Breastfeeding:

Your guide to
success

Breastfeeding.
It is the best and natural way of providing young infants with the nutrients
they need for healthy growth and development. It is also a unique bonding
experience between the mother and the infant and provides many other
great benefits as well.

Why should I breastfeed?

Breast milk is a unique nutritional source that cannot be replaced by any other food,
including infant formula.
It has a range of benefits for infants health, growth, immunity, and development.
Helps improve mothers health.
It creates a special bond between the mother and her child.
Breastfeeding is convenient and inexpensive.

What are the benefits?

Infant

Mother

It is easier for the infant to digest than

formula.
Breast milk contains antibodies that will
protect them and strengthen their immune
system, making them more resistant to
diseases and infections.
Reduces the likelihood of allergies, diarrhea,
and ear infections.
Enhances cognitive development.

Breastfeeding releases a hormone

(oxytocin) that causes the uterus to return to
its normal size.
Breastfeeding burns calories making it
easier to return to your pre-pregnancy
weight.
Reduces the risk of breast cancer, uterine
cancer, and ovarian cancer.
Reduces the risk of developing
osteoporosis in later years.

Getting
started.

Step 1: Finding a comfortable position.

Football Hold

Side-lying

Cross Cradle

Sit comfortably using pillows

for support.

Rest comfortably lying on your

side.

Sit comfortably using pillows

for support.

Sit comfortably using

pillows for support.

Put pillows or extra towels at

your side to raise your baby to
the level of your breast.

Place pillows under your head,

behind your back, and between
your knees.

Place a pillow on your lap to

raise your baby to the level of
your breast.

Position your baby facing

you, lying on the side, tummy
to tummy.

Rest your babys bottom

against the pillows that support
your back. Baby should be
facing you.

Position your baby on his or

her side next to you. Her knees
should be pulled in close to you,
and her face should be level
with your areola and nipple.

To feed your baby from your

right breast, hold the baby
along your left arm. Place your
left palm on her upper back,
and support her head with your
left hand.

Support the baby at the

level of your breast.

Support his back with your

forearm and his neck and head
with your hand.
Babys body should be
snuggled close to yours and
your breast should be directly
in front of his mouth.
With the other hand, support
and offer your breast.

Keep her on her side with a

rolled up blanket, a pillow, or a

towel tucked behind her.

Support your right breast

Use your free upper arm to

support your breast. Offer the
breast that is closer to the bed
or sofa.

Hold your baby tummy to

with your right hand.

Cradle

Support the babys head

and body with your forearms.
Your hand can grasp the
bottom or upper thigh.
With your free hand,
support and offer your
breast.

tummy, and offer the baby your

right breast.

Tips:
During breastfeeding, the mother should be as comfortable as possible.
The mother should empty her bladder and attend to other needs before starting a feeding session.

The mother should support the babys neck and shoulders with her hand and not push on the head.
The babys body should be held in the correct alignment (ears, shoulders, and hips are in a straight line) during latch-on
and feeding.

Breastfeeding is
a special gift only
you can give your
baby.
Step 2: Getting the perfect latch
Latch is defined as placement of the infants mouth over the nipple, areola, and breast,
making a seal between the mouth and breast to create adequate suction for milk removal.
1) In preparation for latch, the mother should manually express a few
drops of milk and spread it over the nipple. This action lubricates the
nipple and may entice the baby to open the mouth as the milk is
tasted.
2) To facilitate latch, the mother supports her breast in one hand with the
thumb on top and four fingers underneath at the back edge of the
areola. The breast is compressed slightly so that an adequate amount
of breast tissue is taken into the mouth with latch.
3) With the baby held close to the breast with the mouth directly in
front of the nipple the mother tickles the babys lower lip with her
nipple, stimulating the mouth to open.

4) When the mouth is open wide and the tongue is down, the mother
quickly hugs the baby to the breast, bringing the baby onto the
nipple. The mother should bring the infant to the breast, not the
breast to the infant.
5) The babys mouth should cover the nipple and have as much

areola in his or her mouth as possible.

4

How do I know if I
am doing it
correctly?
When latched correctly:
The babys cheeks and chin are
touching the breast.
The mother feels a firm tugging

sensation on her nipples but feels

no pinching or pain.
The baby sucks with cheeks
rounded, not dimpled.
The babys jaw glides smoothly
with sucking.
Swallowing may be audible.

What to do when
latching is
ineffective:
Any time the signs of adequate
latch and sucking is not present,
the baby should be taken off the

breast and attempt to latch again.

To prevent nipple trauma as the
baby is taken off the breast, the
mother should break the suction by
inserting a finger in the side of the

How often does baby need to be feed?

Newborns need to be breastfeed 8 to 12 times in a 24-hour period. Feeding
times are variable because every baby is unique.

How long should baby be fed?

babys mouth between the gums

and leave it there until the nipple is
completely out of the babys

The duration of breastfeeding sessions is highly variable because the timing of

milk transfer differs for each mother-baby pair. The average time for early
feedings is 30 to 40 minutes or approximately 15 to 20 minutes per breast.

mouth.
5

Signs of ineffective breastfeeding:

Baby has less than six wet diapers per day after the fourth day of life.
Baby is having less then three stools per day after the fourth day of life.
Stools are still meconium (black, tarry) by the fourth day of life.
Mothers nipples are painful throughout the feeding.
Mothers nipples are damaged (bruised, cracked, bleeding)
Milk supply has not increased (no breast fullness) by day 4.
Baby seems to be feeding constantly.
Baby is losing weight after the fourth day of life.
Baby is gaining less than 0.5 ounce per day after the fourth day of life.

References:
Lowdermilk, D. & Perry S. (2013). Maternity & Womens Health Care (8th ed.). St. Louis: Mosby.

Davis, S., Stichler, J. F., & Poeltler, D. M. (2012). Increasing Exclusive Breastfeeding Rates in the Well-Baby Population. Nursing
For Women's Health, 16(6), 460-470. doi:10.1111/j.1751-486X.2012.01774.x