Good latch means that the baby’s mouth covers most of the areola and grasps both the nipple and part of the surrounding dark area, forming a tight seal. This helps the baby feed effectively and prevents air from entering the stomach.
To ensure proper latch, follow these steps:
- Sit in a comfortable position and bring the baby close to your breast.
- Support the baby’s head and neck and align their nose with your nipple in a straight line.
- Turn the baby’s body to face you.
- Touch the baby’s lips with the nipple to encourage a wide-open mouth.
- Bring the baby to the breast (not the breast to the baby) so that they take the entire nipple and most of the areola into their mouth.
- Make sure the baby’s lips are flanged outward and you can see slow, deep sucking with audible swallowing.