<<I've been using the cross-cradle hold with mothers for several
years.
        In my opinion, it solves many more problems than it creates.  I very
        carefully teach mothers the cross-cradle hold in breastfeeding
classes
and in person.>>

I agree.  I like teaching the cross-cradle hold, usually when a mother is
having sore-nipple difficulties using the cradle hold.  But I find that I
have to teach it in person, rather than on the phone, as I often do when
teaching the cradle hold.

        << I think these mothers
        are using their wrist and hand to support the weight of the baby's
body
        and head when they are positioning the baby at the breast.  When I
am
        assisting a mom, I always tell her to use her forearm along the back
of
        the baby to keep him in the correct position for nursing.  All of
the
baby's body weight should be placed on supportive pillows.  >>

When I teach the cross-cradle hold, I usually ask them to use their *upper
arm* as well - tuck baby's rear under her upper arm.  This gives mom more
room to reach across baby's back even if she has relatively short arms or
large breasts (either of which can make the cross-cradle difficult) and get
rather easily to baby's neck & ears with her hand.  Tucking baby's rear
snugly between mom's upper arm and the side of her body takes some of the
load of the baby's weight off her hand & wrist.  Mom's thumb goes on baby's
ear (on top of his head), and the other fingers wrap around the neck to the
other ear.

        <<I use the cross-cradle position as a learning tool and tell
mothers that
        it is only necessary to use this technique for a couple of weeks,
until
        the baby knows exactly where to go to locate the nipple and latch on
        deeply without much assistance>>

Agreed again.  In addition to what you've just said, I also tell them to go
ahead and switch arms (back to cradle hold), gently & slowly so as not to
disturb baby, a few or several minutes into the feeding, *if* they want to.
My main interest in the cross-cradle hold is in using it to achieve a good
latch-on.  I often find that moms who are experiencing sore nipples
appreciate being able to better control the baby's head.  It can be
difficult to move a baby effectively & deeply onto the breast, if all she
has to control his head with is her elbow!  Such mothers tend to love using
the cross-cradle for the first several minutes of a feeding, and act like
I've just invented sliced bread :::grin:::

But after the feeding has gotten off to a good start, it's easy and probably
even preferable, IMO, to switch to a cradle hold.......
Regina Roig Lane, BS IBCLC for Miami-Dade County WIC

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