Getting Started

Breastfeeding should be COMFORTABLE

How you sit (or lie down) and how close you hold your baby as you feed can make a difference to how well things go. Sometimes a little difference in how the baby is feeding can make a big difference to how comfortable it is for you and how easily your baby gets the milk.

Breastfeeding should NOT HURT

Changing how you hold your baby and how she starts to feed can sometimes make a difference to how she settles after feeds.

How you hold your baby is frequently called positioning.

How your baby takes the breast is sometimes called attaching, latching or fixing.

You will find information here on how to get started with positioning and attachment.

There are some illustrations and more information in Off to the Best Start.

You know its working well when….

When its not working well and its hurting……

If you want to talk through positioning and attaching in more detail, you could phone the National Breastfeeding Helpline to speak to a registered Breastfeeding Supporter. The National Breastfeeding Helpline is available from 9:30 am to 9:30 pm, 365 days a year, on 0300 100 0212.

Here are some links to external breastfeeding websites with line drawings and images that give tips on how to get your baby to the breast correctly: