I have been reading with interest the recent posts on this subject
.  There is one aspect I have not seen addressed.  It certainly has
been shown that babies need some hand-to-mouth activity in
preparation to nurse.  Swaddling a baby just to keep it quite and go
longer between feedings also seems inappropriate.

HOWEVER:
1-Latching can sometimes be a challenge when the baby seems to want
both its fists and mom's breast in the mouth at the same time!  I
think many babies have a "residual" of the action I've seen in
kittens and puppies where they "knead" the "breasts" to help the
MER.  Unfortunately, this can often get in the way of mom getting
baby latched.  When she has someone to help her, that person can
gently hold baby's hands away from the nipple area until s(he) gets
latched.  Then baby can rest hands on the breast without interfering
with nursing.  When mom is alone, she can get frustrated because she
only has two hands.  In this situation, it can be helpful to put
baby in a "mummy wrap" (one side of the blanket over one arm and
behind the back, the other side over the other arm and behind the
back).  This does not have to be a really tight wrap. Once baby is
attached, it's OK if (s)he works the hands loose and lays them on
mom's breast. As the baby becomes more of a "pro" at nursing, (s)he
learns not to get the hands in the way of latching.

2-AFTER nursing, some babies are content laying "loose" wherever
they sleep.  Others seem more content when they are help more
snugly.  The fact that their small movements may cause larger body
movements seems to overwhelm some.  It's like they want to go back
to the snug feeling they had inside mom.  Of course if mom can hold
baby or carry baby in a sling, that may make baby content, but not
everyone is comfortable with that or may have other demands
restricting her freedom to do so.  Wrapping these babies snugly may
help them sleep better (not necessarily longer).

The point is that we can't make hard and fast "rules" that apply in
every situation.  In this case, while some uses of swaddling are not
a good idea and can interfere with breastfeeding, other uses may be
appropriate and in some cases (#1 above) may help the nursing.

Winnie Mading RNC, IBCLC

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