Expert advice on breastfeeding and mastering the perfect latch and positioning

It’s Breastfeeding Awareness Month, and we know how important it is to have access to information that can help you along the way.

We spoke with Niamh Cassidy, the founder of MyBabyBeginnings.ie, who offered invaluable advice on achieving a good latch and proper positioning.

“So, what latch is, it's about how the baby attaches to the breast,” explains Cassidy. 

“Why it's important is because a baby needs to be well-attached to the breast to effectively transfer milk - so to get enough milk out.” 

A good latch not only ensures that the baby is receiving enough nourishment but it also prevents pain or damage to the mother. 

Cassidy emphasises the importance of positioning to achieve this, addressing common misconceptions and techniques often portrayed in media or instinctively adopted by new mothers.

“We often see babies on TV or naturally being held in a certain way,” she says. 

“This is a kind of typical way a baby might be held [lying down in the mother’s arms]. But this can make it very difficult if we hold your baby in this position and try to breastfeed them, as the baby then has to turn their head towards the breast to feed.”

To illustrate her point, Cassidy uses the example of how adults and children drink from a cup or glass, noting that we naturally keep our heads straight rather than turning to the side. She explains that for babies, having to turn their heads makes it challenging to open their mouths wide enough to latch properly.

“So as a simple fix, just have the baby turned completely in against the mother's body,” Cassidy advises. “The more reclined the mother can be, the easier it's going to be to keep the baby in flow.”

To help parents remember the correct positioning, Cassidy shares some practical tips: “We might say tummy to mummy or belly to belly, just to remind people of how to keep the baby well close to them because it's really, really hard to get that good latch otherwise.”

Focusing on the baby's position first makes it significantly easier for the baby to attach properly, ensuring they get enough milk and the mother experiences no pain.

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