Breastfeed your baby without adopting a proper position can cause disorders in the mother’s body. Also, this can cause various annoyances for the little one. What are, then, the best alternatives? One of the moments in which a connection between a child and his mother is created is by breastfeeding. The link that is formed in this act is very strong. It is an exclusive intimacy event for both. To make the meeting much more comforting, you must know the best positions to breastfeed your baby.
Even though it is the most significant act of love of a mother towards her child, it brings with it some negative consequences if not done correctly. Not practicing breastfeeding in a comfortable enough position can lead to severe back, neck and shoulder pain.
For these and many more reasons, it is necessary to know what are the best positions to breastfeed your baby; with them, you can make sure that the little one has the right position to feed on the mother’s womb and will help to make the 6 months of exclusive breastfeeding really pleasurable.
Why is good posture important when breastfeed your baby?
To begin, it is necessary to clarify the terminology we will use below: we will call “posture” the way in which the mother will present herself to breastfeed her baby. Meanwhile, with “position” reference is made to the way in which she will take the child for it.
It is not selfish to think about the welfare of the mother. It must be taken into account that the woman’s body has undergone rigorous physical changes when experiencing pregnancy, such as the increase in weight and volume of the abdomen. These, among some others, have produced an overload in the musculature.
The pressure on the lower back, shoulders, and neck, as well as discomfort in the hands, are consequences of this transition. To this is added the fact of having to hold the baby in his arms, something that mothers usually do in a protective manner and that causes the body to lean forward and produce tension and muscle pain.
In the case of the baby, the good position will guarantee not only your safety, but also you will obtain more fluidity of milk when you are breastfed. This will give you a feeling of well-being and comfort that leads to more hours of rest and growth.
To adopt a good posture when breastfeeding, you should be well supported with your back to back. You can place yourself lying on the bed, in an armchair, sofa or in a place of your preference; the important thing is that you have a correct support for the column. In addition to protecting the baby from asthma, breast milk has many other benefits.
Better postures to breastfeed your baby
There are several positions that we can put into practice; the choice will depend on the circumstances and the effectiveness that they provide. The correct attachment of the baby to the breast, the suction and the comfort of the mother are primary factors to consider when it comes to breastfeeding.
Biological posture
You must be semi-recumbent or reclined, with your back to the back and place the baby face down on you. Your head should be located between your bare breasts. So that, there is not a piece of the baby’s body without having contact with yours. It will not be necessary to hold it, you just have to watch it, since it will remain firm due to the effect of gravity.
American football ball position
In this position, the baby’s body passes under the mother’s armpit and its feet point to the back. The woman holds the child’s head firmly and places it facing the chest. It is ideal when you have to breastfeed two babies at the same time. “Not practicing breastfeeding in a comfortable enough position can lead to severe back, neck and shoulder pain”
Horse position
In this case, the baby must be sitting astride one of the legs of his mother, facing the chest. The woman should hold the child’s head firmly with one hand and, with the other, the breast.
Stretched position in parallel
The position of the mother and the position of the baby are similar. This facilitates the rest of both since they remain lying in bed, facing each other.
Signs of a good position of the baby when feeding
- The baby’s head and body are in a straight line.
- The baby’s face looks towards the chest.
- The mother keeps the baby’s body close to her.
- If he is a newborn, the mother wraps him in an embrace, does not hold him by the nape or shoulders.
- Many women are concerned about the relationship between laser hair removal and breastfeeding.
Signs of good nipple grip
- The baby’s chin and nose are close to the mother’s nipple.
- The baby’s mouth is wide open.
- You can see more halo above the baby’s mouth than below.
Breastfeeding is a unique time that you will share with your child. Although you may feel a bit frustrated at first, especially for mothers who do not have enough experience, it’s really worth it. Just put into practice the best positions to breastfeed your baby and, among them, select the most comfortable for you and your child. You may also like 4 WAYS TO CHOOSE IDEAL BABY GIFTS
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