I am certainly NOT promoting bottlefeeding, but have to disagree with the
statement that:

"To do it right (the best way for the baby), you cannot cuddle and hold
close.
Breastfeeding, on the other hand, promotes closeness between mom and baby."

In fact, in the NCAST Feeding Scale one of the 76 parameters is "Caretaker
holds baby against abdomen" - this is whether breast or bottle feeding, so
that mom can feel the baby's body movements and be able to respond to any
cues.

Of course, this is certainly not as good a communication route as the
sensation of a baby at the nipple when baby is breastfeeding, but the point
is that when I do have to teach mom (per my last note) how to bottlefeed
her baby, I either hold the baby tightly against me or place him/her
tightly against mom - often skin to skin, as we have been working on
breastfeeding.  The baby is held more vertically than when in the cross
cradle hold, or the usual bottlefeeding position, but still against mom's
chest - or between the breasts if that works best for her.

________________________________________

Jeanette Panchula, BSW, RN, PHN, IBCLC
Vacaville, CA
_______________________________________________________
What have you done to support breastfeeding today?

Que hiciste hoy para apoyar la lactancia?

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