Another latch technique: "The C Hold"

One of our popular blog posts that we often refer to mamas who are having issues with getting a nice deep latch is this blog post about the Nipple Twist Latch. It's a great way to get a nice deep latch. There is another way that I have personally used, referred my postpartum clients and others to use as well with great success. It's called "The C Hold". This is an excellent technique that works especially well with moms who have large breasts or babies with small mouths (preemies, small jaws etc).



"C" hold--Support your breast with your thumb on top, well back from your areola (the darker skin surrounding the nipple) and the fingers underneath. Your fingers should also be well back from your baby's mouth. This hold is helpful when breastfeeding in the clutch or football position as well as the cradle position. This hold is especially helpful for babies with tiny mouths (small jaws, preemies etc) or women with larger breasts.

A variation of the "C" hold is the "U" hold where your hand is cupping your breast in the shape of a "U.




"The U-hold helps keep mother's fingers behind her areola so that they do not interfere with baby's latch. it allows mother to support her breast comfortably. It is extremely useful when holding baby in the cradle or cross-cradle position because it allows the alignment of the oval of breast tissue to match the position of baby's mouth. The long axis of the oval goes corner to corner in baby's mouth. This helps ensure baby gets a larger mouthful of breast. When the U-hold is used with the football (clutch) position or the side-lying position, the improper alignment of this oval to baby's mouth can make it harder for baby to latch on well." (Andrea Eastman, IBCLC)

Checking if your baby is latched on well:

Aim your nipple slightly towards the roof of his mouth, bringing baby to you, chin first.

Good latch-on checkpoints for your baby include:

his nose is nearly touching your breast, that is, no further away than a credit card edge
his lips are flanged
at least ½ inch of your breast around the base of your nipple is in his mouth.

If the latch is uncomfortable or painful, gently place your finger in the baby's mouth, between his gums, to detach him and try again.

A baby who is offered the breast will suck without swallowing as he positions the nipple in his mouth and tells your breast he is ready for the milk to let down. When he begins to receive milk, you will see his jaw working all the way back to his ear. His temples will wiggle. You will also hear him swallowing, quickly at first, then more slowly, as his appetite is satisfied. (excerpt from LLL)

"It's All In The Latch..."

Don't we hear this all the time?

I have sore nipples..."it must be the latch!"

I'm having supply issues..."it must be the latch!"

It hurts when I nurse the baby..."it must be the latch!"

We're at war in the Middle East..."IT MUST BE THE LATCH!"

So we're told that one key to successful breastfeeding is to have the elusive "good latch." Some of us are shown what this looks like through pictures, diagrams, or, if we're lucky, a lactation consultant or other lactation professional shows us what that "good latch" looks like with OUR baby and OUR breast. We are told the latch must be DEEP and ASYMMETRICAL (meaning the babies mouth covers more of the BOTTOM of the areola than the top).

Listen gals, I'm breastfeeding my second baby. I'm a doula. I've had over 16 hours of training in breastfeeding support. I have never had a "good latch." I always suspected this, but I wasn't having problems, wasn't in pain, my nipples were never cracked, raw, or bleeding, so I figured it's a "good enough" latch. Because I have big fluffy breasts and nipples that don't stand out much (they aren't clinically flat...anymore...lol) I have always struggled to get that awesome DEEP and ASYMMETRICAL latch. Like I said...it was good enough...though I will admit to noticing some pinkness to my nipples. I always wondered how I could EVER get that awesome latch without Mother Hen's awesome nipples...(we'll do our nipple post in the near future, complete with our own nipple silhouettes).


I found it. I can't believe what I've been missing. I have to share with my TGL readers RIGHT THIS MINUTE because I have NEVER had such a comfortable latch. I've never SEEN such a beautiful latch! It was pretty easy too! So here's a link to the description and a VIDEO, thank heavens I don't think I could have done it without the video!

Nipple Twist Latch Trick

Do YOU have a special trick for getting that awesome latch? Please share!