I agree that the description of the asymmetrical latch in the first edition
of the book I wrote with Jack Newman could have been clearer, and we have
re-written it for the second edition (available in Canada but not in the
U.S. at this point) in hopes of making it easier to understand and use.

I am finding this description of various approaches to latch very helpful
and interesting. I think what is very clear is that it is not "Apply Part A
to Part B" but that we need a repertoire of different approaches, positions,
strategies to help each mother and baby find the most comfortable and
effective latch possible for them. Some will work with only a few mothers
and babies, some will work with many - but the more possibilities we have,
the more people we can help.

My frustration is with mothers who say "I was shown how to do 'the latch'"
(as if there is only one) and assume their sore nipples and lack of milk
transfer must therefore be due to other causes. I find that almost every
time I am able to reduce the pain and increase the amount of milk that baby
is getting just by making adjustments in the baby's position and latch.

And I would second Rachel's comments on learning from self-latching babies -
I frequently encourage mothers to relax with their babies on their bellies,
skin-to-skin, and I am very impressed by how often the baby then
self-attaches.

Teresa Pitman
Guelph, Ontario, Canada

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