The newborn babies that I see are usually quite interested in being 
*on* the breast and seem to nurse happily when well-supported in the 
cradle hold.  I live in an area with a fairly high proportion of home 
births and unmedicated hospital births, so perhaps I am seeing 
different baby behaviors than others do.

I guess I don't see that many babies who need to be prevented from 
pulling off the breast -- and if I do, it is often remedied by having 
the mother take her hand off the back of her baby's head, supporting 
the head at the base of the skull instead.  The need to hold the baby 
onto the breast may become a self-fulfilling prophecy if the mother 
is cupping the back of the baby's head in her hand.  
http://www.health-e-learning.com/articles/Robyns_RMclutch.pdf

I personally used only the cradle hold when nursing upright (ie if 
not sidelying) with my three babies.  It felt most natural and 
easiest to me, even in the first hours and days.

Margaret
mom of 3
LLLL
Longmont, CO

At 3:04 PM -0600 12/3/07, Royce Anderson wrote:
>  I think that especially early on the mom probably needs to
>have her hand behind the baby's head to prevent him from pulling off.  Once
>s/he has the task mastered there is no need for the hand behind the head.
>

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