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Latch-On Basics

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Your baby's ready to feed, you pull her toward your breast, and she starts crying when you try to get her latched on. Why does something so natural seem so awkward?

"The most important thing you can do is make sure your baby latches on correctly," says Janet Tamaro, author of "So That's What They're For!," "This is the key thing in breastfeeding, to make sure your baby always gets milk and you don't get sore."

Barbara Heiser, executive director of the National Alliance for Breastfeeding Advocacy, clearly illustrates the importance of proper latch-on. Try this simple test: Put your index finger in your mouth, just to the first knuckle, and suck on...

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Aug 25, 2007 at 8:03:34 AM

A Nipple Shield May be Your Friend


I cannot say enough about the nipple shield for those having trouble getting a good latch. All hail the nipple shield! Hooray for nipple shields!

It's something I didn't even know existed until a benevolent nurse at the hospital, in all her mercy, suggested I try one out. It's just a flexible little silicone "nipple" that fits over your nipple if yours is not yet, er...pliable enough to stretch back into the baby's mouth to trigger the sucking reflex. I used it for the first couple of weeks and after that, my baby was good to go on her own.

I might have easily given up without it.

-Liz @ Mom-101
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glvogelzang
glvogelzang
July 27, 2007

Getting Started

When my second child was born, he didn't seem to understand what the breast was for. I had very successfully breast fed my first child, so I couldn't figure out what the problem was. Finally, after much frustration, I dribbled sugar...  read more

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