Breastfeeding Tips for a Good Latch

The latch is how your baby's mouth attaches to your nipple to breastfeed. A good latch will help your baby to feed and grow well. It will also help establish your milk supply.

• Not being in the correct position on the breast.
• Problems within your baby's mouth, tongue, or lips.
• The shape of your nipples.
• Using a bottle or pacifier too early.
• Your baby being born early (prematurely). Small babies often have a weak suck reflex.
• Breasts becoming filled with too much milk. If this happens, express a little milk to help soften the breast.

Work with a breastfeeding specialist (lactation consultant) to help your baby have a good latch.

How does this affect me?

• Cracked nipples.
• Sore nipples.
• Breasts becoming too filled with milk.
• Plugged milk ducts.
• Low milk supply.
• Breast inflammation.
• Breast infection.

How does this affect my baby?

A poor latch may cause your baby to not be able to feed well and have trouble gaining weight.

What actions can I take to help my baby have a good latch?

How to position your baby

• Find a comfortable place to sit or lie down. Your neck and back should be well supported.
• If you are seated, place a pillow or rolled-up blanket under your baby. This will bring your baby to the level of your breast.
• Make sure that your baby's belly is facing your belly.
• Try different positions to find one that works best for you and your baby.

Massage

To start, you might find it helpful to gently rub (massage) your breast.

Move your fingertips in a circle as you massage from your chest wall toward your nipple. This helps milk flow. Keep doing this during feeding if needed.

Position

Position your breast for an ideal latch. Hold your breast with four fingers underneath and your thumb above your nipple. Keep your fingers away from your nipple and your baby's mouth.

How to help your baby latch

Follow these steps to help your baby latch:

1. Rub your baby's lips gently with your finger or nipple.
2. When your baby's mouth is open wide enough, quickly bring your baby to your breast and place your whole nipple into your baby's mouth. Place as much of the colored area around your nipple (areola)as possible into your baby's mouth.
3. Your baby's tongue should be between the lower gum and your breast.
4. You should be able to see more areola above your baby's upper lip than below the lower lip.
5. When your baby starts sucking, you will feel a gentle pull on your nipple. You should not feel any pain. Be patient. It is common for a baby to suck for about 2–3 minutes to start the flow of breast milk.
6. Make sure that your baby's mouth is in the right position around your nipple. Your baby's lips should make a seal on your breast and be turned outward.

Follow these instructions at home:

General instructions

• Look for these signs that your baby has latched on to your nipple:
  • The baby is quietly tugging or sucking without causing you pain.
  • You hear the baby swallow after every 3 or 4 sucks.
  • You see movement above and in front of the baby's ears while they are sucking.
• Know these signs that your baby has not latched on to your nipple:
  • The baby makes sucking sounds or smacking sounds while feeding.
  • You have nipple pain.
• If your baby is not latched well, put your little finger between your baby's gums and your nipple. This will break the seal. Then, help your baby latch again.
• Get help from a breastfeeding specialist if you follow the tips for a good latch but need more help.

Where to find more information

• Office on Women's Health Breastfeeding: womenshealth.gov
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: cdc.gov
• La Leche League: llli.org

Contact a doctor if:

• You are frustrated with breastfeeding.
• You are worried your baby is not getting enough milk. Signs your baby is not getting enough milk include:
  • Your baby is not gaining weight.
  • Your baby loses weight.
  • Your baby is more than 1 week old and wetting fewer than 6 diapers in a 24-hour period.
• You have pain in your breasts or feel uncomfortable. This may include:
  • Continued pain with breastfeeding.
  • Your breasts are too filled with milk, and this lasts longer than 48–72 hours.
  • Cracking or soreness in your nipples that lasts longer than 1 week.
  • Bleeding from your nipples.
• Your baby is often too sleepy to feed well.
• Your baby is crying and will not stop.
• You have signs of an infection, such as:
  • A fever.
  • Pus-like fluid coming from your nipple.
  • Warm, red areas on your breasts.