>I see very few mothers being shown the "classic" cradle hold any more -- at
>least in our area. I see the cross cradle or clutch being touted a lot more.
>Several of the calls I've gotten have been from mothers of 1 to 2 month olds
>who have felt "stuck" in those holds from the hospital and are frustrated
>because they can't BF as discreetly while out using cross-cradle or clutch.
>
>Although I definitely think there are moms who need the cross-cradle and
>clutch, I've felt sad that the "classic" cradle has been abandoned for the days
>after birth. It often "fits" best with mother's breast anatomy, allows one to
>control baby's "wild" arms and hands (if used properly), and allows baby to
>feel some control over his/her head  (again, if used properly). And it is the
>position that for many is what they were looking for when it comes to the
>closeness of the BF relationship.

Thank you, Karen, for providing me with an abrupt insight!  I, too, tend to
favor a cross-cradle hold as "training wheels" for moms with a problem,
though I always try to work the mother through to a cradle-hold (a "mall
hold") once she's comfortable.  But I just realized, looking at the mental
images I had with your post, what my issue has been.

In a cross-cradle hold, the mom has nothing behind the baby's head.  Indeed,
she *can't* have anything behind the baby's head, unless she outright holds
it in her hand.  In a cradle hold, she *may or may not* have the baby's head
free.  There's a tendency to want to use the forearm near the elbow to
stabilize the head (which tucks the chin - the mental image I just had).

Rebecca Glover, who uses a one-fingered latch with either hold, has as a
last move before latching in a cradle hold, having the mother *drop her
elbow to her side*.  I didn't understand why she bothered with that until
this moment, but of course it drops the forearm out from under the head and
allows the head full movement.  The mom still has a "cradle hold", but she's
now supporting only the baby's back and shoulders (with the neck lightly
supported on the wrist).  In either hold, most of the baby's body support
comes from having his torso held firmly against mom's.

I need to experiment with this!  How nice it would be to get rid of the
cross-cradle hold and yet be able to keep that forearm from pressing on the
back of baby's head.  I think her elbow-drop takes care of that.  Cool!

The more we let go, the more we'll learn.  Christina Smilley's moms, who get
most of their guidance from watching their babies, seem to hold them with
both arms, again hugging the baby's torso against them.  It's neither fish
nor fowl, but a simple, graceful, relaxed, nameless position...

Oh, the changes we'll see in the next 10 years!
--
Diane Wiessinger, MS, IBCLC  Ithaca, NY
www.wiessinger.baka.com

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