In my experience, the cross-cradle hold alleviates painful breastfeeding. I
have used it extensively and with great success.  I think that Barbara's
points, and the other points made by others here are well taken.  If there
is pain, perhaps it is nipple compression associated with improper
alignment...not cross-cradle position in itself.

Just today, I had a mother in my office. She had painful breastfeeding,
especially on the right, where the pain was 8/10. When correcting
positioning using the cross cradle, nose to nipple, touching upper lip,
planting chin first, etc...as in Barbara Wilson-Clay's description, the
mother breastfed comfortably and with no pain. This is typical of what I
experience in my private LC practice.

Kathleen

Kathleen B. Bruce, BSN, IBCLC co-owner Lactnet, Indep. Consultant
Williston, Vermont, USA
mailto:[log in to unmask]
http://homepages.together.net/~kbruce/kbblact.html
http://homepages.together.net/~kbruce/kbblrv.html
LACTNET Archives http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/lactnet.html

             ***********************************************
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