Tips for successful breastfeeding
Follow these tips and you’ll soon be breastfeeding with the best of them!
• Make yourself comfortable in a chair that supports your back nicely.
• Hold your baby close and try to keep their head, shoulders and body in a straight line.
• Line up your baby's nose with your nipple and then give their mouth a little nudge with it!
• When their mouth opens wide, bring your baby to your breast (not the other way round).
• You'll know if your baby is latched on well if their bottom lip is curled back and the only visible area of your areola (the dark skin around your nipple) is above their top lip. And listen for the sound of them swallowing, too.
• If your baby keeps putting their hands in the way, try wrapping him so that his arms are lying at his side.
Don’t panic if your baby pauses from time to time - that’s natural. And if you find breastfeeding a bit uncomfortable, it could be because of your position or because your baby’s not latching on properly. If it’s your position, you can take the strain off by using a V-shaped pillow to rest your baby on. You can see from these pictures that there are a few different positions you can use when feeding your baby. You'll probably soon discover one you both find comfortable. If it’s because your baby’s not latching on properly then speak to your health practitioner or take a look at our breastfeeding problems information for some handy hints.
