<the baby is lined up with mouth directly opposite the nipple - as opposed to nose opposite nipple. the hand on the same side as the breast shapes the breast, with the thumb being quite close to the nipple and downwards pressure of the thumb causing the nipple to then tilt 'up the baby's nose'. All the rest is the same... bottom gum as close to edge of areola as physiologically possible. There is more areola to be seen above top lip then below bottom lip.> <a common comment I hear from the midwives is - the baby won't open wide to latch. No when the nipple is just being offered directly at the lips, few newborns see any reason to open very wide. But as soon as you tilt that nipple up their nose, the baby gapes beautifully.> Thank you, Denise, for this "eye-opening" explanation. So many new mothers we see have trouble coordinating "Put the baby on to the breast, not the nipple in the baby's mouth" and "Lead with the chin" and "Point the nipple at the baby's nose". I can't wait to try the placement of the thumb close to the nipple and indent to tilt the nipple (and the lower areola) in such a way as to stimulate a gape that places the deeper part of the areola right near the tip of the baby's tongue where it belongs! I'm also wondering whether we were inadvertently doing something close to that when locally, we were advising the "teacup" hold of the areola and "flapping" the nipple down on top of the baby's tongue. Thanks a million. I foresee it will make it so much easier to explain, not only in person, but over the phone. Jean ************ K. Jean Cotterman RNC, IBCLC Dayton, Ohio USA *********************************************** The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM) mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html