your finger.
. Air will enter the oral cavity through the gap that forms, and the pressure will equalize. All you have to do is apply a little pressure on the skin of the breast near the baby’s lips so that the nipple pops out on its own.
The second option is slower - press lightly on the baby’s chin and hold it there.
. You will feel how your finger prevents it from pressing hard on your gums and pressing your tongue against the roof of your mouth. With each movement of the lower jaw, the suction force will decrease, and soon the baby will release the nipple on its own.
Often mothers try to hold the baby’s nose so that he, gasping for breath, opens his mouth and releases his breast. This is not physiological and can be dangerous for the baby
. Children breathe very quickly (at least 40 breaths per minute) and do not know how to hold their breath. Imagine what will happen if the baby feels a lack of oxygen at the moment when there is a lot of milk in his mouth? By abruptly throwing the chest, he can take a strong breath, aspirating (inhaling) food into the lungs. As a result, at the very least, a suffocating cough attack that frightens the mother cannot be avoided, and in the worst case scenario, the baby will develop aspiration pneumonia.
What else to pay attention to when breastfeeding newborns
There are a number of other signs that breastfeeding is going well:
- During sucking, a wave-like movement of the tongue should occur simultaneously with the movement of the lower jaw.
- At the very beginning of feeding, babies suckle quickly, achieving a rush. As the milk begins to flow, the sucking becomes slow and deep.
- Short pauses during feeding indicate that the milk is flowing well and freely.
- The baby's cheeks should be rounded, not pulled inward.
- If the baby is full and there is enough milk, the nipple will come out of the mouth in a round shape, not flattened.
Often mothers give their babies bottles and pacifiers from the very first days. It is not right! Sucking on these baby gadgets is completely different from proper breastfeeding. This can confuse the baby and make it very difficult to latch on to the nipple effectively and correctly.
How often to feed a newborn
Today, on-demand feeding is recognized as optimal for newborns.
. That is, the mother gives the baby breast every time he gets hungry. How to determine whether he really wants to eat - see.
After birth, the baby's stomach volume is approximately 2 ml. Every day it increases, reaching 70 ml by the end of the week. This means that at first, even despite the high calorie content of colostrum, the baby will ask to eat very often. We'll have to be patient. By the time of discharge from the maternity hospital home, the interval between feedings will be from 1.5 to 2.5 hours
.
What does it depend on:
- on gestational age, maturity, weight of the child;
- on his temperament (there are lazy children or active suckers);
- on the baby’s health condition.
How long to feed a newborn
Uniform recommendations for infants over 2 weeks - no more than 40 minutes
. It has been proven that the baby drinks about 90% of milk in the first 5 minutes, and then simply satisfies his need for sucking. The exception is the so-called “lazy suckers”, for whom the characteristics of temperament or health do not allow them to actively work. But even these babies, if you wake them up well before feeding, fill up in 7-10 minutes, then fall asleep soundly and only lick the nipple or passively swallow the milk squeezed into their mouth. No matter how many months the mother has been breastfeeding, if the areola is irritated for longer than 40 minutes, there is a risk of nipple cracks.
For newborns the rule is different. The babies are still weak, their stomach volume is small, and colostrum is very high in calories. A woman’s breast skin is delicate and sensitive – the risk of cracks is the highest. Therefore, 5 minutes are allocated for active sucking in the first two days, 10 on the third, then you can add 5 minutes every day, gradually reaching 40. If mommy knows whether her baby is actively sucking or is just playing around, you can follow this advice: wait until he is full, give him another 5 minutes to enjoy and wean him.
Correction of improper nipple latching
If the baby has already attached to the breast, and the mother notices that the nipple latch is incorrect, then it can be corrected. To do this, you need to carefully remove the breast from the baby's mouth.
You cannot pull the nipple outward by force: it hurts and promotes cracks. The easiest way is to gently insert your little finger into the corner of the baby's mouth. This will release the vacuum and the baby will release the nipple. After this, you can breastfeed again, following the feeding rules.
If the baby's lips are rolled up, they can be carefully turned out without taking him away from the breast. This action will immediately make it easier for the baby to suck.
Sometimes it’s enough just to press the baby closer to your body or gently lower him a little lower. The baby's head will tilt back more, the mouth will open wider and the grip will become correct.
Should I feed my newborn at night?
The first few months after birth - definitely feed. Circadian rhythms (including daily routine and food intake), according to which all people live, are developed gradually. For babies, it makes no difference what time is on the clock, whether the moon is shining or the sun. In their life, the main thing is the needs of their body, among which hunger is one of the most powerful. Without satisfying it, he will not be able to fall asleep (and will not let you), and will not develop properly.
At home, children begin to sleep 6 or more hours at night between the ages of 4 and 11 months (again, this is very individual). Therefore, there is only one piece of advice: follow the baby’s needs. Save the night feedings until he wakes up for a really big meal. If you notice that he sucks reluctantly, quickly falls asleep without eating the usual portion, it’s time to give water instead of milk and after a few days stop feeding at night altogether.
Should I give my newborn baby water?
For a baby, the only “native” and safest source of both food and liquid is mother’s milk. A healthy baby does not need supplemental water
. Therefore, taking the initiative immediately after childbirth, asking for a bottle, and even more so boiling water yourself, will harm your child.
In the maternity hospital, a pediatrician may advise drinking water in the following situations:
- dehydration of the child due to too high room temperature (more often in the summer heat);
- the need to help the baby cope with.
After being discharged home, as long as the little one is exclusively breastfed, the only reason to give him water is his overheating.
Is it possible to feed formula to a newborn?
Can. You can give me smoked sausage and pickled cucumber. And pamper them with oranges on the occasion of their birth. The result will still be approximately the same: many hours of screaming due to painful intestinal colic, diathesis and problems with stool. Because ANY food other than breast milk is completely foreign to a baby. It takes time for his intestines and immune system to mature and be ready to accept other foods. Have you seen animals push away their young, giving them to other mothers-nurses: a dog to a horse, a cat to a goat? Why should a healthy little person from a healthy mother be fed a formula based on cow's milk? No comments needed.
There are very few situations in which a woman who has given birth does not have milk, or there are long-term medical contraindications for breastfeeding. Not a single richest laboratory in the World has been able to invent an artificial substitute for mother's milk that matches it in value. Only breastfeeding for at least 6 months will provide the baby with physical and mental health, and his mother - a volcano of unforgettable positive emotions.
The period of breastfeeding is an important stage in a child’s life, because it is during this period that the intestines are populated with specific microflora and the immune system is being formed. How physiologically these processes will proceed depends on how correctly the feeding technique is carried out.
One of the most important issues is how to properly attach a newborn to the breast. Let's look at it from all sides.
Preparation for the process
1. Prepare the mammary glands.
Before each time you put your baby to the breast, it is important to wash not only the nipple itself, but also the areola around it with baby soap, then rinse the nipple with running water and pat dry with a clean towel. This must be done in order to mechanically remove those microorganisms that live on human skin. Women who do not properly treat their breasts risk creating gastrointestinal problems for their child. For example, Staphylococcus aureus, which often enters the child’s intestines from the surface of an unprepared mammary gland, can lead to a severe form of dysbiosis that is difficult to treat with drugs.
2. Stimulate lactogenesis (more milk production).
Drink a cup of hot tea 15–20 minutes before feeding. It is desirable that this be a special herbal mixture to improve lactation (with rose hips, anise, fennel). You can prepare this tea yourself at home or purchase it at a pharmacy.
Contrast shower of the mammary glands immediately before feeding stimulates the milk ducts and increases lactogenesis.
In moments of feeding
Concentrate on the process: do not be distracted by watching TV shows or talking with relatives. If there is enough milk, then the baby should receive it at one feeding only from one breast. If there is not enough milk, then you can offer the baby the second breast. In this case, it is important to start subsequent feeding with the breast that the baby received last and only then apply the baby to the fuller one.
Feeding the baby should be done strictly on demand. It is important to apply it to the breast at night, and in no case resort to formula feeding at this time.
Feeding algorithm
1. Provoke the baby to latch on to the nipple.
A hungry child has a heightened search reflex. To provoke it, it is enough to “tickle” the skin near the corner of the baby’s mouth a little with the nipple, who will immediately open his lips and look for the breast offered to him by his mother.
2. Make sure your baby is latching on correctly.
Not only the nipple, but also the areola should enter the baby’s mouth. It is important that the grip is as tight as possible. During the feeding process, the mother should pay special attention to this, because otherwise the baby will suffer from frequent regurgitation and intestinal colic, and the woman risks developing painful cracked nipples. To achieve the correct latch, you need to offer the breast to the baby not superficially, putting only the nipple into his oral cavity, but insert the gland more confidently and completely. A nursing woman should not hear any whistling sounds characteristic of improper sucking.
3. Monitor the act of feeding, namely:
- Does the child accompany sucking movements with swallowing movements? Physiologically, the child makes 7–8 sucking movements, after which he takes a short break and resumes the process. For every 4–5 sucking movements, the baby makes one swallow. If the act of swallowing occurs much less frequently or does not occur at all, you need to pay attention to the amount of milk and assess whether there is a deficiency.
- Are the nasal passages of the baby blocked? It is important to ensure that the mammary gland does not block the child’s nasal passages. Cases have been described in which women who fell asleep while breastfeeding deprived their children of the ability to breathe, which led to tragic consequences.
- So that the baby actually eats and does not sleep at the breast. A baby who is properly attached to the breast receives the bulk of milk during the first 10-15 minutes of active sucking. After this time, much less milk enters the ducts. It takes about 20-25 minutes for a child to fully eat. It is not advisable to keep the baby at the breast for more than half an hour; it is better to offer him to eat later, when he feels hungry again.
After feeding
After the baby has eaten, gently pull the breast toward you and remove it from the baby’s mouth (by the end of feeding, the baby is usually asleep). To avoid injury to the delicate skin of the nipple and the appearance of cracks, it is recommended to lubricate it with oil (baby, vaseline, peach) or a specialized product that restores the lipid layer of the skin (for example, Bepanten cream or ointment).
If the baby does not fall asleep during feeding, then to prevent regurgitation, it is necessary to keep him in an upright position for some time (10–15 minutes).
Nipple latching rules
How to properly breastfeed a newborn? To ensure proper nipple latching, you need to give your baby the breast correctly. It is especially important to do this at the very beginning, when mother and baby are just getting used to the new process. Further, correct feeding will be obtained automatically. Three main rules for nipple latching:
Asymmetrical nipple capture
It is necessary to achieve such a grip that the nipple rests against the baby's palate. In this position, sucking will be more effective and strong. To do this, you need to give the breast in such a way that the nipple “looks” up, and not directly into the baby’s mouth. In this case, you need to make sure that the areola is completely in the child’s mouth from below, and just peeks out from above.
Asymmetrical nipple capture
The child's tongue is located on the gum
When the baby's tongue is positioned on the gum, the compression of the nipple is not so strong, and mommy does not experience pain when feeding. It is very important! Breastfeeding doesn't have to hurt! In addition, the wave-like movements of the tongue during sucking help squeeze milk out of the nipple more efficiently. In this position, the tongue moves freely inside the mouth, it is not pinched by the gums, and milk flows easily without difficulty. It is very difficult to track exactly this moment in feeding. The correct position of the tongue is indicated by the fact that it can sometimes protrude.
Important point: Sometimes a child simply physically cannot stick out his tongue so that it reaches the gums. This indicates a short frenulum. In this state of affairs, it will never be possible to achieve proper nipple latching. The baby will eat little milk because sucking is ineffective, and mommy will suffer pain with each feeding.
How do you know if your child has a short frenulum? It's easy to do. While the baby is awake, you need to lightly press his lower lip with your finger. The baby will open his mouth and stick out his tongue.
Short bridle. The tongue does not protrude far and does not extend beyond the lips and gums
The bridle is of normal length. The tongue protrudes outside the mouth, the tip is curved, resembling a heart.
If the child's frenulum is short, then this problem must be solved. One solution is a small operation - pruning. Today it is done using a laser. In any case, it is necessary to consult a pediatrician about this and receive appropriate recommendations.
The baby's mouth is wide open, the chin is pressed to the chest
When latching on correctly, the newborn's mouth is always open very wide. In this case, the baby’s lips are turned outward. This is the only way the baby can grasp not only the nipple, but also the areola, so that the sucking process occurs more efficiently and the milk flows out more easily. In order for the baby to open his mouth wider, you need to give the breast not at a right angle to the baby’s mouth, but keep the nipple approximately at the level of his nose. So, the baby will open his mouth much wider, and the grip will be correct.
If the baby cannot open his mouth wide enough, perhaps he is simply uncomfortable in this position. To solve the problem, you can slightly change your body position
If these three rules are followed, then you can be sure that feeding is happening effectively.
Sometimes such a phenomenon as self-attachment is very relevant. It lies in the fact that newborns have reflexes with which they will take the breast themselves and do it perfectly correctly. You can experiment and let the baby grab the nipple himself as he sees fit. The main thing is to be patient and gentle during the process.
How to understand that the baby has latched onto the breast correctly
A baby, properly attached to the breast, calms down and does not make chaotic movements with his arms and legs. He actively sucks milk, making one swallowing movement for several sucking movements. Nothing interferes with his nasal breathing. The nipple and areola of the mother's breast are tightly covered by the baby's lips; there are no pathological sounds (whistles, grunts, snoring) during feeding.
If suddenly something goes wrong and some of these conditions are not met, do not panic. Carefully remove the breast from the baby's mouth and offer it again. The chest should be presented confidently, and the baby’s lips should cover it tightly.
Causes of improper latch on of the mammary gland by a child
1. The baby is offered only the nipple.
The mother needs to place the breast in the baby’s mouth in such a way that he can also grasp the areola.
2. Nasal breathing is blocked by the gland.
3. Flat nipple.
Many breastfeeding women face this problem. Due to anatomical features, the female nipple can be very small (flat): the child cannot grasp it at all, or after grasping it, the nipple slips out of the baby’s mouth. A solution to the problem can be special silicone pads used to organize physiological feeding of the child.
4. The baby has a short frenulum of the tongue.
It is difficult for the child to make both grasping and sucking movements. The condition may be suspected by the mother or pediatrician after examination and confirmed after consultation with a dentist.
5. Congenital anomalies of the child’s maxillofacial apparatus.
These include cleft of the upper or lower lip, cleft of the hard and soft palate, as well as other congenital defects of the maxillofacial apparatus. It is often impossible to correct the baby's breast latch in such cases. Feeding is carried out with expressed human milk from a baby bottle with a specially designed nipple.
Indicators of correct latch on the breast in a newborn
If the baby has taken the breast correctly once, this does not mean that there is no need to further control this process. Every time you feed, it is important to look for signs of a good latch. Let's call them:
- The baby's nose is open and breathes freely.
- The chin is pressed to the chest.
- The newborn grasps not only the nipple, but also most of the areola.
- Mommy does not experience pain.
- The sucking process begins with short movements, and then the child makes longer and slower movements with his mouth.
- Sounds characteristic of swallowing are heard.
Each woman has a unique nipple shape. If they are flat and retracted, some difficulties may arise.
You might be interested in: Newborn feeding positions
Sometimes the doctor may recommend special silicone pads that make the sucking process easier for the baby.
Expert opinion
Ksenia Dunaeva
User experience expert and comment moderator. Higher medical education and more than 5 years of actual practice.
Ask Ksenia
Pain during breastfeeding, cracked nipples, poor weight gain, and insufficient urination are all signs of an improper latch. If you cannot master the correct breastfeeding tactics on your own, it is important to contact a specialist who will help you organize this process.
