Hi all!

    I have been reading a lot lately with hardly any time for input, but I
could not help but put my two cents in on the latching discussion.  My favorite
way to approach every new mom is to just "let her do her thing" before me in
her own home.  Her behavior gives me lots of clues on what could be going
awry--with both mom and baby.  It also allows me to see what her favorite position
might be, and how much areolar tissue she is holding or how much the baby is
not opening his/her mouth, etc.  There are times when many things are amiss,
but other times where a slight change of hand positioning or mouth opening does
the trick.  Most moms who are not moved and maneuvered at the beginning of a
consult will be quite amenable to learning new positions, and as an added
advantage being a private consultant puts me in that mom's home with her pillows,
her bed, her chairs.  I often feel as though I have given my moms many visuals,
many tips before I leave her home, and most will often try the side-lying
position that they didn't want to try on the phone.

    With short tongued babies, I particularly like to try what is slangly
called the Australian hold.  I help mom lay flat on a pillow, then sit straight
up to latch in a crossover position (with baby's body laying diagonally across
mom's body).  Then mom just lays back down.  It is not easy to do with
exceptionally large breasted women, but it definitely works with most D cups or
lower.

Debbie Albert, Ph.D., IBCLC
Tampa Lactation Counseling
Tampa, FL

In a message dated 10/4/2003 12:05:50 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:
Everyone has a different way. I do find many non-latching
babies will latch in the sidelying position. I find many mothers are
resistant to using this position, esp. after a c/s birth. I usually give the
option of lying down or sitting up. Almost always the mom will choose
sitting up. If sidelying I use a pillow to support her back and often one
between the legs.

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