Having a Proper Latch When Breastfeeding

Video Transcript

Greetings! My name is Asma Hanif. I am a certified nurse midwife with a private practice in Baltimore Maryland and on behalf of Expert Village, this segment is on proper latch during breast-feeding. Moms let me tell you try not to panic if your newborns seem to have trouble finding or staying on your nipple, this is very common. Breast-feeding is an art that requires patience and lots of practice. No one will expect you to be an expert in the beginning. Once you get started, remember that nursing should not be painful. Pay attention to how your breasts feel when your baby latches on. His mouth should cover a big part of the areola, which is the darker portion of the breast below the nipple and your nipple should be far back in your baby’s mouth. If latch on hurts, break the suction by inserting your little finger between your baby’s gums and your nipple and try again. Once your baby latches on properly, he will do the rest. There are several position that you may choose in attempting to breast-feed your baby. That could be the cradle hold position, the clutch or football hold position or the side-line hold positions. In all of these positions, the proper latching is what is essential in order for this not to be a painful experience. As I said, the baby’s mouth should totally cover the darker portion of the nipple, support your breasts with your free hand so that your thumb is about an inch or so behind the nipple and your index finger is directly across from it. You will have to support your nipple with one hand while holding the baby’s head with the other. On behalf of Expert Village, this is Asma Hanif saying thank you for watching.

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