I frequently use the cross-cradle hold for latch on and throughout the feed
with my patients. I was taught this position by my mentoring LC years ago. I
find that it gives the mother a better view and better head/neck control of
the baby, unlike the awkward traditional cradle hold. The arm movement
required to boost the baby on with that one is awkward and difficult for a
lot of moms. It's also harder to view the position of the baby's mouth with
that hold. I find that it's fine later on when breastfeeding is
well-established and that most mothers end up using it anyway once they and
the baby become more comfortable with each other. The football hold provides
a lot of the same benefits as the cross-cradle (better head/neck control,
better view), but some moms aren't as comfortable using it and as baby grows
it becomes much harder to get baby's legs/bottom positioned correctly with
the football hold. If mom and baby need a little more practice with
latch/positioning for a longer period of time the cross-cradle continues to
provide what the football hold does even though the baby is getting longer
and longer. The football hold is also more difficult to use with a baby who
tends to arch or push back against whatever his feet touch as moms sometimes
don't get the bottom against the back of the chair/bed well enough.

I have not experienced patients with nipple soreness anymore often when
using this hold. Is the thought behind that coming from the fact that the
only thing supporting the baby's head/neck is the mother's hand rather than
her arm? Perhaps the baby's head is pulling down on the nipple tissue? I
would think this could be remedied by supporting the baby/mother's arms well
with a pillow. A rolled-up towel/blanket under the mother's hand/wrist is
also many times helpful.

I'm curious as to why you said you didn't use this hold all throughout the
feeding and only at latch.

Becky Flora, IBCLC

Kingsport, TN


> ------------------------------
>
> Date:    Fri, 2 Jun 2000 15:56:58 -0500
> From:    Mary Kay Smith <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: cross cradle hold question
>
> I have a question for my 2400+ closest friends regarding the
> "cross-cradle" hold. There is a concern here in the Chicago area being
> raised that this hold is causing many problems with sore nipples and
> other breastfeeding problems. Personally I tend to use this hold as a
> latching on option, not one to use throughout a complete feeding and I'm
> hoping that is the case with other LCs. Can any or all of you share with
> me, and the group if this seems to be a global concern, your thoughts
> and experiences with this hold? I've been part of a group discussing
> this lately and would certainly like to have more information to refute
> another person's viewpoint that this is being taught "everywhere" by
> "everyone" and that LCs are learning this via courses or conferences. We
> haven't had any good point-counterpoint issues recently so here's one
> for you.
> Mary Kay Smith, IBCLC
> Romeoville IL near Chicago (and suburbs)
>
> ------------------------------
>
> End of LACTNET Digest - 2 Jun 2000 - Special issue (#2000-681)
> **************************************************************

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