How to get a deep latch

Ahhhh, you’ve just delivered your sweet bundle, they’re placed on your chest (while something happens down below, it’s all a blur really). What next?!

Your baby has many reflexes they use to find your breast and nipple and initiate feeding. We have to set them up to use these reflexes as designed, without interrupting this natural process.

Your baby doesn’t know any other nipples, yours are perfect.

Your baby doesn’t know any other breasts, yours are perfect.

Your baby doesn’t know any other taste, your milk is perfect (and more than likely will be enough!).

While you’re reclining back, let baby lay tummy down on your tummy. You should support their body with the same arm as breast, but do not touch the back of their head, and definitely don’t push their head to your breast or nipple. Baby will bob up and down, and when they do, pull them in close with that hand on their back. Their tongue will do the work to massage your nipple and create a vacuum to release the milk. You want baby coming into the breast with her chin first, and extending that neck long, rather than scrunching up like a turtleneck. Trust me, she can do it.

Getting latching in these early days when you have colostrum in your breasts is important. Baby can practice on a softer breast, when the tissues are more pliable. When your mature milk “comes in, most women experience at least some engorgement, and the tissues get stretched and tight, making that nipple harder to find. A baby that has been latching well to that softer breast, will probably continue to latch well, even if it takes a moment.

Need more info? Its never too late to book an appointment to get latching working better!