Latching and feeding baby from the breast is indeed the key! Why? Babies are much more efficient at emptying the breast than a pump, (any pump really) is. The more often you choose to feed your baby directly from the breast the easier it is to completely empty the breast, which signals your body to make more milk.
So a good latch will be a key to help you empty and make more milk. What does a good latch look like?
Notice one of the defining indicators is making sure the baby's mouths open wide, the tongue needs to be extended, lips are curled out and the chine is in contact with the breast. Keeping the baby close with chin in contact keeps them from only "chewing" on the nipple. Having a good latch also assist in decreasing breast/ nipple pain, decreased cracking and bleeding. In general the more of the nipple in the baby's mouth the more comfortable over all breastfeeding will be,
Need help achieving a good latch, first look at the baby's mouth, then check your positioning. The single easiest and somehow the least familiar position is laid back nursing. I notice in many of the moms I serve the "most often used position is cradle hold". I believe that is the position most frequency seen and we have become convinced, that cradle hold is the go to position. Using different hold is sometimes all that is needed to achieve a deeper latch.
Football hold makes seeing the baby face easier. One of the simplest changes for latch correction is Laid back nursing. The baby can deeply latch, and stay on the breast. Can easily manage the effects of let down. More importantly both mom and baby are supported in a way that mmiiniimizes baby drifting back away from the nipple. What is the biggest hallmark of laid back positioning, recline! Moms body is supported in the position that is comfortable for her... and baby is supported on moms body,
Give this position a try to see if it changes your latching and decreases your pain. As always follow up with your lactation consultant if you are not seeing a change.
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