Michelle wrote:
>If I let go of my
>breast while my child is in a cross cradle I will get sore nipples.
>(I am guessing from the weight of the breast pulling down on the
>breast from his mouth?)

This reminds me of something that could be the basis for sore nipples
in *any* position, so could be what the person who doesn't like the
cross-cradle position is alluding to.

If the mother lifts her breast to attach her baby, which most seem to
do, it is important to lower the baby along with the breast when she
lets go to change hold (eg from cross-cradle to regular cradle) or
just lets go. I have seen so many mothers do this badly, and the
breast just drags away from the baby, so he clamps down to hang on,
so he doesn't lose it.

I try to get the mums to start by lining up the level of the baby's
mouth and mum's nipple with the natural fall of the breast, if
possible, and not let her lift the breast. (This obviously depends,
up to a point, on the size and shape of the breasts.) The other
common thing here in Oz is to always put baby onto a pillow on mum's
lap to raise him up, but often this is nowhere near the natural level
of the nipple (hence the need to lift the breast). Simple thing,
really, but it causes such common problems.

BTW, I have heard the cross-cradle hold called the 'transitional'
hold. I like this term as it implies it is a temporary hold for the
early days, or maybe just the early part fo the feed.
******************************************************************
Joy Anderson B.Sc. Dip.Ed. Grad.Dip.Med.Tech. IBCLC
Nursing Mothers' Association of Australia Breastfeeding Counsellor
Perth, Western Australia.   mailto:[log in to unmask]
******************************************************************

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