Obtaining an Optimal Breastfeeding Latch
An optimal breastfeeding latch is vital for both ensuring adequate feeding and preventing nipple pain and trauma. It is a key element to sustaining breastfeeding long term.
There is a wide variety in nipple shape, width, length, and elasticity. Nipples can range from about the size of pencil erasers to marshmallows. They can be flat, inverted, or everted; short or long.
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Do you want to learn more about breastfeeding while ensuring safe and adequate feeding?
Dr. Christie and board-certified lactation consultant Lynnette Hafken have just released the online Fed Is Best Breastfeeding Course, where they discuss all the things that you will not hear from a breastfeeding book or class. In it they include secret tips and tricks that you normally have to pay hundreds of dollars to learn about, for the same cost of a hospital breastfeeding class. Click below to get in on the training!
The elasticity of your nipples can also affect latching, since the nipple stretches as a baby sucks. A flat, but very elastic nipple is sometimes easier for a baby to latch on to than a well-everted but inelastic nipple and areola.
Breasts also vary in size from very small to extremely large. Nipple location can vary as well from facing forward or down towards the underside of the breast. These factors can affect how well a nursing mother visualizes the latch when she is first learning.
As if this weren’t enough to think about, babies’ mouths have their own whole set of features that can facilitate—or impede—comfortable latching, such as the size of the mouth, jaw tightness, tongue anatomy and function, and palate shape (roof of the mouth).
The most important aspect of a good latch is that it must be deep enough to prevent nipple damage and to facilitate maximal milk intake. A good latch feels like strong pulling, with no pinching or biting. On a scale of 1–10, there should be no more than a 2 or 3 level of pain. Some nursing moms experience discomfort as their baby initially latches on, but this should subside as baby starts nursing.
If you have concerns about your nipples, talk to your obstetrician, CNM, or a lactation consultant.
This may all sound very complicated, but if you are learning about this during pregnancy, you will have much more time to practice and absorb the information before you need to put it to use.
But first, it is helpful to visualize the steps needed to obtain a good breastfeeding latch.
Imagine Your Baby Eating a Sandwich
In order to help your baby get a deep latch, it helps to think of your breast as an overstuffed sandwich that your baby is going to take a big bite of. Think of all the steps you would take to get a full bite of a sandwich that is thicker than the opening of your mouth. What are the steps involved?
First, you would present the sandwich pointed slightly towards the roof of your mouth. You would squeeze the sandwich to help fit it into your mouth. You would then tilt your head back slightly and place your lower jaw under the sandwich. Lastly, you would “hook” your upper jaw onto the top of the sandwich.
Now imagine how difficult it would be to “latch onto” the sandwich if your chin were tucked down to your chest, or if the sandwich weren’t squeezed parallel to your mouth. To help your baby get as much of the breast in their mouth, you are going to need to recreate these steps with your breast as the “sandwich.”
First, get into your preferred breastfeeding position with your baby’s mouth positioned slightly below your nipple, so that they would need to tilt their head back slightly to latch on.
Next, hold your breast and shape it into an oval by making a “U” with your thumb and index finger. Line up your breast sandwich parallel to the baby’s lips, just as you would hold a sandwich up to your mouth.
Depending on what position your baby is in, you may need to make a sideways U (in other words, a C) or a V (also called scissor hold) in order to align the sandwich with the baby’s mouth. Make sure your fingers are placed 2-3 inches (5-8 cm) behind the base of the nipple as there has to be enough breast tissue for the baby to get a big mouthful.
Next, bring your baby’s head towards your breast so that their chin touches the breast tissue right below your nipple. Once they open their mouth, you will move their head closer so that as much of your nipple, areola, and breast goes deep into their mouth, aiming for the “sweet spot,” which is located at the junction between the hard and soft palate. You can feel this “sweet spot” if you run your tongue along the roof of your mouth and feel where the hard and soft tissue meet. This will help your baby latch correctly and suck effectively without causing nipple pain or damage.
The following provides step-by-step instructions on achieving a good latch:
Steps to Achieving an Optimal Breastfeeding Position and Latch
- First find a comfortable breastfeeding position and have relaxed shoulders. A foot stool or back pillow may help. (Read Breastfeeding Positions article to learn more.)
- Position (nursing) pillow(s) to support your arm and baby.
- Always bring your baby to where the breast and nipple naturally falls to avoid tension on the nipple. Avoid leaning over. Pull your baby in close, belly to belly, with:
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- baby’s ears, shoulders and hips aligned
- baby’s nose in front of your nipple
- baby’s chin snuggled into the base of your breast
- baby’s hips and chest against your rib cage for stability
- your hand over baby’s neck and base of the head for support,
- baby’s head tipped back (not tucked in), to allow wide mouth opening
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- Hold your breast from the side by making a “C,” or from underneath making a “U,” an inch behind your nipple to make a “sandwich” that is parallel to their lips.
- Direct their nose toward your nipple so that they have to open wide to latch on. (See step 5 below.)
- Rest your baby’s jaw on the breast well under the nipple. (See step 6 image below.)
- Once they open wide, put as much of your nipple, areola, and breast into their mouth as you can. (See step 7 image below.)
- The nipple should be far enough back in their mouth to reach the junction of the hard and soft palates (the “sweet spot,” or see step 8 image below).
- Baby’s lips should be turned out, not tucked in. (See step 9 image.)
- Baby’s chin and cheeks will dig into the lower breast and their nose will lightly touch the breast while remaining unobstructed for breathing. (See full color image below.)
Note for mobile users: The following images are best viewed in landscape or horizontal view.
An Ideal Breastfeeding Latch
Variations on the C-hold
The Tea Cup Hold
Another way of shaping the breast is called the “teacup” hold. This hold is great for moms with flat or inverted, but elastic and pliable nipples. It is also helpful for moms with large breasts, nipples, and areolas. It is also helpful for some babies who have difficulty latching for other reasons.
This can be done while using the cradle or cross-cradle hold. To do this, one arm supports the baby while the free hand is used to gently pinch the breast tissue right behind the areola like a teacup, which can then direct the breast into the baby’s mouth. (See above image.)
The Flipple Latch
Another method that works well is called the “flipple” latch. This latch allows for a deep latch by encouraging the baby to open their mouth wide to latch on without the need to compress the breast.
With the baby’s chin resting on the breast tissue below the nipple, press a single finger above the nipple to make the nipple point upwards toward your baby’s nose. With the nipple pointed upward, the baby is encouraged to open their mouth wide to reach the nipple, at which time you can quickly flip the nipple and breast tissue deep into their mouth by releasing the finger.
This allows them to latch onto the largest amount of breast tissue possible without the need to shape the breast into a sandwich. The best way to learn this technique is to look at videos online as this method takes a little more practice to master.
Once Your Baby is Latched
After your baby has latched, take another minute to consider how you feel. Is there any tension in your arms, hands, neck, back, or feet?
It’s important to have enough support for your muscles, so you can just relax while your baby feeds for as long as they need to. Even something as little as a rolled up washcloth under your hand or a foot stool under your feet can make a big difference in your comfort.
If at any time, your baby’s latch begins to hurt, try unlatching your baby by inserting a clean finger into the corner of your baby’s mouth to release the seal, then try again.
Once you are done nursing, your nipple will come out of the baby’s mouth looking round and maybe slightly elongated. It should not look flattened or be shaped like a new lipstick.
Keep in mind that everything that has been mentioned here are general guidelines. Don’t feel like if your latch is not exactly as described that there is something wrong with it.
How a latch feels is more important than how it looks from the outside. A good latch should be comfortable with every feeding for the duration of the feeding and should never cause sore spots or damage to the nipples. A deep latch is often the most comfortable and most effective at allowing your baby to get as much milk as possible while preventing nipple pain and trauma. If you and your baby have found that latch, then you are doing it right!
If You Have Difficulty with Latching
It’s okay to take your time with learning how to latch. Before we get into specific strategies for troubleshooting your latch, we want to make one thing clear: there is plenty of time.
As long as your baby is getting enough nutrition and your breasts are getting the type and amount of stimulation they need for milk production, you and your baby can take as much time learning to latch as you both need.
There is often an atmosphere of urgency in the hospital when it comes to getting breastfeeding started successfully, and for good reason. If you are exclusively breastfeeding, your baby’s nutrition and hydration status 100% depend on latching and transferring colostrum successfully.
Learning a new skill under that kind of pressure can be extremely stressful, and we want to remind you that you have choices and agency over how you feed your baby and how you learn to breastfeed.
Exclusive breastfeeding at every feeding is one choice. Another is to breastfeed and supplement with expressed colostrum, banked donor milk, or formula to ensure your baby is getting nutrition while you are learning to latch optimally.
If you are feeding your baby, supporting your milk supply, and taking good care of yourself, there is no wrong way to proceed.
Learn more about trouble shooting latch by clicking on the button below. Also remember to review the basics of breastfeeding positions.
Want to learn more about this topic?
Do you want to learn more about breastfeeding while ensuring safe and adequate feeding?
Dr. Christie and board-certified lactation consultant Lynnette Hafken have just released the online Fed Is Best Breastfeeding Course, where they discuss all the things that you will not hear from a breastfeeding book or class. In it they include secret tips and tricks that you normally have to pay hundreds of dollars to learn about, for the same cost of a hospital breastfeeding class. Click below to get in on the training!
To learn more about this topic, read the Fed Is Best book available on paperback, e-book, and audiobook.