Latch Evaluation
How can you tell if your baby has established good latch?
- Does your baby have your entire nipple and about one inch of the areola in their mouth?
- After you get the let-down feeling can you hear your baby swallow?
- Does your baby follow a “suck, suck, suck, swallow” pattern
- Can you see noticeable movement in the jaw that should also make your baby’s ears wiggle?
- Is the area around your baby’s temple moving?
- Are your baby’s lips everted (turned outward) around the nipple?
- Is the nursing session pain-free?
If you cannot answer yes then your baby may not have good latch. You should break suction by inserting a finger into your baby’s mouth at the inside cheek. Hook your nipple and pull it out as you draw your breast away. If you allow your baby to slide off the nipple without breaking suction then you will wind up with sore and cracked nipples.
Share and Enjoy:
