• Hold your baby comfortably without straining your back, shoulders, arms, or wrists. Use pillows to bring your baby up to your breast level. If you have large breasts, use a rolled up cloth diaper under your breast for better breast support.
  
  
• Maintain proper mouth position for your baby, make sure your baby: latches on with a wide mouth surrounding your nipple and one inch of your areola. His top and bottom lips should be rolled outward, not under, and his nose should touch your breast.
  
  
• Breastfeed comfortably: You will feel gentle tugging or drawing sensation on your nipple and areola. A feeding that is going well is not painful. If you feel pain, stop the feeding and start over.
  
  
• See your baby's jaw, temple, and throat move: When your baby is feeding well, you can see his jaws move. You may also notice movement at his temples and his throat.
  
  
• Hear your baby swallowing: Your baby's sucking may be rapid at the beginning of his feeding, followed by gulps, and short pauses. the sucking pattern should be repeated without constant baby stimulation.

• Relax as you continue to feed: Your baby's body may be tense at the beginning of the feeding because he is hungry and eager to feed. As he feeds, he will become more relaxed. While feeding, your baby may fall asleep at your breast and/or release from your breast, letting you know that he is full.
  
  
• Feel content rather than fussy and tense at the end of a feeding.
  
  
• Need plenty of diaper changes: After the third day, a baby who is feeding well will have at least 5-6 wet diapers and 3-4 good-sized bowel movements in twenty-four hours. If his soiled diaper count is low, notify his pediatrician right away.

© Copyright 2000-07 Babies 'n Business, LLC. Product names are trademarks of Medela, Inc.
Information sheets and instructional illustrations courtesy of Medela, Inc. Used with permission.
Ameda products are registered.
Comments or questions about this web site? E-mail the webmaster.