With all the recent discussion on the merits and deficits of the C-hold and the
scissors hold, I am surprised that nobody, so far, has mentioned yet another option,
the U-hold.

To use this hold, place your left hand open on your ribs below your right breast and
slide it up to cup that breast. Your fingers and thumb will be well behind (not
touching) your areola. The thumb will be pointing to a spot between your breasts,
and the fingers towards your armpit.

Using a U-hold ensures that when the breast is gently (and slightly) squeezed, the
areola forms an oval whose dimensions matches that of an infant placed in a
side-lying cradle position. If the cross-cradle or football hold (hate that term!)
is being used, the supporting hand should be the one on the same side as the breast,
i.e., use the right hand to support the right breast.

The U-hold allows the breast to be supported without the mother being tempted to
press down with her thumb, thus changing the position of the nipple in the baby's
mouth in midfeed, which often results in the baby becoming detached from the breast.
The U-hold encourages babies to nurse with both their noses and chins touching the
breast for optimal positioning.


Norma Ritter IBCLC, LLLL
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"If not now, when? If not us, who?" R. Hillel