The latch is the way you hold your baby while feeding. It’s how you comfortably feed your baby and make it as easy and painless as possible. A good latch means that your baby has an easy time latching on and off, it’s comfortable for you and will lead to successful breastfeeding in the long run. If you have a good latch, then your child will also have a good latch. If you don’t, or if it isn’t working well for you now, then it can be difficult for your child as well.
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The importance of a good latch cannot be overstated: Research after research shows that bad latching leads to difficulties with breastfeeding later on – even if you have support from family and friends or know how to pump milk for when breastfeeding isn’t possible at this time (more about pumping milk in another article).
What’s a Good Latch?
One of the signs of a good latch is when your baby is latched on and feeding well, but you are also feeding. Your breasts aren’t being pulled and stretched too much, so there isn’t too much pain. Your baby is able to get a good amount of milk while pulling back on the same side with each suck. When your baby isn’t latched on well, they suck on one side and pull off the other, they aren’t getting any milk, or they are sucking too much. If your giniloh latch is not good, there are a few different things that can happen. First, it can be painful for you.
Second, it can lead to your baby becoming less able to breastfeed. If you are in pain, if your latch hurts your baby, or if it causes your baby to use more of her/his supply, then this can be bad for both of you. In addition, your baby will have less milk available for them, which can be painful for both of you.
What Are the Signs of a Bad Latch?
- Your baby is not latched on bet6 well, or they are sucking too much
- Your breasts are being pulled and stretched too much
- Your baby is not able to get a good amount of milk while pulling back on the same side with each suck
- You are in pain while breastfeeding
- You are taking breaks frequently
- You are using nipple shields/cups at all
These are signs that your baby has a bad latch and can lead to being less able to breastfeed.
Why is a Good Latch Important?
A good latch is important for several reasons: First and foremost, it is a way to make breastfeeding comfortable for you. It will likely reduce your levels of soreness and pain, and make the act of breastfeeding more pleasant. This will be helpful for you and your baby in the long run.
A good latch is also important for your baby. If your baby is not getting enough milk, or if they are having too much pain while feeding, this can lead to a whole host of health problems for them, including being underweight, tooth decay, and even low IQ. It can also make it more difficult for your baby to grow and develop as it should.
How to Make Sure You Have a Good Latch
- Relax – Relax, relax, relax! If you are thinking, worried, or anxious while breastfeeding, then you are not only putting yourself at risk, but you are also at risk for messing up your latch.
- Practice – To make sure that your latch is good, practice feeding your baby while latched on. Get in the habit of it and make it as easy as possible for both of you. If you are new to breastfeeding, you may want to use a breast pump while you practice making sure there are enough breasts that are latching on. If so, try to practice while latched.
- Use correct positioning – While you are practicing, you want to make sure that you are in the correct position for breastfeeding. You want to be sitting up straight and leaning toward your baby. You also want to make sure that your baby is positioned best for latching on.
- Let your nipple get used to your baby’s mouth – After you have been practicing for a few days, your nipple should be used to your baby’s mouth and suckling sensation. If it isn’t, don’t worry about it.
- Nurse on both sides – When you are able to make it to the end of the feeding and both of you have had a chance to rest and drink a little, then you should nurse on both sides.
- Don’t rush the latch – Don’t try to rush the latch. If you have been trying to hurry to get to the end of the feeding, this can cause you to take it more quickly than you want, which can lead to pain for you. In addition, it can lead to a bad latch for your baby.
Should You Be Doing These Things Now When Your Baby is New to breastfeeding?
You can start trying to make sure that you have a good latch now. You may find it easier to practice when your baby is first feeding dry and you can make it work with less difficulty. There are a few things that you can try while your baby is first learning to latch while they are still learning how to use their own milk.
First, you can try different positions. If you are sitting up straight and leaning towards your baby, then you may find that you are able to feed your baby better if you move a little bit forwards or backward so that your baby is more in line with your breasts. You can also change where you hold your baby. You can try different hand placements or try to feed your baby from your side. If you are in pain while feeding, then switching sides can help you feed better. When you switch sides, your nipple will come in a little bit further and your baby may be able to latch on better when they are used to the other side again.
Stay Consistent and Be Patient
These are two of the most important things when it comes to trying to make sure that you have a good latch. That you are consistent in your feeding schedule, and that you are patient with your baby while they are learning to feed well. If you are having trouble latching on and your latch is not good, don’t panic. Hold this thought and make the changes that you can, and then wait until you have been able to latch on without too much trouble for an extended period of time before you try to figure it out. When you are first latching on and your latch is not good, you can try to make small adjustments. For example, you can try to make your baby’s head slightly lower or move their chin a little bit closer to their chest. You can also try to make your breasts a little bit higher or in a different position.
Conclusion
Your latch is how you feed your baby, and a good latch is important for both of you. If your latch isn’t working well, it can lead to your baby having pain, not getting enough milk, or a bad latch. You can make sure that your latch is good by making small adjustments to the way that you feed, the positioning of your baby, and the height of your nipple.
