Daddy Brad: Come right back for more on positions and sore nipples.
Daddy Clay: Breast feeding, today in the Lab.
[music] Clay: Today's episode is brought to you
by BabyBjorn, in the design of all their products, "Safety Comes First," BabyBjorn.
To get the 411 on the four basic positions of breast feeding, we hear from our favorite
pediatrician and author, Dr. Ari Brown.
Dr. Ari Brown: I am Dr. Ari Brown with the 411 on breast feeding positions.
Today, I have my favorite Lactation Consultant from Capital Pediatrics in Austin, Texas,
Linda Hill who's going to show us the four common breast feeding positions.
Linda, show me how to breast feed a baby.
OK.
With clothing on, thank you.
[laughter] Linda Hill: What this four main positions
that you mentioned?
This is an older, probably this starts about two months old.
Moms with a two month old would do what's called the Cradle Position, which is basically,
that they're cradling the baby in the arms.
The baby's head is in the crook of their elbow and they just latch the baby on and hold the
baby.
It's great.
Not the best position to use for the new born because that's where moms are tweaking the
positions and might get sore nipples.
We want moms to have more control, here, very little control and the baby's head and neck
in this position.
So, with newborns, Lactation Consultants usually recommend that the babies do Cross‑cradle,
that the moms start with cross cradle.
That's using the opposite hand to breast.
So, if I was going to feed the baby on the left breast, I would support the neck and
shoulders with my right hand and then basically, you're supporting the breast and bringing
the baby in.
Once it's comfortable, you can cross and end up in cradle.
So, with newborns, it's cross‑cradle to cradle.
OK?
Then, another good one is Football.
A lot of moms who've had a C‑section use Football or moms with multi twins or triplets
would use Football to allow for more space.
Basically, there's many variations to this.
Basically, you're using the same hand to same breast and the trick is to bring the baby
far enough back.
Many moms don't bring the babies far enough back and so they end up bending the baby's
neck to the breast.
Babies don't like that and so, they kick and squirm.
The trick to this position is, bring the baby far enough back, so baby doesn't have to put
their chin on the chest to feed.
We'll want some space here between chin and chest, so that the milk will go down easier.
Depending on her chair, the baby can be positioned like this or even back like this.
It's a very comfortable position especially if you have two.
Then, there's one more position that is...
Ari: For very tired moms.
Linda: That's right, Side Lying Position.
It's great, it's very relaxing for both.
Basically, you would both lay on your side.
You position the baby to where your breast is going to hit her on the bridge of her nose.
Basically, she's coming up under the breast, she is going to feel it and look up and latch
all by herself.
While this hand of mom is up by the pillows, this hand is just supporting her lower back
and just holding her snug.
Baby does all the work.
So, if you position right, she feels it and looks up and latches all by herself.
Mom and baby go back to sleep.
Ari: That's great.
So, we've got Cradle, Cross‑cradle, great for newborns, Football hold, which is particularly
for C‑section and multiples, and Side Lying, for really tired and exhausted parents.
Great.
Thanks Linda.
Linda: You're welcome.
Clay: Daddy Brad, do you think you could ever give suggestions about positions to you
wife?
Brad: Yeah, I think so, if you need to help her in the process because sometimes it's
not easy.
She may get frustrated and she needs more coaching.
If you know all the things there is to know about breast feeding, you can be that coach.
Clay: Gentle suggestions, it will be helpful from a dad.
Thanks for joining us.
That's all from us today here on the Lab.