Jandy Beresford, Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) in Durham Region
  • Home
  • About
  • Services
    • Breastfeeding
    • Babywearing
    • Classes
  • My musings
  • Contact

Searching for the perfect latch

12/2/2017

6 Comments

 

How to tell that a latch really is a good one​

A typical conversation in my life:

Parent:  I know the latch is good but it still hurts.
Me:  How do you know the latch is good?
Parent:  I saw (insert doctor, public health nurse, other support person) and they said it was fine.

STOP.  

Stop right there.  

If your latch hurts, it's not a good latch.

I promise.  If it hurts, something is wrong.  

A good latch is one that is effective and pain free

In order to know that you have a good latch, you need to know that it doesn't hurt and you need to know how tell that your baby is drinking.  Identifying drinks takes practice, and sometimes its hard to do with new babies who are drinking colostrum, but if you watch, you can see the baby get a big mouthful of milk and swallow it.  Usually, after the first little bit, baby starts to pause with their mouth in a more open position.  That's a big mouthful of milk.  They swallow then do it again.  

Watch those drinks.  Watch them slow down and then add compressions to get them going again.  This will help baby get as much milk as they want and keep them drinking, which will help keep you pain free.

Some other things you can try to help get a pain free latch - 
Line your baby up so their nose is in line with your nipple so that when they latch their chin in into the breast and away from their chest.  Try to keep their nose away from the breast as well to help achieve the optimal 'asymmetric latch'.  

Pain when breastfeeding can happen for lots of reasons, but generally, a well latched baby who is drinking, isn't going to cause pain. Someone who is helping you with breastfeeding should be able to tell you that the baby is drinking well and you can tell them if it hurts or not.  Together you can determine if it's a 'good latch' or not.
6 Comments
Laura link
12/18/2017 09:50:46 pm

This is the number ONE thing that drives me crazy as an IBCLC. Everyone tells me the latch is "perfect". If there is pain, nope, not perfect. Can you imagine anyone telling a man that the pain he was experiencing was normal and it would "just get better". NO!! We matter! There are two people in this relationship (the baby and the parent) and they both need to be enjoying it.

Reply
Anonymous
12/18/2017 11:07:22 pm

Yes!!!!!!!
Exactly!
Next time I hear a doctor tell a mom that the latch is good even if she's in pain I am going to advocate that she kick him repeatedly for 20-45 mins every two hours and tell him to hold on because 'it will get better'

Reply
Danielle Mcintosh link
7/23/2023 09:46:29 pm

Great post thank yoou

Reply
Visit page link
11/5/2024 11:55:41 am

Surveillance UAVs can fly from a high altitude that allows offering a wide aerial viewpoint without blind spots. With high-quality sensors and HD cameras, drones can detect anomalies or events in low light conditions and from meters away. You can fly your drone without an internet connection! Most drones create their own Wi-Fi network, allowing direct communication with your phone or controller. This means you can control your drone and view live FPV footage without being connected to the internet.

Reply
whey protein isolate contain lectins link
11/8/2024 01:07:36 am

It is believed to enhance energy, improve mental clarity, and support immune function. Ginkgo biloba on the other hand, is renowned for its role in supporting brain health and memory.

Reply
majin vegeta link
11/8/2024 01:49:14 am

Yajirobe’s personality is one of the more down-to-earth among the Dragon Ball characters, making him relatable in a series full of powerful fighters and ambitious warriors. Unlike the other Z Fighters, he doesn’t strive for glory or train obsessively instead, he’s practical, focused more on survival and comfort than on heroics.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Jandy is a babywearing educator, an IBCLC and offers baby sleep support in Durham Region Ontario.

    Archives

    April 2019
    July 2018
    March 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017

    Categories

    All
    Babywearing
    Breastfeeding
    Life

    RSS Feed

Services

Breastfeeding
Babywearing
Sleep Support

About

About
​Classes
​Blog

Support

Contact
647-286-7150
[email protected]​​
© COPYRIGHT 2018. Jandy Beresford Lactation Consultant, Babywearing Educator 
Site content created with help from 
McCawley Communications
  • Home
  • About
  • Services
    • Breastfeeding
    • Babywearing
    • Classes
  • My musings
  • Contact