Useful Breastfeeding Techniques

There’s not a right or wrong way when it comes to breastfeeding a baby as long as the baby can drink the milk with ease while the mom feels comfortable. However, breastfeeding is sometimes an obstacle due to problems with the mom’s nipples or baby’s mouth, forcing many mothers to avoid breastfeeding as it turns out to be a negative and painful experience. Let’s discuss some tips and tricks to efficiently feed your baby. These useful breastfeeding techniques may or may not necessarily apply to all cases and only you and your baby will know what works best for you both.

Standing-up breastfeeding

First, hold your baby under one arm, with one hand. Fold your elbow to snuggle the baby closer. Cup the head gently and do not grip it. The baby’s neck is too weak and delicate to support its heavy head, so it’s important for the mother to tend to this holding position and not ignore how the baby is placed.

Second, move the baby across your chest until the head is on the outside of the other breast while their arms hug either side of the breast. The baby’s chin must be beyond the nipple. Then, use your free hand to shape the breast from underneath. This is called the U Hold and it’s super effective since it can match the baby’s mouth shape and the baby can easily latch on deeply.

Next, lift the baby close and use your nipple to touch the baby’s upper lip. The baby will automatically open his mouth when something touches his lips. When his mouth opens, draw him onto the breast rapidly while making sure that the lower lip is flanged outwards and then quickly sweep the chin forwards thereby tucking it deeper into the breast. This would help extend the neck while allowing a deeper latch.

Continue holding the breast from underneath, and if needed, move your fingers closer to your chest to compress breast tissue.

Sitting-down breastfeeding

To breastfeed sitting down, you will need to prepare a supportive chair, a 12-inch footstool, and a bedroom pillow. We recommend bedroom pillows since breastfeeding pillows in the market are often large and bulky.

Firstly, you need to sit back properly with your knees up and the pillow on your lap, taking the baby level with your breast. Put the baby’s arms around your breast and use your whole arm to support his head and body in a straight line. Don’t forget to cradle the baby’s head carefully in your palm and tilt his chin upwards gently and soothingly.

If you feel the baby is aligned correctly, pick up your breast using the U Hold mentioned above and let your nipple touch the baby’s upper lip.

It usually takes 10-15 minutes on each side for a full meal, and we encourage moms to use both breasts at every feed.

Bottle-feeding breastfeeding

There’re many cases in which babies need bottle feeding. Sometimes, it may be an issue of the mother’s lactation or the baby having difficulties drinking milk directly from the breast. Bottle feeding is relatively easier than breastfeeding. When bottle feeding, support the baby’s head and tilt the chin upwards. Never feed the baby in the arm crook about a month after delivery or until his neck muscles get firmer.

You should feed the baby and give as much bottled milk as the baby can drink, and store the leftover milk in the refrigerator. It is not ideal to leave it out at room temperature. Also, remember to disinfect bottles and breast pump tools with soap and hot water after use.

As the leading breastfeeding clinic in West Vancouver, we’ve helped deliver the best breastfeeding experience to thousands of mothers across Vancouver and the Lower Mainland. We take pride in our expertise and are passionate about helping mothers, especially new ones, achieve their breastfeeding goals while guaranteeing that their babies can receive the nutrition they need. We understand that breastfeeding can be challenging at times, and proudly being a reliable breastfeeding clinic in West Vancouver, we strive to provide timely diagnoses and treatment plans for specific breastfeeding problems you may be experiencing.