In this video Dr. Jack Newman guides a woman in using the cross-cradle hold to latch her baby onto the breast. While there are many different breastfeeding positions, the cross-cradle hold can be particularly helpful for newborns. Note how the mother is not forcefully pushing the baby’s head onto the breast, but rather is simply supporting the head and bringing the baby tummy-to-tummy and using her arm on the baby’s back and hand under the baby’s face. This position also allows for breast compressions (using the mother’s thumb on top of the breast and four fingers underneath the breast to …read more

By: Qole Pejorian

Here I am, mother of three, with nearly six years of breastfeeding experience, a year-and-a-half as a breastfeeding counselor, and nearly two years writing this blog. You would think I would know how to prevent any and all breastfeeding problems. Really though, the problems I have dealt with over the years are the reason I became a breastfeeding counselor in the first place. And this time around, while I could not prevent problems, I knew better how to deal with them.
1. Painful latch. For the first few days, I winced as the baby latched on. I checked for a good …read more

Ameda offers a free online instructional video “Your Baby Knows How to Latch-On.” The five-minute clip talks about proper latch and demonstrates how a newborn latches himself on the breast with a minimal amount of guidance from his mother. The video is offered through these links in English and in Spanish.
Click here for more breastfeeding videos. For more help with latch-on, see the Checklist for a Good Breastfeeding Latch.

There is something for everyone (breastfeeding or not) in the mix of the Breastfeeding 1-2-3 highlights from April 2008:
~ Free Pattern for Sewing Your Own Crew Neck Over-the-Head Baby Bibs
~ Judge Denies FLDS Request to Keep Mothers with Nursing Babies
~ World Health Day 2008: Protecting Health from Climate Change
~ Breastfeeding Basics Checklist for a Good Breastfeeding Latch
~ Gentian Violet and Grapefruit Seed Extract as Thrush Remedies
~ Breastfeeding and International Travel
~ Top Five Breastfeeding Interviews

A good latch is the key to breastfeeding success. It minimizes discomfort and maximizes the transfer of breast milk. So how do you know whether or not you’re doing it right? Go down the checklist:
__ In the cradle or cross-cradle positions, the baby should be resting on his side, his tummy facing your tummy, shoulder and hips aligned, mouth level with the nipple
__ The baby’s mouth should be covering at least a half inch of the areola, the dark area of skin around the nipple
__ His nose is touching or nearly touching the breast
__ Both the top lip and bottom …read more