Latch and positioning

A deep latch makes nursing comfortable and lets milk flow well. A shallow latch is the most common cause of sore nipples. Most latch trouble gets better with a new position and some practice, and help is easy to find. Every baby and every body is different.

Positions to try

• Cradle: your baby lies across your lap facing you, head on your forearm, nose toward your nipple. It can be uncomfortable after a cesarean.
• Rugby hold (clutch): your baby is tucked at your side under your arm, nose level with your nipple, your palm supporting the neck. There's no pressure on your tummy, so it's handy after a cesarean. It also works for twins.
• Laid-back: recline partway, propped up with cushions, with your baby lying on your front. Stay upright enough to look into your baby's eyes.
• Lying on your side: tummy to tummy, with your baby's ear, shoulder and hip in a straight line. Good after a cesarean or a hard birth, and at night. Keep pillows away from your baby's head and face.

If you might doze off while feeding, move pillows and covers away, then move your baby back to their own sleep space as soon as you wake. See the safe sleep guide.

Getting a deep latch

From the NHS:

1. Hold your baby close, head and body in a line, with the nose level with your nipple.
2. Let the head tip back a little so the top lip brushes the nipple. This invites a wide-open mouth.
3. When the mouth opens wide, bring your baby in so the chin touches the breast first.

Supporting the breast with four fingers underneath and your thumb on top can help. If it hurts, slide a finger into the corner of your baby's mouth to break the suction, then try again.

Signs of a good latch

• The chin touches the breast and the nose is close.
• The lips seal around the breast, with none curled inward.
• More of the darker skin shows above the top lip than below.
• The cheeks stay full and rounded.
• A few quick sucks, then long, rhythmic sucks, and you can hear or see swallowing.
• Your baby comes off on their own when done and seems content.

Some tenderness in the first few sucks is common. Pain past the first minute or so is a sign to relatch.

Signs to fix the latch

• Dimpled cheeks, clicking sounds, lips curled inward, or no swallowing.
• Nipples that look flattened, wedged or white after a feed.

When to get help

An IBCLC (lactation consultant) can watch a feed and help with the latch. Reach out to one, or to your pediatrician, doctor or midwife, if:

• Latching stays hard after trying the steps above.
• Nipples crack or bleed.
• Pain keeps going even with a good latch, which can mean an infection or another cause. See the sore nipples guide.
• Your baby has fewer pee or poop diapers than usual, or you're worried about weight gain. See the milk coming in guide.