Diagram of breastfeeding posture after cesarean section

The feeding posture not only affects the baby's digestion and absorption of breast milk, but also depends on the method of delivery chosen by the pregnant woman, especially for pregnant women who have a caesarean section. Taking into account the wound on the body, the feeding posture should also be adjusted to avoid discomfort. What is the proper breastfeeding position after a cesarean section?

Diagram of breastfeeding posture after cesarean section :

1. Cradle position: It is a classic breastfeeding position, which requires you to support your baby's head with your arms. Sit on a chair with guardrails or on the edge of the bed where you can lean on some pillows, and put your feet on a stool, lounge table, or other elevated surface to prevent your body from leaning toward your baby. Position your baby on your lap (or on a pillow on your lap) so that he or she is lying on his or her side with his or her face, belly, and knees facing directly toward you. Tuck your baby's lower arm under your arm. If your baby is sucking on your right breast, place his head in the crook of your right arm and put your upper arm and hand under his back to support his neck, spine, and buttocks. Place your baby's knees against your torso or just below your left chest. The baby should be lying horizontally or at an angle.

2. Cross-over: This position is also called the cross-cradle position. The difference between it and the cradle position is that the baby's head does not rest on your arms, but on your upper arms. If you are breastfeeding on your right breast, hold your baby tightly with your right hand and arm, with your baby's chest facing you. Use your fingers to support the back of your baby's head and just below his ears to guide him to the nipple.

3. "Basketball style" (side hug): To put it simply, the "basketball style" is to hold the baby under the arm (the arm on the same side as the breast), just like holding a basketball or a handbag. First, place your baby at your side, under your arm. He should be facing you with his nose at nipple height and his feet stretched out behind you. Place your arms on the pillow above your thighs (or at your side) to support your baby's shoulders, neck, and head. Use your other hand to hold your breast in a C shape (see picture) to correctly guide him to find the nipple. At this moment, his lower jaw will first encounter the nipple. However, be careful not to pull your baby too hard toward your chest, as he may resist and lift his head back against your hand. Use your upper arms to support your baby's upper back.

Correct posture for feeding breast milk with a glass bottle:

Place your child on your lap with his or her head resting on your elbow and support his or her back with your upper arm. Do not lay the child horizontally, but let the child sit in a semi-sitting position, which can ensure that the child's breathing and swallowing are safe and easy, and will not choke the child.

Before breastfeeding, drop a small amount of breast milk from a glass bottle onto the skin on the inside of your wrist to check the temperature of the milk. Milk is not suitable for high or low temperatures. You should check the milk flow in advance. Loosen the lid of the bottle slightly to allow air to enter the bottle to fill the space after the milk is expressed.

If this is not done, air pressure will be built up in the bottle, causing the bottle to become flat and making it difficult for the child to suck. At this time, the child may throw a tantrum, get angry, or refuse to drink the remaining milk. When this happens, you can slowly pull the nipple of the bottle from the child's mouth to transfer the air into the bottle, and then continue to feed breast milk.

You can gently touch the side of your child's face that is touching yours to induce the child's sucking reflex. When the child turns his head towards you, take the opportunity to insert the bottle nipple into the child's mouth. The child will suck the bottle nipple all at once, just like sucking a human nipple, and suck the entire bottle nipple into the mouth. At this time, you need to be careful not to poke the bottle nipple too deep to avoid choking the baby.

Allow the child to inhale at his or her own rate. Sometimes children may slow down during the process of drinking milk, look around, play with the bottle, etc. These are the happiness that children should get. From the time a child learns to drink milk, he should be made to feel happy when drinking milk.