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BREASTFEEDING BASICS
To know if your baby is latched on
properly, look, listen and feel.
Look for alignment, position
at the breast
Listen for swallowing
Feel uterine cramps, drowsy,
tugging/pulling on nipple (not
biting/pinching)
Look
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Watch for
cues baby is ready to nurse, then put him to your
breast. Feed your baby before he cries.
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Hold baby
close with his nose level with your nipple
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Support
your breast by holding your hand in a “C” (football)
or “U” (cross cradle) shape. Your fingers and thumb
should be back from the areola.
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Lightly
touch (tickle) or stroke baby’s bottom lip/chin with
your breast. Watch for his mouth to open wide and
his tongue to be down and scoop-shaped. Be patient,
it may take a few minutes.
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Support
your baby at your breast as described in the
positioning guidelines. Avoid pushing his head into
your breast; that will cause him to push away from
your breast.
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Look for
baby’s mouth to cover part of your areola; his lower
lip should curve outward and his tongue should cup
under the breast.
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Look for
smooth, rhythmic sucking with active, long jaw
movements and pauses to swallow.
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Look for
your breast to move with baby's sucking action.
Listen
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After the
first few days, when your milk flow increases, you
will hear your baby making swallowing or gulping
sounds.
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Smacking,
clicking or slurping sounds may indicate an
ineffective latch-on.
Feel
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You will
feel your nipple and breast being tugged into baby’s
mouth.
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Your
nipple may be tender, especially during the first 30
seconds of a nursing session.
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After a
minute or two, you may feel mild uterine cramps.
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After five
minutes you may feel:
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Sleepy
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Thirsty
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Hot
flashes
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Cramps
After nursing
for three to five days, you may feel letdown in your
breasts. A tingling, pins-and-needles sensation may
occur.
To remove your
baby from your breast:
  
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