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8 Signs of a Good Breastfeeding Latch

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Breastfeeding is the easiest, healthiest, cheapest, safest, most fascinating and delightful way to give your baby food. We all agree with that, right? But unfortunately, breastfeeding does not come easy for most moms. While it may seem like the most natural act that a new mother should have no problem with, when you start breastfeeding is when you know that it can be quite –eeerrrrrrr natural not! Starting with latching. How exactly is one supposed to navigate this latching issue that seems to pain (literally) many new moms?

Well, I talked to Susan Muriithi of Toto Touch. Susan is a registered nurse and a breastfeeding counselor or lactation expert. And she shares some insights on latching.

Signs of a Good Latch

  1. The latch feels comfortable to you and it does not hurt or pinch. How it feels is more important than how it looks.
  2. Your baby’s chest is against your body and baby does not have to turn his head while breastfeeding.
  3. When your baby is positioned well, his mouth will be filled with breast. The tongue is cupped under the breast, although you might not see it.
  4. You see little or no areola (depending on the size of your areola and the size of your baby’s mouth). If areola is showing, you will see more above your baby’s lip and less below.
  5. You hear or see your baby swallow. Some babies swallow so quietly, a pause in their breathing may be the only sign of swallowing.
  6. You see the baby’s ears “wiggle” slightly.
  7. Your baby’s lips turn out like fish lips, not in you may not even be able to see the bottom lip.
  8. Your baby’s chin touches your breast.

All the best with breastfeeding. I did exclusive breastfeeding my two sons, so I well know what the breastfeeding journey is like.

Incase you have any problems with breastfeeding or you have any questions, then you can get in touch with Susan (pictured left) on 0723 553 188 or susan@tototouch.co.ke

 

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Maryanne W. Waweru is a Kenyan mum raising her two sons in Nairobi. A journalist, Maryanne is passionate about telling stories and hopes that through her writing, her readers learn something new, feel encouraged, inspired, and appreciative of what they have in their lives. Maryanne's writing focuses on motherhood, women and lifestyle. "Telling stories is the only thing I know how to do," she says.

4 COMMENTS

  1. Sometimes the latching itself is fine but it may hurt. My son had a tongue-tie that was not diagnosed initially and it was a disaster for me not to be able to breastfeed him. Fortunately, the issue got sorted during a routine visit to the doctor.

  2. i like how you encourage new mothers.am a mother of two and breastfeeding my firstborn was so nice bur the second one it is so painful .what could be the problem.please help out.thank you very much.

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