Breastfeeding Positions

By: Josephine Munene, Community Engagement Director & Lactation Educator

Breastfeeding is truly an art. It is not something that comes naturally to all women but there is a common assumption that as soon as you hold your bundle of joy in your arms and place them on the breast then everything will fall into place and it’ll be happily ever after.

Unfortunately this is not always the case, although holding your baby in the correct position and ensuring that they attach to the breast deeply enough can help to prevent delayed milk let-down, cracked nipples and low milk production.

Here are some tips on how to ensure your baby is correctly attached and positioned on to the breast.

Breastfeeding positions

There are several ways to position your baby when breastfeeding but as explained above, regardless of the position in which the baby is held, the baby needs to face the mum’s body (tummy-to-tummy) and the mum should be able to give the baby face-to-face attention and make eye contact during the feed. Mum also needs to be seated in a comfortable position with her back supported in order to avoid developing aches and pains due to poor posture.

The most popular positions are:

• Cradle

• Cross-cradle

• Underarm

• Lying down

• Seated/Koala 

• Laid back

Photo Source: Decue Wu

Checklist for good attachment to the breast

• More of the areola is seen above the baby’s top lip

• The baby’s mouth is open wide

• The lower lip is turned outwards

• The baby’s chin touches the breast

Photo Source: Mama Support Africa

Signs of suckling and drinking

• Mum notices the signs of “let-down” when breastfeeding

• Baby takes slow, deep sucks with pauses

• Baby’s cheeks are rounded when suckling indicating a mouth full of milk

• There are visible and audible signs of drinking

• Baby releases the breast when satisfied