Breastfeeding Parents Doing Their Best
Breastfeeding is a choice that new parents navigate together in a number of different ways. If one parent is able to breastfeed, the other may often feel left out of the unique bonding experience it provides with their newborn baby. If the breastfeeding parent pumps so the other can bottle feed, there is often fear of nipple confusion, causing the baby to get inadequate nutrition as a result. Or, in some cases, the baby just won’t latch on, causing frustration and feelings of guilt in the breastfeeding parent.
We’re going to examine a few different options for new parents to not only consider when deciding to breastfeed their baby, but some alternative options to breast feeding as well.
Breastfeeding and Latching – babies know how to breastfeed. Under the most perfect circumstances, they innately know how to find the nipple, how to latch, and exactly how much to eat and when to stop. It’s something babies have been doing on their own for thousands of years in order to survive.
Sometimes, when a baby struggles to latch onto a nipple correctly, this is forgotten. Adjectives are applied such as “lazy” or “naughty” – these phrases just aren’t true, nor are they particularly helpful to a hungry baby or a worried parent. Sometimes, a baby struggles to properly suckle from their parent’s breast, otherwise called “latching.” If a baby has an improper latch, it may mean they are not getting the proper nutrition they need. Not only that, but it can be extremely painful and uncomfortable for the feeding parent if the latch is not correct.
There are many factors that go into a proper latch. Some babies struggle with a proper latch for a number of different reasons. This does not mean they won’t ever be able to breastfeed given some guidance, perhaps a new position or two, and plenty of patience from the feeding parents.
If you are having trouble with getting your baby to latch, try one of these positions:
Reclined Position – This one is especially good for babies who struggle to get a deep latch, as gravity assists with ensuring their head is in the correct position. This position is also particularly good for feeding parents with large breasts that may make other positions tricky until their baby is a bit bigger.
Dangle Feeding – Another position that allows the baby to utilize gravity to their advantage, taking the nipple into their mouth while it hangs over them as opposed to placing the baby onto the nipple. Added bonus – this position is good for a blocked milk duct for the same reason; gravity.
Dancer Hand Position Feeding – This one is particularly good for premature babies, babies with poor muscle definition, and babies with developmental delays such as downs syndrome, etc. In this position, babies are supported by the feeding parent’s thumb and forefinger, positioned in a “U” where their chin rests, while the remaining three fingers support the breast. This allows for the feeding parent to monitor the latch as well as maintain eye contact with their baby as they feed.
Breastmilk vs. Formula – How to Choose? When it comes to feeding your baby, it all comes down to what works best for you and your baby. There can be a lot of stigma around formula feeding your baby vs. breastfeeding your baby. A fed baby is a happy baby, and that’s all that matters.
Whether you’re exclusively formula feeding or supplementing your breastmilk with bottles of formula, it’s important to remember to find what works best for you and your family. Doulas are just one of the many resources you can use when deciding how to best nourish your newborn, and any other questions you may have about breastfeeding, bottle feeding, baby-led weaning, or anything else that may come up! Our goal at Beautiful Births and Beyond is to help you do what is best for you and your family, whatever that may look like for you.
