Proper Breastfeeding Position

Video Transcript

"The information that I am giving you today to help you get off to a good breastfeeding start is not intended anyway to supersede the information or advice given to you by your medical professional. If you have any concerns about your baby's weight gain or intake or having problems with breastfeeding please talk to your pediatrician or consult a local lactation consultant. Let's get started. So first I'm going to talk about the importance of proper positioning. Now the fundamental of a proper latch is mom's positioning and how she's sitting. So it?s really important to have a good supportive chair or sofa to be sitting on. You want to have your back well supported and be very comfortable. You don' want to be leaning forward over your baby. So let's get into a comfortable breast feeding position. You are going to want to get your nursing stool. Put your feet up and sit back and be quite comfortable. You want to make sure your head is supportive; your lower back is supportive. If you need to put an extra pillow behind your back. Then take your nursing pillow and get comfortable with this and I like this one. This is the bosom baby because it's really, really soft to the touch and you can move it and shape it unlike some of the other ones that are very hard. So this one you can use this way or in the V shape. You can even pull it up so it gives you a little bit support behind your shoulder right here. So I really think this one is very versatile. And you can pull it into your chest as well. So let's get the baby and we'll get started in showing you about proper positioning. I'm going to be using my little baby doll today and I'm going to be showing you how to latch on your right side. Now the basics as far as positioning the baby is that you want the baby chest to chest with you and you want the baby's ear, shoulder, and hip in alignment. You don't want the baby to be turned so that the baby's belly is facing up at the ceiling and his head is turned towards you. Try for yourself to see how its like to drink with your head turned. It's not very easy so make sure the baby's body is in proper alignment as well. And this is proper positioning where the baby is right at breast level, your leaning back, you?re comfortable, your arms are supportive. You don't want to be leaning forward into your baby. You want to be leaning back so that you?re both comfortable for this breast feeding experience."