Coach Smith here, blowing the whistle use of the term "football hold" for
babies:

1. The so-called "football hold" used for breastfeeding a baby is NOT how
real American-shaped footballs are held. That is, by any player who really
wants to hang on to the ball. If a football were head the way we hold babies,
the player's elbow is too far out and back, making a great target for an
opposing tackler who could easily dislodge the ball and cause a fumble. Real
footballs are held up against the abdomen, elbow in close. The equivalent of
the "head" end of the football is much  closer to the belly-button than the
breast.

2. Women rarely work with "footballs." Breastfeeding a baby is a
gender-specific activity, so let's use a term that does not reek with
testosterone, shall we?

3. More accurate descriptions would be "underarm" hold, or "same arm-same
breast" hold, or "same-side" position, or "baby to the side" or just show a
picture or drawing. These descriptions do not have value judgments or try to
mimic what is done holding another object.

4. Getting the baby's head in exactly the right position for "underarm" or
"vertical, same-breast" breastfeeding is a bit trickier than holding a rigid
ball, and takes more arm and hand dexterity than holding a football. The
player's strength is used to hold the ball as tight to the body as possible
while running very fast for a few seconds. The mother's arm and hand must
align and support the baby's head, maintain the baby's upper body alignment,
and adjust the depth of the latch onto the breast, taking into account the
size, weight, and alignment of the breast and nipple-areolar complex. It is
an entirely different movement mechanically.  And is usually performed in the
seated position for 10-30 minutes, several times a day.

Don't translate "football hold" for breastfeeding. Use a different term,
please.

Linda Smith, jock-turned LC, private practice in Dayton, OH