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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
- Watch for cues baby is ready to nurse, then put him to
your breast. Feed your baby before he cries.
- Hold baby close with his nose level with your nipple
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Look for smooth, rhythmic sucking with active, long jaw
movements and pauses to swallow.
- Look for your breast to move with baby's sucking action.
Listen
- After the first few days, when your milk flow increases,
you will hear your baby making swallowing or gulping sounds.
- Smacking, clicking or slurping sounds may indicate an
ineffective latch-on.
Feel
- You will feel your nipple and breast being tugged into
baby’s mouth.
- Your nipple may be tender, especially during the first
30 seconds of a nursing session.
- After a minute or two, you may feel mild uterine cramps.
- After five minutes you may feel:
- Sleepy
- Thirsty
- Hot flashes
- 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:
- Break the suction by sliding your little finger down your
breast to the corner of baby’s mouth.
- Gently pull out the corner of baby’s mouth.
 
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