1. Semi-recumbent
In the first few days after delivery, it is still difficult for mother to sit up. At this time, it is most appropriate to feed the baby in a semi-recumbent position. Lean the baby against the mother's abdomen, put a pillow on the upper body and lie down.
2. Rugby style
This posture is especially suitable for breastfeeding twins, or when another child wants to snuggle up to his mother at the same time. The baby is lying in its mother's arms with its hips facing each other. If necessary, it can be supported by a cushion, and her forearm should hold the baby's back. Lean forward slightly, so that the baby is close to the breast. After starting feeding, you can relax and lean back. This position allows the baby to suck milk from the lower breast.
Cradle style
Cradle feeding is the most widely known. The baby's head rests on the mother's arm, and the abdomen is inward, while the mother's hand should hold the baby's buttocks for physical contact. Support your arm with cushions or handrails, so that the muscles of your arm will not be tensed by lifting your shoulders too high. When adopting this feeding posture, lifting your feet helps to relax your body, such as putting your feet on the pedal.
lie on one's side
This position can be used at night when nursing or resting. Both the mother and the baby are lying on the bed, with their bellies facing each other, so that the baby's mouth will face the nipple. Mother's arms and shoulders should be flat on the mattress, and only her head should be supported by a pillow. A mother can pad her baby with a rolled towel or something to keep her baby in the same posture.
Second, the five skills of breastfeeding
In order to ensure the success of breastfeeding, new mothers must also learn the correct breastfeeding skills-the correct connection method between mouth and breast. The correct connection between mouth and breast should be that the baby's mouth completely surrounds the nipple and areola of the mother's breast.
1. Scratch the baby's lips with the nipple.
Once the mother and the baby are in a comfortable position, the mother can gently touch the baby's lips with the nipple and wait until the baby's mouth is completely open-until it is as big as yawning. It is recommended that the nipple directly contact the baby's nose, and then gradually move down to the baby's upper lip mucosa, and gradually induce the baby to open a small mouth to connect the nipple to prevent the baby from sucking his lower lip during breastfeeding.
If the baby still refuses to open his mouth wide, then you can squeeze some colostrum on the baby's lips and encourage the baby to open his mouth to connect the nipple. If the baby moves his head away, gently touch his cheek and put his head close to his mother's breast. The instinctive neonatal sucking reflex will make the baby turn his head to his mother's nipple.
2. oral milk contact
Once the baby opens his mouth, let the baby get close to his mother. Mothers should not put their breasts close to the baby's mouth, let alone push the baby's head to the breast.
3. Check the connection between mouth and breast.
A baby's correct nipple joint should show that his lips protrude outward (like a fish's mouth) rather than retract into his mouth. The mother also needs to check whether the baby sucks the lower lip. By pulling the lower lip, the mother can check whether the baby is sucking the lower lip and tongue. If the baby sucks the tongue, the mother should stop sucking with her fingers and take out the nipple. To make it clear that the baby is sucking the milk correctly instead of sucking the nipple ineffectively, the mother should carefully observe whether the baby has sustained and intense rhythmic movements such as sucking, swallowing and breathing. Once the baby's cheeks, chin and ears are harmoniously coordinated, then the mother can experience the feeling of milk flowing from the nipple and hear the baby swallowing (or intermittent cough), which means that the baby is sucking milk. If the baby connects the nipple correctly, there will be no nipple pain during breastfeeding (except for mothers with chapped nipples or breast infections).
4. Give your baby some breathing space.
After the baby is connected to the nipple, if the breast tissue blocks the baby's nostrils, the mother can gently press down the breast surface tissue with her fingers to make the baby breathe smoothly, and gently lift the baby to provide some breathing space.
Stop sucking
If the baby still refuses to loosen the small mouth on the nipple after sucking, sudden opening will lead to nipple damage. First, stop the baby's sucking. The way for a mother to stop her baby from sucking is to insert her finger very carefully into her baby's mouth to let in a small amount of air, and quickly and nimbly put her finger between her baby's upper and lower alveolar processes until her baby is loose.