5 SIMPLE STEPS TO CORRECT A SHALLOW BREASTFEEDING LATCH

Hello, Mothers! Do you feel any pain while breastfeeding your baby? Yes! Some mothers go through terrible pain due to their baby having a hard time latching on.

Breastfeeding is a beautiful bonding experience for mother and baby. It also has many health benefits for babies, including protecting against infections and allergies. However, breastfeeding can be challenging at first. It’s also one that takes practice to get right. If you feel like your baby is having a hard time latching on or you just aren’t making any progress, then you can follow the 5 Tips I am providing you within this article. If they are not working, take help from a lactation consultant or breastfeeding support group to teach the baby how to latch on correctly.

The latch is the first step to achieving a successful breastfeeding experience. Once you have mastered latching, you will find that breastfeeding becomes easy and enjoyable! A shallow latch can lead to a host of breastfeeding problems including, sore nipples, poor milk transfer, and slow weight gain. Here are 5 simple tips that you can follow when you notice a shallow latch.

1. CHECK YOUR BABY’S POSITION

Latching a baby is an important and delicate process. There is a right way and a wrong way to do it. If you get it right, then the baby will be able to feed properly and get the nourishment he needs. But if you get it wrong, then the baby will either not be able to latch at all or latch improperly, causing unnecessary pain and discomfort. The first thing that you need to do while trying to get your baby latched on correctly is to make sure that your baby is positioned well, they should be feeding while facing you with their nose close to or touching your breast. They should have their chin down and lips flanged outward. If this isn’t the case, then reposition your baby before adjusting his mouth to your breast.

•  HOLD BACK

Breastfeeding is a very delicate process that requires patience and cooperation from both the mother and the baby. Many mothers experience difficulties in latching their babies. The best way to solve this issue is to hold back while feeding him. When feeding your baby, make sure that you wait until he opens his mouth wide enough before bringing him to your breast. If he is not able to do this, try holding him back and feeding him again. This will help him develop a better latch, which will allow you to enjoy pain-free breastfeeding sessions. 

• POSITION OF NIPPLE

Have you ever struggled to get your baby to latch on properly? This can, and often does lead to painful feedings for the mother, and could cause breastfeeding problems for both the baby and mother. There are several reasons why a baby might not be latching properly. The mother’s nipple may not be in the proper position when the baby first latches, or the nipple may slip out of the baby’s mouth during feeding. The mother’s milk supply might not be sufficient for the baby, which is why he keeps pulling off to cry. For all of these problems, mothers should be careful and more guarded.

• EMPHASIS ON LOWER LIP

While breastfeeding, many mothers focus on the nipple and not the lower lip. This can cause a shallow latch. Focus on the lower lips when your baby is latching on your breast. The lower lip should be the foremost part of the baby’s jaws that touches your breast. To have this with exactness, assume of yourself taking a bite of a sandwich. Do it now! I am sure that you will experience your lower lips touching the sandwich first. This is how you should latch your baby, with the lower lips followed by the upper lips.

• IMAGINE A HUNGRY BABY BIRD

If your nipples are sore, it’s likely because you’re trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. A shallow latch happens when the baby’s mouth is too small for the mother’s nipple. “Shallow latch” also goes by the name of “slip-nipple” or “frenulum of tongue attachment.” Call it what you will, it hurts. To avoid a shallow latch, it can help to visualize a hungry baby bird while feeding. You can do it by touching your nipples to their lips to initiate a response. Then you can get your baby to the breast and latch with as much in the mouth as feasible. Push again if needed.

CONCLUSION

The biggest issue with the latching is that it’s usually caused by the mother not being able to properly position the baby for the latch. There are a few steps you can take to correct this and make sure your child has their mouth wide open for breastfeeding every time. By following these 5 simple steps, you can ensure that your baby is properly latching on and getting the nutrition he or she needs. If you have any questions about proper breastfeeding or would like to share your story, please do so by commenting below!