Perhaps you serve mothers who are from the same "tribe" (mostly have babies
with people from their own ethnic group and geographic area) - but in my
area, moms and babies don't always match well.

It's as varied as the positions used for other intimate relations -
especially if one partner is 6 foot (1.829 M)tall and the other is 5 foot
(1.524 M) one!  

Giving a mom a position "name" - whatever it is - is probably more than she
can handle - what we need to do is find a way in which she can understand
how to help her baby get a mouthful of breast and then transfer the milk
needed while causing the least amount of (ideally no) discomfort for both.  

Lately I've seen:

A mom with a large nipple with a tiny baby whose mouth did not cover the
nipple...much less reach the breast

A mom whose nipple was so far under her breast she had no idea where it was
or how to get her baby near it - and a baby that was so confused he had no
idea what to do either.

A mom whose breasts were so soft and pillow-y that baby took in lots of
breast - but no milk transfer heard.

Then there was the other mom with a nipple - that faced the far side...

Cradle? Cross-cradle?  Clutch? C-hold  U-Hold?

Let's not get lost in the nomenclature and "rules" and try to remember the
goal:  Comfortable, effective milk removal. 

I have to agree that for the most part - pillows cause complications,
especially when mothers are trying to learn what to do.  I like folded
towels myself, as they provide support is smaller areas and can be arranged
easily.

Jeanette Panchula, BSW, RN, PHN, IBCLC
California, USA

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