Successful attachment to the breast is very important. A deep latch is achieved when the baby has latched to the breast, and not the nipple. Breast tissue is in the baby’s mouth and they are able to press their chin against the breast and use their tongue to properly transfer milk from the breast and into their mouth.
Tips to successfully latch your baby:
Start with being skin to skin with your baby. This can mean having your baby in a diaper on your bare chest.
Turn your baby towards your body so that you are “tummy to tummy” .
Use your hand to shape your breast to help the baby latch, but make sure your hand is far enough away from the nipple so it does not interfere with a wide latch.
Align your nipple with the baby’s nose (“nose to nipple”). The nipple will point up towards the roof of the baby’s mouth.
Place your other hand between the baby’s shoulder blades and gently bring the baby towards your breast. (The baby will come to the breast instead of your breast coming to the baby).
As the baby latches, their chin will plant into the breast tissue and their neck will extend back into a “sniffing position”.
Annie Rueb, RNC, IBCLC has been a nurse for over 10 years. She has a B.S. in Nursing and Biology. Annie has spent most of her career working in the birth community where she finds a passion in pregnancy, birth, and breastfeeding. She was a birth assistant and educator at a birthing center, an inpatient OB nurse, and now an IBCLC. Follow her on Instagram or DM her @az.breastfedbabies
