So that you do not get a sore breast, it is important that you use different breastfeeding positions. In addition, you can prevent postural damage by using different breastfeeding positions. Here we introduce you to four popular breastfeeding positions.
No matter which of the breastfeeding positions you choose: make sure that you and your baby are comfortable so that you can stay in this position for a longer period of time. The lying position is particularly suitable in the first days after birth and at night, as it is gentle on strength and is therefore perceived by most mothers as very comfortable. Seated still positions are handy because you can find a place everywhere where you can retreat like this. In the sitting nursing positions, it is important to support the arm that holds the baby so that the back does not tense and the shoulders remain loose. Change the breastfeeding positions regularly, especially in the first time. This is how you prevent sore nipples and milk congestion.
The right posture is important
Be sure to pay attention to your baby’s posture so that breastfeeding is as comfortable as possible for your little one. The baby’s lower arm should be under the arm you hold it with. Ideally, your baby lies horizontally or only very slightly at an oblique angle. You can also experiment a little. With small changes forward, back, up or down, you can get into the perfect position for you and your child.
Breastfeeding positions: the weighing position
The weighing position is one of the classic nursing positions. Here you sit comfortably on a chair with armrests or on a bed with many pillows. You hold your baby’s head in the crook of your arm. It is important that you can support your forearms on pillows or armrests, otherwise arms and neck will hurt quickly due to the weight of your baby. In addition, you should make sure that your feet are elevated in the sitting nursing positions, for example on a chair or the coffee table. Important: You don’t have to lean forward to your baby when breastfeeding. You hold your child on your lap – if it’s more comfortable for you, put a pillow in between. Your baby then lies with his face on his side, his knees are turned to you. If your child’s hip is at the level of your stomach, then it should be able to reach the nipple without problems with the mouth. If your baby is lying on the right breast, place it on your right arm. It is most comfortable for you and your baby if you gently press his knees against your body.
Breastfeeding positions: The cross handle
The cross handle – also called cross-weighing handle – differs from the normal weighing position in that you do not support your baby’s head with the crook of your arm, but with your hand. In addition, everything runs the other way around than with normal weighing. If you breastfeed with your right breast, you are holding your baby with your left arm. Again, your face, chest and stomach point in your direction, but this time you are grabbing the back of your child’s head with your fingers. In this way, you can guide your baby more purposefully with the mouth to the nipple than in other breastfeeding positions. This breastfeeding position is particularly suitable for small babies who have difficultyattaching to the breast.
Breastfeeding positions: The back handle
The back grip is also called “football posture”. The reason for this is that you “clamp” your child like a handbag or a football under the arm on the side on which you want to breastfeed. Your baby’s feet point towards your back, his nose is at the level of your nipple. You can place your arm, which supports your baby’s shoulders, neck and head, on a pillow in your lap or right next to you. This position is particularly suitable if you have had acaesarean section, as your child is usually not lying on your stomach. In addition, it is one of the most comfortable breastfeeding positions for women with large breasts or forbreastfeeding twins. Attention: You should be careful not to push your baby too hard against the chest, as you could make it difficult for him to drink or make him feel cramped and panic.
Breastfeeding positions: the lateral position
The lateral position is one of the breastfeeding positions, which is particularly suitable in the first period after birth. Your child lies next to you and looks at you. You pull it close to you and hold your head with your arm below. Maybe it is more comfortable for you to support your own head with this arm. In this case, you can hold your baby’s head with the other hand. To lie comfortably, you should put some pillows in your back as support. This gives you a more comfortable lying position. After all, you have to endure like this for a while. You can also put a pillow between your head and shoulders or between your bent knees. Just try out what is most comfortable for you. Make sure that your child has to stretch a little to your chest to drink. Also, you shouldn’t have to lean forward. If your baby needs to lie closer to your body or a little higher, use a blanket to put under your small head. It is also helpful to put a pillow or towel roll behind your child. So even your little one has a good support and is stable.
Breastfeeding positions: Trying is more important than studying
Which of these breastfeeding positions is most comfortable for you and your baby, you will quickly find out in practice. And maybe a completely different attitude is what suits you best. However, it is advisable not to always use only one of these breastfeeding positions, but to vary regularly, as your nipples will not get sore so quickly and your joints and muscles will be spared.
