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How to get the perfect latch

January 1st, 2008 - breastfeeding, breastfeeding pain, breastfeeding problems, feeding, latch, nursing, nutrition

Most breast-feeding problems can be solved by perfecting your baby's latch. Here's how:

by: Nancy Ripton

Breast feeding latch

  • Breast milk changes throughout feeding so a good latch is important to ensure your baby gets a full range of milk.
  • Nipple soreness almost always means the latch is poor.
  • Skin-to-skin contact calms your baby and encourages her to take the breast on her own.
  • When latching on, the baby's chin should touch the breast, but her nose should not.
  • Your baby should cover more of the areola with her lower lip than with her upper lip.
  • Watch your baby for hunger cues; if you wait until she cries it will be harder to get a good latch.
  • Waiting too long to get a good latch may result in a reduced milk supply.

"Breastfeeding sometimes takes work," says Dr. Jack Newman, head of The Newman Breastfeeding Clinic in Toronto. While some babies may latch on easily, most women need to help their baby feed efficiently. Getting the right latch from the beginning is important for two reasons: to ensure your baby is getting sufficient milk throughout the feeding (breast milk is fattier towards the end of a feeding) and to prevent pain for the mother. "If your nipples hurt, most of the time it's because of a poor latch," says Dr. Newman.

To help you prepare for breastfeeding, follow this step-by-step guide for getting the right latch. If you continue to have problems, visit a lactation consultant – and don't wait. The earlier you catch a problem, the easier it is to fix.

Step one: Timing is everything
"Mothers need to be aware of the early feeding cues their babies show," says Dr. Newman. These include: sucking on hands during sleep, smacking lips, restlessness, turning toward mother and rooting. If you wait until your baby is crying before you feed her, it will be harder to get a good latch.

Step two: Get into position*
"The Cross Cradle hold is often the easiest for a new mother learning latching techniques," says Dr. Newman. It is also best to have skin-to-skin contact whenever possible. Start by positioning your baby on your right arm, with baby's bottom toward your right elbow. Use the side of your forearm to push the baby's bottom close to you, turning your palm upward so the baby's head is resting on your hand as if it were a pillow. The baby will be almost horizontal across your body, with her head slightly tilted backward; her chest, belly and thighs are against you with a slight tilt so she is looking up. There shouldn't be any space between your bodies. (If your baby is heavy, you may want to use a pillow to help maintain this position.) Support your left breast with your left hand.

*Note: Instructions are for the left breast; reverse for the right side.


Step three: Open wide
You want your baby's mouth to be wide open before she latches on. Move your nipple lightly across the her upper lip, from one corner of her mouth to the other. Once she opens her mouth wide, bring the baby straight onto the breast, with a brisk movement of your whole arm; keep pushing her bottom into your body. As you bring the baby toward the breast, her chin should touch the breast first. Her nose should not touch your breast expect for extreme cases when the breast is unusually large. Keep her lower lip as far away from the base of your nipple as possible so her tongue draws lots of your breast into her mouth. Your baby's bottom lip should cover more of the areola than the top lip.

Step four: Is your baby drinking?
Looking at your baby's chin is a great latch indicator. The chin should be bobbing up and down as a sign she is getting milk. If not, try gently pushing the baby's chin down so she can get more of the nipple in her mouth. Your nipple should be completely covered during feeding, as well as a large portion of the areola.

Step five: Still no success?

If you're still having trouble breastfeeding, get help as soon as possible. You can contact Jack Newman's clinic via his web site (www.drjacknewman.com) or talk to a knowledgeable lactation consultant in your area. If nothing seems to be working, your baby could be tongue-tied. Look to see if her tongue is heart-shaped and check to see if you have trouble fitting your finger under her tongue. If this is the cause of the problem, a physician can fix it with a simple procedure.

Meet our expert:

Dr. Jack Newman established Canada's first breastfeeding clinic in 1984 at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. As the need for his expertise grew, Dr. Newman opened clinics in several Toronto hospitals. In 2006 he co-founded the Newman Breastfeeding Clinic and Institute (NBCI) with Edith Kernerman. One of North America's most respected breastfeeding experts, Dr. Newman is the author of Newman's Guide to Breastfeeding (Canada) and The Ultimate Breastfeeding Book of Answers (United States) and The Latch and other keys to Successful Breastfeeding (www.ibreastfeeding.com). Dr. Newman's breastfeeding information is also at www.drjacknewman.com