You read it right! Breastfeeding is not only natural but also one of the best practices you can do for your baby. It offers many health benefits and helps build a closer bond between you and your child. In addition, it’s convenient, affordable, and doesn’t require any extra equipment.
However, not all babies are equally capable of latching on to the breast correctly in order to get the nutrition they need. This is why there are various ways to successfully nurse a baby so that you both leave happy. If you want to know more about which positions are the best for breastfeeding your baby, keep reading!
What Is Breastfeeding?
Breastfeeding is the natural act of providing food to a child via their mother’s breastmilk. Breastfeeding is a way to provide your baby with all the nutrition they need while also providing immunoglobulins and other antibodies that can help fight against diseases. Breastfeeding is healthy, safe, and can provide many benefits for both you and your baby. In order to breastfeed successfully, you need to do a few things:
- Find a good position to breastfeed your baby.
- Practice breastfeeding your baby, slowly and at their pace.
- Keep in mind that breastfeeding is a process that takes time.
Best Positions for Breastfeeding
While breastfeeding is a natural act that can be done in many positions, certain positions are better for this act than others. You should know that not all positions are good for breastfeeding. To find the best breastfeeding positions for your baby, consider the following:
- Side lying
- Sitting / Lap sitting
- Nurse while walking outside
- Nurse while sitting inside or outside
- Breastfeeding while driving
- Breastfeeding while resting
- Breastfeeding while swimming
Which Position Should You Use?
If you want to find the best positions for breastfeeding, you first need to know what positions are suitable for this act. There are different ways to breastfeed your baby and you should know which ones are best for them. To find the right position, you should consider the following:
- Your own comfort level – If you are comfortable breastfeeding in that specific position, it is best for you to use it.
- The baby’s comfort level – If the baby is comfortable in that position, it is best for you to use it.
- The accessibility of what you want to feed your baby – You should know the position that’s best for feeding your baby so that you can feed them comfortably.
- The accessibility of the things in the room – You should know the position that’s best for accessing things in the room.
- The ease of cleaning the area – You should know the position that’s best for cleaning the room.
- The ease of access to your breasts – You should know the position that’s best for easy access to your breasts.
Ways to Practice Latching On
- Practice makes perfect – If your baby is latching on to the breast, you can try different ways to practice latching on. You can try different positions and see if they help improve latching.
- Use the pacifier – If you are unsuccessful with latching on to your breast, you can try using a pacifier to help your baby latch on to the breast.
- Use a nipple shield – If you are unsuccessful with latching on to your breast, you can try using a nipple shield. A nipple shield provides a place for your baby to latch onto the breast and is easy to clean.
- Put your baby on the ground – If you are unsuccessful with latching on to your breast, you can try putting your baby on the ground. Now, you can practice latching on to your baby’s bottom.
Conclusion
Breastfeeding is a natural act that can provide many benefits to the child and the mother. However, it does not mean that you should just jump on to breastfeeding without any preparation. You need to know your body, the brands of formula, the feeding times, and other aspects of breastfeeding so that you can successfully breastfeed your baby. Additionally, you can use these mentioned positions for breastfeeding to find the best position for feeding your baby.
