Recommended Breastfeeding Positions

The best nutritious supplement that any mother can provide to its baby is breast milk. However, sometimes, breastfeeding can be hard. A lot of new mothers struggle with breastfeeding comfortably and often find themselves in discomfort and pain. This is due to improper positioning and not understanding your baby’s ability to latch on. The end result is usually soreness, bleeding, and other similar breastfeeding issues. Besides this, the process may even leave you frustrated because of the time it takes you to find that perfect balance.

However, with a little technique and practice, these problems can go away. While it may  take some time for you to try and understand the various positions, this effort will definitely be worth it in the long run.

So, without further ado, read on to find out the most recommended breastfeeding positions till date.

Positions You Should Try

There are a few breastfeeding positions that can help make the process simple and time efficient for both you and your child. These are:

The Ball Hold

In this position, you need to:

• Sit on a chair, preferably with an armrest or sit on a bed with some kind of support for your arm.
• Place your baby next to you.
• Tuck the baby’s body under your arm.
• Support your baby’s head with the base of your palm.
• Raise your knees slightly to angle your baby’s head.
• Use a pillow to rest your arm as you gently angle your baby’s head towards your breast.

This position is best for those who have had a cesarean delivery as it keeps the baby away from your stomach. It is also suitable if you have twins. However, if your child is sleepy, then opt for more skin-to-skin contact to soothe the baby.

Cross-Cradle

In this position,

• If you are using your left breast to nurse, then hold your baby on your right arm.Your
• baby should be facing your chest and stomach in this position.
• With your left hand, support the baby’s head as it latches onto your breast.

This position is recommended for newborns or prematurely born babies. You can use this position to your advantage especially if you are outdoors when you need to breastfeed.

Sideways Recline

This is known to be one of the most useful breastfeeding positions, especially if you have a large family or have joint sleeping arrangements. In this position,

• Lie on your side with your lower arm around your baby.
• Note that your baby should be on its side with its mouth near your nipple.
• With your upper arm, position your breast till your baby latches on.
• Then, either lie down completely or keep yourself propped up on your elbow.

Use this position if you are tired, sleepy, or would like to have a bit of rest as you breastfeed. It is suitable for all babies, right from the newborn stage.

Looking Back

There are multiple breastfeeding positions that you can try with your baby. Ultimately, the goal is to find one that is suitable for both you and your baby. As your child grows older and you gain practice, you can try to change positions if required.

Remember that there is no correct position that you can choose as this differs based on your comfort, your baby’s ability to latch, and your surroundings when you are breastfeeding. So, save this article or share it with any new mother you know who could use a few breastfeeding tips!

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