Feeding positions
Finding the right feeding position can be key to successful breastfeeding, especially when you and your baby are new to it and learning what to do. Any position which works for you and your baby is fine but we've listed the most common positions to get you started.
Cradle
Holding your baby across your lap, supporting him with the same arm as your breast. This is the most familiar position to most people and may well be the one you try first. At first you may find it easier to use the same hand for both breasts while you are learning how to breastfeed. If this sounds helpful you would use cradle for one side and cross cradle or ‘rugby’ hold on the other side.
Cross cradle
Holding your baby across your lap, using the opposite arm to the breast he is feeding from. Switching between cradle and cross cradle can be useful to allow your baby to feed from both breasts without you needing to switch hands and arms.
Lying down
Lying down with your bodies parallel. Your baby can either be to the side or on top of you. Lying down can be useful if you are feeling tired or if you have had a caesarean.
Rugby hold
Holding your baby underarm. Especially useful if you have had a caesarean as this position keeps the baby’s weight off your abdomen. With this position you can also use the other hand to help position the baby's mouth or your breast and you can see what’s going on better than in other positions which can be useful if you're having issues with latching on. You may need to use pillows with this position so your baby is well supported.
Anything goes
These positions are all just suggestions, what’s most important is that you and your baby both feel comfortable and that your baby is feeding well. If you find a position that works for you and your baby, then it is fine to stick with it, even if it’s not in this list. As your baby gets older and you become more practised, you may want to change positions, depending on where you are and what you are doing. Older babies can sometimes develop acrobatic positions of their own so going with the flow is perfectly ok as long as you’re having no issues with latching, pain or discomfort and the baby is feeding properly.
Twins
Feel free to hold your babies in any combination of positions if you have twins and want to feed them together. Rugby hold can be particularly useful.
