You’re at step 6 in my guide for perfect latching!
(Click here for the full guide – https://lorettaanderson.com.au/breastfeeding-guide/)
You have come through Step 5 and need a little more guidance. Your baby either hasn’t latched or latched and fallen asleep! So let’s bring in another trick, SHAPING!
As odd as it may seem your baby actually breastfeeds by shaping your breast tissue with their mouth. Rather than latching on to your nipple.
The good news is it doesn’t matter what your nipple looks like – Long, short, flat or inverted.
The tricky thing is, it’s hard work for your little baby to create the shape from your breast tissue. So they let go very quickly.
This means they slip off and on when trying to latch. The best thing is, YOU can help your baby by shaping your breast before they latch!
Here’s how to shape your breast.
After working through steps 1-5 your will have one hand free. This is the hand you will use to shape your breast. Below are the steps (also take a look at my video on shaping):
Bring your hand to the breast your baby is attempting to latch on to
Look at the position of your baby. Notice an area on your breast opposite your baby’s nose. This is spot one for your index finger.
Place your the pad of your index finger about 2 centimetres from your nipple on the breast. This will now be opposite your baby’s nose.
Now you will use your index finger and place it on your breast opposite your baby’s chin.
Your fingers will look like scissors and are close to your baby put not touching.
Next squeeze your fingers together to shape a piece of your breast tissue.
Now your baby can grab on to this piece of breast tissue. It’s like biting a hamburger that is shaped the right way for your baby to take a big bite.
Now you are shaping, bring your baby to your nipple. Do this by pointing your nipple to the centre of your baby’s mouth and cuddle your baby close. This will secure the latch.
But there is just one more step that goes hand in hand with shaping, it is THE MOST IMPORTANT PART!
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