Breastfeeding a baby can be incredibly exciting and a wonderful bonding experience for moms and babies. But it can also be a bit painful if your baby is not getting a good breastfeeding latch. Latching is the way that your baby takes your nipple and areola (the dark area around the nipple) into his mouth to suckle. Nipple soreness is usually caused by an incorrect latch or improper positioning, explains Anne Smith, an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), and creator of the site Breastfeeding Basics. Newborns have to learn how to nurse correctly, and it can take some time for them to do so.
It is important for new moms to know that it’s very common to feel some discomfort when the baby first latches on, especially in the first days after birth before the milk has come in, adds Smith. “This type of soreness will usually ease up after the first few sucks, especially after the milk comes in and flows freely.” she says. Often, a poor latch is too shallow, and the baby does not have enough breast in her mouth and instead is just sucking the nipple.
What Is a Latch?
A latch is the way in which a baby’s mouth is fastened to the mom’s breast. Ideally, the baby draws in a big mouthful of the breast and not just the nipple. After latching, the baby sucks on the breast (not the nipple!) for the purpose of emptying the mother’s milk from her milk ducts. The nipple is positioned at the back of the baby’s mouth, so it shouldn’t be getting pinched.
Tips for a Good Breastfeeding Latch
- Get Comfy
Make sure you’re comfortable. Take your time settling into position. Get good support under the baby and underneath your arms. Many moms swear by the use of a breastfeeding pillow, but whether it works well for you will depend on your positioning.
- Make Sure Your Baby is Awake And Alert
Gently tickle the bottoms of his feet to help wake him.
- Pull Your Baby in Close
Her chin and nose should be nearly touching your breast. The baby’s whole body should be facing yours so you are tummy to tummy and baby doesn’t have to turn her head to nurse. Once your baby is in the right position, hold your breast with your free hand.
- Check Your Positioning
“You want your baby’s nose where your nipple is. When he tips his head back, bring him on the breast with his chin hitting first,” recommends Kathleen Moren, a registered nurse, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) and founder/chief executive officer of Healthy Babies Happy Moms Inc. Your baby’s mouth should be open wide with his lips flanged out and tongue extended over his gum and under your nipple, notes Smith. He should have not just the nipple but also some of the areola in his mouth as well. “Try to see that he covers more of the areola with his lower lip than top lip,” she advises. “This way, he can get his lower jaw under the pockets of milk behind the areola and get the milk out more efficiently.
- Observe And Listen!
Look for a long, drawing, rhythmic motion along his jawline and a wiggling at his temple. You should be able to hear him swallowing after your milk comes in.
If your baby seems to be latched on incorrectly, or if nursing hurts, “put your finger in the corner of her mouth to break the suction, take her off the breast and start over,” says Smith.
Signs of a Bad Latch
- You Feel Nipple Pain While Nursing
If you can see the nipple at all, “that usually means that the latch is not deep, and the baby’s gums are catching the nipple and causing the mom a considerable amount of pain,” says Moren. If you drop your breast mid-feeding, this could cause a problem. “If your breast is big and heavy and full of milk and your baby is latched onto it, and your baby is pulling the nipple one way, and then you drop the breast, the weight of your breast is going to pull the nipple out of the baby’s mouth,” warns Moren. If this happens, put your hand back in there and lift your breast back up, and the pain should go away.
- You Hear a Clicking Noise
This may mean that baby is only sucking the nipple.
- Your Nipples Are Sore, Bruised, Cracked or Bleeding
Use a nipple cream, and don’t give up.
“Most latch-on problems are resolved quickly,” Smith says. “Babies gets better at breastfeeding with every feeding!” Consult a lactation consultant, your baby’s pediatrician or your physician if you have questions or concerns.
Mary Larsen is a tall and freckled wife, mother to a 2-year-old son and soon-to-be newborn daughter. She loves music, Harry Potter, writing her blog Tall Mom Tiny Baby and podcasting with her husband on Parent Cast.
