Breastfeeding Positions Newborn – Breastfeeding provides your newborn mother’s milk, is a crucial source of nutrients. In fact, human milk is the only feeding that your baby will need during the first critical months of their lives.
Fortunately, learning easy breastfeeding positions for newborns can be done with the help of a lactation consultant while you are in the hospital so your baby will be able to latch correctly when at home. You’ll also learn how to hold your baby’s body while you feed them and how to use a pillow to support your breast as well.
The consultant will show you easy breastfeeding positions for newborns so you will learn how to offer your breast and nipple to your baby correctly and how to hold their shoulders properly so you will be able to support your little one while they drink your breast milk.
Breastfeeding Newborn Positions
Easy Breastfeeding Positions For Newborns
Upright Breastfeeding Positions
Laid Back Breastfeeding Position
Breastfeeding Positions Newborn/ Best Position for Breastfeeding Newborn
Most moms are eager to learn different breastfeeding positions for newborns as they want to make sure their baby gets plenty of nourishment. The main objective is to find the best position for your breastfeeding newborn. The best position for breastfeeding newborn tends to vary from one mother to the next.
Breastfeeding Positions Newborn:
- Cradle hold for newborn
- Side lying breastfeeding position newborn
- Upright breastfeeding positions for newborns
- Laid back breastfeeding position newborn
- Breastfeeding positions lying down newborn
- Breastfeeding positions for reflux newborn
Breastfeeding Positions Newborn – Most Popular
When it comes to breastfeeding positions, the cradle hold is the most common. The cradle hold is where you cradle your baby on the same arm where your baby is nursing, making it easy for your baby to reach your nipple. This is the preferred nursing position by mothers during the first few weeks. A breastfeeding pillow may help cradle your baby comfortably in your arms as they nurse on your breast. If you are just starting out, this position may make feeding the easiest for your breastfeeding newborn [1].
Breastfeeding Newborn Positions
Easy Breastfeeding Positions For Newborns
Upright Breastfeeding Positions
Laid Back Breastfeeding Position
Easy Breastfeeding Positions For Newborns
For mothers who are searching for different breastfeeding positions for their newborn, the idea of learning natural breastfeeding positions for their newborn is very appealable. This is not surprising given that learning to breastfeed requires a learning curve as you master the many steps of how to breastfeed. This includes how to cradle your baby correctly, to position their mouth around your areola and your enlarged breasts.
Breastfeeding Positions Newborn – Football Hold
If you want to avoid having sore nipples because your baby is not latching properly, try this breastfeeding position for your newborn baby. The football hold, or clutch hold, is recommended for breastfeeding mothers who had a C-section, have twins, have large breasts, or a preemie. In this breastfeeding position for your newborn baby, you will have to hold your baby on the side of your body. They should be facing you as you tuck their legs under your arm just like you would hold a football. Your little one should be positioned on the same side where they will breastfeed. Support your little one’s head with the same hand where your baby is tucked while the other hand holds your breast just like you would in a cradle hold [2]. It’s crucial that you support your baby’s head so their mouth will not have any difficulty latching to your nipple and areola.
Breastfeeding Newborn Positions
Easy Breastfeeding Positions For Newborns
Upright Breastfeeding Positions
Laid Back Breastfeeding Position
Side Lying Breastfeeding Position Newborn
What other breastfeeding positions should you try? For those feedings early in the morning or during the night, you should check out the side-lying breastfeeding position. As the name suggests, the side-lying position will require you to be on your side which is great for the mother who needs to rest. In this position, you and your baby will be lying side by side, with your little one’s head close to your breast. Here are the step by step breastfeeding positions newborn directions
Step One
Roll over on your side to place a pillow under your head and one at your back for support. You can also put a cushion (pillow) between your knees for added comfort. Your body should be in a straight line as much as possible but to lessen back pain, you can bend your knees.
Step Two
You can use the arm that you are lying on to support or cradle your baby’s head. Place a pillow at their back to support them as you hold them close to your body.
Step Three
Your baby’s mouth should be in line with your breast and nipple. Once their mouth opens wide, you can guide them to your breast to start nursing. Ensure that your baby has a good latch on your breast and nipple to gain access to your milk supply [3]. Doing this breastfeeding newborn side-lying position can be good for you as you rest.
Here are some other breastfeeding positions.
Upright Breastfeeding Positions For Newborns
Many mothers find the upright breastfeeding positions for newborns the best. In this breastfeeding position for newborn baby, they will be straddling your thigh or even your hip as his spine and head remain in an upright position during feeding. Good baby is necessary for this hold [4]. This is one of the best breastfeeding positions for reflux newborn since you are preventing milk from going back up your baby’s throat. Guiding your baby to latch with their mouth on your breast and nipple correctly can help reduce reflux.
While trying breastfeeding positions for a reflux newborn, you must remember to provide a lot of support to their body as you cradle your baby’s head on your hand to help your little one latch properly on your breast and nipple.
Breastfeeding Positions For Reflux Newborn
Some moms need to find breastfeeding positions for a reflux newborn specifically. Many breastfed babies experience some reflux during breastfeeding. For these babies, avoid any breastfeeding positions lying down positions or the newborn side-lying position. Babies with reflux should benefit for one of the different breastfeeding positions baby sitting upright or semi-upright.
These tips can help you with perfecting upright breastfeeding positions for a reflux newborn:
- Breastfeed regularly in smaller amounts. Don’t wait for babies to start crying before you offer your breast to them.
- Hold baby in an upright position. During lactation, you should hold your baby upright to prevent the milk from going back up their throat.
- Don’t move baby fast. Babies shouldn’t be moved too fast after nursing as this can trigger reflux. Hold your baby against your shoulder as you place your hand on their shoulders to ensure that they don’t fall off during burping.
- Make sure baby is relaxed. It doesn’t matter if you have breastfed babies or formula-fed babies, the goal here is to keep babies relaxed during nursing. Your baby will most likely latch properly on your breast when you learn how to hold their head correctly.
- Watch your baby. If you are trying different breastfeeding positions for newborns to ensure that their mouth can latch on your breast and nipple properly, reading their hunger cues is a good idea so you will know when to feed [6].
Breastfeeding Newborn Positions
Easy Breastfeeding Positions For Newborns
Upright Breastfeeding Positions
Laid Back Breastfeeding Position
Other Breastfeeding Positions for Newborns
Aside from the breastfeeding newborn side-lying position as well as upright breastfeeding positions for newborns, what other positions can you use to promote a good latch on your breast and nipple? When it comes to a breastfeeding position for newborn baby, you’ll find that there are a lot of options for you to choose. Here are some examples of different breastfeeding positions for newborns you should try.
Laid Back Breastfeeding Position Newborn
Breastfeeding Positions Newborn – Laid back breastfeeding position newborn / Breastfeeding positions lying down newborn
The laid back breastfeeding position is most often used right after birth as the nurse places your newborn on mother’s chest. The laid back breastfeeding position teaches babies how to search for mother’s nipple for feeding [5]. This position can also help stimulate milk ducts (let-down reflex) so that you will have more milk to express. Another plus to this position is the amount of skin-to-skin contact that encourages babies to latch on the breast properly during feeding time.
Cross-Cradle hold
When it comes to exclusive breastfeeding, the cross-cradle hold by a mother can be useful. If nursing your baby on your left breast, the right hand should cradle or support their head while the left hand supports your breast so that the nipple is guided to your baby’s mouth. Use a nursing pillow to help hold your baby near your breast during feeding.
Leche League
Whether you are looking for the best position for breastfeeding your newborn, or want to know how to hold your baby correctly so they will latch correctly on your breast with their mouth, the leche league can help. This non-profit organization that focuses on women’s health can teach you the tips and tricks to make breastfeeding easier. You’ll learn the best way you to hold baby’s head, all about the let-down reflex, and to how to teach your baby how to latch on your breast and feed. Biological nurturing is a new neurobehavioral approach to breastfeeding that focuses on reducing latching problems and subsequent early unintended breastfeeding cessation [7]. Ultimately, mom and her infant will decide the best breastfeeding position for newborn baby.
Everything You Need To Know About Breastfeeding
- Breastfeeding With Inverted Nipples – Breastfeeding Tools And Techniques
- What Are Natural Remedies For Sore Nipples From Breastfeeding?
- Keto Diet Breastfeeding – What The Experts Are Most Concerned About
- How Often Should You Feed Your Newborn Baby?
- What To Expect When You Start Breastfeeding Your Newborn
- 7 Superfoods For Breastfeeding Moms
- Proper Latch Breastfeeding – Everything You Need To Know + How To Video
Breastfeeding Positions Newborn Resources:
[1] The Bump; 8 Breastfeeding Positions to Make Nursing Easier, Holly Pevzner.
[2] What To Expect; Breastfeeding Positions and Tips for Mom and Baby, September 09, 2018.
[3] Very Well Family; The Side-Lying Breastfeeding Position, Donna Murray, RN, BSN, Meredith Shur, MD, September 02, 2018.
[4] Medela; 11 breastfeeding positions.
[5] Mama Natural; Breastfeeding Positions: Have You Tried Them All?, Genevieve Howland, August 15, 2018.
[6] Kelly Mom; Spitting Up & Reflux in the Breastfed Baby, Kelly Bonyata, BS, IBCLC.
[7] Midwifery Today; Biological Nurturing: The Laid-back Breastfeeding Revolution, Suzanne Colson, Spring 2012.
