blog-url
Health Check

Mastering Breastfeeding Positions: Tips for New Moms

Written By Preeti Singh - January 17, 2025
Read Time - 3 min read

Sore back, tired arms, and a fussy baby—these are struggles many new moms face during breastfeeding. While it’s a natural process, it often takes time to get the hang of it. The key is in mastering the right breastfeeding positions to ensure both you and your baby enjoy a comfortable and nourishing experience.

In this blog, we’ll share essential tips to help you find the perfect position and make breastfeeding a smoother journey. Let’s dive in!

6 Common Breastfeeding Positions

Proper positioning is paramount when it comes to breastfeeding. Holding your baby correctly helps them latch on well and receive milk efficiently. 

In this section, we’ll share 6 common breastfeeding positions you can try depending on your comfort level. These are:

1. Cradle Hold (Madonna)

This is one of the most common positions employed by breastfeeding mothers. For this position, you need to:1

Cradle Hold Breastfeeding PositionsCradle Hold Breastfeeding Positions
  • Sit in a relaxed position on a chair where you can rest your arms.
  • Cross your arms to hold your baby like shown in the picture and put the baby in the crook of one arm.
  • Hold them close to your chest and use a pillow if needed to support their head.

2. Football Hold

This is a good position to try if you have sore nipples, engorged breasts (read more about it later) or you’ve undergone a C-section where you can’t put your baby on your stomach. In this position you:1

Football Hold Breastfeeding PositionsFootball Hold Breastfeeding Positions
  • Hold your baby like a football—along your forearm, with their body on your arm and face towards your breast.
  • Put your baby’s legs under your arms.
  • Use the other hand to support your breasts for feeding.

3. Cross-Cradle Hold

This is like a reverse position of cradle hold. It’s ideal for small babies and helpful when you’re just starting out breastfeeding. The position allows you better control over your baby’s head so that you can guide them in latching on properly. To start off you need to:1

Cross Cradle Hold Breastfeeding PositionsCross Cradle Hold Breastfeeding Positions
  • Sit in a comfortable position.
  • Cross your arms as shown in the picture and instead of positioning your baby in the crook, hold their head in one hand and support their head as they reach for your nipples.

4. Side-Lying Hold

This is a great option if you and your baby are comfortable lying on the bed. For this, you need to:1

Side lying Hold Breastfeeding PositionsSide lying Hold Breastfeeding Positions
  • Lay on your side and do the same for your baby so that you face each other as shown in the picture.
  • Place their head in a position such that their mouth is close to your breasts.
  • Ensure that your baby’s nose is clear of any obstructions so that they can breathe comfortably while feeding.

5. Football Hold For Twins

For twins, start by breastfeeding them separately to assess their progress. If you prefer to breastfeed them together, use the football hold.

Football Hold for twins Breastfeeding PositionsFootball Hold for twins Breastfeeding Positions
  •  Hold one baby on each side with your elbows bent and their backs resting on your forearms. 
  • Use pillows on your lap and sit in a chair with broad, low arms for added comfort.

6. Reclining Or Laid Back Position

This is an ideal position to calm down your crying baby. It allows you to lay back and recline as much as you comfortably can. To get the laid-back breastfeeding position right you need to:1

Laid back Breastfeeding PositionsLaid back Breastfeeding Positions
  • Ensure not to lie completely flat.
  • Position your baby face front on your bare breasts to engage in skin-to-skin contact.

Tips On How To Get A Proper Latch

A good latch is key to breastfeeding success, but there's no one right way to start. So, make sure your baby latches on well, and you can choose the method that works for you. Follow these simple steps to achieve a proper latch:5

1. Get Comfortable

Find a cosy position and use pillows for support if needed.

2. Position Your Baby

Bring your baby close to your breast, facing towards you, with their nose in line with your nipple.

3. Allow Your Breast To Hang Naturally

Hold your breast naturally, without lifting or pushing it into a specific shape. When your baby's chin touches your breast, it creates pressure that helps them open their mouth wide and latch on to the nipple and areola.

4. Open Wide

Gently stroke your baby's lips with your nipple to encourage them to open their mouth wide.

5. Quick Latch-on

When their mouth is wide open, bring them to your breast, aiming the nipple towards the roof of their mouth. Ensure they take in a good part of the areola, not just the nipple.

6. Pay Attention To Your Baby's Swallowing Sound

Pay attention to the sound of swallowing, which indicates your baby is getting milk.

7. Seek Help If Needed

If breastfeeding is challenging or uncomfortable for you, don't hesitate. Ask for help from a lactation consultant or healthcare professional.

What Are The Signs Of A Good Latch?

How do you know for sure whether your baby has latched on properly? Well, here are a few signs that you can look for:2

  • The baby is well-rested against your chest.
  • You aren’t experiencing any pain during breastfeeding.
  • The areola region of your nipple is almost entirely covered.
  • Your baby’s ears are slightly wiggling.
  • They are making gulping sounds.
  • Your baby’s lips are looking like a fish (turned outwards).

Benefits Of Skin-To-Skin Contact

Skin-to-skin contact has multiple science-backed benefits for both the mother and her baby. These benefits include:3

For The Mother:

  • Improves breast milk production.
  • Helps in bonding with the baby.
  • Helps her feel confident that she can take proper care of her baby.

For The Baby:

  • Makes their heart rate stable.
  • Regulates their breathing.
  • Aids long, quality sleep.
  • Encourages their growth.
  • Alleviates pain, especially during procedures like pricking.
  • Lowers their risk of getting infections, hypothermia (cold shock) and even death.

Breastfeeding Challenges

Here are a few challenges that new mothers commonly encounter during their breastfeeding journey:

Sore Nipples:

Sore nipples often result from the poor latching position of your baby. It results in pain and discomfort often changing the pleasurable experience of breastfeeding into an uncomfortable one. Changing positions or learning to latch your baby properly can help address this concern.4

Poor Breast Milk Supply: 

Sometimes a woman might not produce enough milk to fulfil her baby’s nutritional requirements. But holding your baby close, stimulating or massaging the breasts, and alternating between the two breasts can help increase the milk supply.5

Breast Engorgement:

In the initial stages of breastfeeding, your breasts might become too full, tight and painful. It can also happen when your baby is weaning and eating more solid foods. You can try a warm compress or express milk by hand if the pain worsens.4

Breastfeeding Positions To Avoid

There's no one "wrong" way to breastfeed, but it's important to maintain good posture and switch positions to prevent neck pain and other problems. To avoid back pain, avoid slouching or hunching forward. Instead, keep your back straight and your shoulders relaxed.1, 6

Final Thoughts

Breastmilk is the best source of nourishment for your little one. That’s why mastering the perfect breastfeeding positions can help you & your baby make the most of your breastfeeding journey. But it’s equally important to be aware of the nutritional profile of your breastmilk which will ultimately determine your baby’s health. 

One of the most crucial nutrients present in breast milk is DHA—an omega-3 fatty acid essential for your baby’s mental as well as physical development. To assess the DHA levels in your breast milk, you can consider LifeCell’s OmegaScore-N test. This simple and non-invasive test can be done from the comfort of your own home and can provide you with valuable insights about your breast milk's DHA levels. The results of the test can help you adjust your diet accordingly. To learn more please visit our website or call us at 1800 266 5533 today.

Note: Please consult your doctor before making any kind of dietary changes.

References

+

Have Questions? Speak To Our Experts Now

+91

Related Posts

Related Products

Comment(s)

start