I am a stickler for the head extension. I really don't like when the baby is flexed. I explain to the parents that the head extension puts the chin into the breast so the jaw and tongue can work the breast, and tips the nose back so the baby can breathe, and also 'opens up the breathing pipe and swallowing tube.' Depending on the client, you could say the trachea and esophagus. Of course you can demonstrate or have them flex/extend. I also find the hardest position for new moms to achieve good extension is the traditional cradle hold. One thing I show them is this: I hold the baby in the cradle hold, I show how the head is usually way past the breast and baby will have to look down (flex) to get to the breast. Also almost all hungry babies will root on my upper arm when I'm holding them in cradle, and I show mom how he is rooting and extending searching for the breast (try it!). I say look how he is extending his head searching for the breast, so let's use the cross cradle. I'm not opposed to the cradle, but have had much much more success helping moms and getting the babes to latch right away using football or cross cradle in the early days. Laurie Wheeler, IBCLC, MN, RN New Orleans Louisiana, s.e. USA _________________________________________________________________ Tired of spam? Get advanced junk mail protection with MSN 8. http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail *********************************************** To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail To start it again: set lactnet mail (or digest) To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet All commands go to [log in to unmask] The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM) mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html