Breastfeeding Positions

There are several ways to hold your baby while breastfeeding. A tense mother can mean a tense baby, so finding the position that is most comfortable for you and your baby is very important.

Some mothers find sitting upright in bed or in a comfortable chair to be relaxing, while others prefer reclining about 45 degrees in bed. This is sometimes called “laid-back” or “biological nurturing position.”

Remember you may need to support your breast with your free hand during the entire breastfeeding session until your baby has regained its birth weight. The football and cross-cradle holds are recommended for the first two weeks to reduce sore nipples and minimize your baby’s weight loss.