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It's very important to adopt the right habits quickly. This avoids many inconveniences: insufficient or incorrect suckling, swollen or engorged breasts, etc.
Correct position
The baby's body should be turned completely towards your body, well lodged in the hollow of your arms.
How to recognise the right position
No pain during the feed; calm and regular swallowing by the baby. His mouth should "swallow" a large part of the areola. A useful tip: watch his ear, it will regularly go up and down!
Breasts hurting?
There could be several reasons:
> Your baby has not had a feed for several hours (for example, after a long night), and one or more of the milk ducts are blocked. This is engorgement. Your breast is sore, taut, and you feel a lump at the surface. This is a small build-up of milk which is causing the pain.
To remedy this, there are two solutions: place a damp and very hot piece of cloth on the breast for a few minutes will help to "empty" the duct. Then put your baby on the painful breast and let him suck for as long as possible, and drain the blocked duct by massaging from the swelling to the areola.
If this is difficult, begin with a massage then use a breast pump. Once the milk is ejected, put your child to your breast. As soon as your breast feels comfortable and supple again, the duct is unblocked.
> You can also feel pain because of cracked or chapped skin. In the majority of cases, cracks appear due to incorrect positioning of the baby. Allow your breasts to dry after each feed, and apply an anti-chap homeopathic ointment.
If you experience difficulties, you can seek help and advice from the Association of Breastfeeding Mothers: www.abm.me.uk
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