Jan I haven't explained enough - I will attempt to describe what I mean but
might tie myself up in knots - so much easier with visuals than words:  

If you use the cross-cradle/transition hold the heel of the mother's hand
sits somewhere across the baby's shoulder blades with head tilting back into
the u shape of the fingers (or something similar).  If a mother has been
using this hold but would like to learn the cradle I explain to the mother
that the principles are the same.  You replace the hand that has been used
to stabilise the shoulders with the heel of the opposite hand over the same
area.  The rest of the baby's body needs to be in close contact with
mother's body to give the stability required and low enough so the baby's
head can tilt backwards over mother's forearm and then come onto the breast
from underneath.   If you have one of Rebecca Glover's pamphlets it
describes the cradle hold as well as the transition hold.  The photos on her
website can give some idea but usually the mothers don't need the other hand
to support the baby's body if they are using their own body for support.
Then they can use the other hand as they wish. The mother's body is in close
contact with her baby's body but the hand is giving the baby stabilisation
across the shoulders as with the other holds.   

I would think that tribal (?right term) women tend to let the baby drop into
their lap (sitting on floor) but they still have a stabilising hand or arm
across the upper back and interestingly the babies are often looking up
which means they probably came to the breast from underneath.   Haven't had
much time to look for images to show what I am saying but the sites below
are just a couple I could find quickly that show the stabilising hand.  

http://www.breastfeeding.com/all_about/all_about_images/no_1_reason.jpg 
http://www.rebeccaglover.com.au/positioning.html  
http://www.avert.org/photo_library/images/normal_photo_no_1180.jpg 

Not sure if that is any clearer!!

Shaughn Leach
Perth, Western Australia



-----Original Message-----
From: Lactation Information and Discussion
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of [log in to unmask]
Sent: Tuesday, 4 December 2007 10:16 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Cradle hold?

 
 
Shawn describes the  <<Cradle hold:  Mother uses the same hand to the breast

being  used (right
arm when right breast used and baby's body is placed across the  front of
the
mother's body) and her hand is placed across the shoulder  blades>>
 
 
OK, I'm really struggling picturing  this.  In the cradle hold (at least
here 
in the States), the baby is in the  crook of the mother's arm, and her hand 
is snuggling the baby in.  So, for  example, on the right breast, the baby
is 
in the crook of the mother's right  elbow (or somewhere in that vicinity --
may 
be on the mother's arm just near the  elbow), and her right hand is holding 
the baby's bottom.  The left hand is  then used for drinking coffee, 
manipulating the TV remote, or maybe, just maybe,  supporting her breast.
 
So help me out here -- maybe it is my  old age, but I'm just not picturing 
what you are saying, Shawn.  If the  mother is holding the baby between the 
shoulder blades with the right hand, then  what is the left hand doing?  And
what 
is supporting the rest of the baby's  body?  or nothing?  It sounds as
though 
what you are describing is  that the only part of the baby that is being 
touched by the mother is the bit  between her shoulder blades.  
 
Nothing wrong with that -- I'm just  trying to picture it.  



 
 Jan  B.




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