In light of the recent thread on the scissors hold, I have tried a little
experiment with my newborn (he finally arrived yesterday morning.  I have
tried using both C-hold and scissor hold.  Since he has a tiny mouth
(barely a 7 lb. baby) and was obviously used to sucking his lower lip long
before birth, he has a hard time latching on sometimes. His latch is
quickly benefitting from good suck training, but I must admit, skeptical
though I was, that the scissor hold really does seem to work better when he
is in a normal cradle hold. If I have in a cross chest hold, the C-hold is
better, and it is better in the football hold.
I don't know how many mothers I have counseled against using the scissor
hold, telling them that it could cause them to actually pull the nipple out
of baby's mouth and cause nipple traums.  I still think we must be careful
to teach mothers the importance of good breast support regardless of which
hold they are using.  But I do agree with much of what I've read here that
the scissors hold is appropriate at times.
Warmly,
Glenni Lorick, BSE, IBCLC
Lima Peru
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