how to check your latch when nursing
If you’re beginning to nurse or planning to soon, it can be nerve-wracking and confusing. You might not know if you’re doing it right. T
his article has great tips for checking your latch and to see if baby is getting milk. If you’re just getting started, use this guide. If you’re struggling to body feed, please reach out to a trained Lactation Educator or Lactation Consultant.
baby’s stomach is facing you
Your baby’s belly should be facing you, possibly touching your own. This will make latching easier.
baby is brought to you
Don’t lean down to get baby to latch; bring baby up. You can make this easier by leaning back and elevating baby on a nursing pillow or regular one.
baby’s lips should be wide
When baby latches, their mouth should cover the entire nipple and most or all of the areola. If baby latches on the nipple only, it’ll be painful and ineffective. Baby's mouth should be open wide for a good latch, and your nipple should go deep in the back of their mouth.
baby’s lips are turned out
Looking for duck lips can ensure your baby has latched on correctly. If lips are turned in, the sucking won’t be efficient
baby is taking deep swallows
A great way to check if nursing is going well is if baby is swallowing. They should be regular, deep swallows.
I hope these tips are helpful to see if nursing is going well. If you’re struggling to breastfeed, reach out to a trained professional, such as a Lactation Educator or Lactation Consultant.
If you’re interested in setting up your breast or chest feeding plan along with everything else you’ll need for baby, use my body feeding guide. You can also check out my prenatal planning packages or my VIP intensive, Ready for Baby in a Day.
Hi! I'm Gigi; I'm a postpartum doula, mother to three toddlers, including twins, and a wife to my high school sweetheart. I’m a #swiftie who loves cheesy novels.
As a former teacher, I bring realistic, evidence-based, and actionable advice (and LOTS of handouts.) I help families get the tools they need to prepare, so once baby arrives, they can focus on resting and bonding instead of researching or stressing. I’m here to streamline the newborn learning curve and help birth parents, partners, and other family members. There isn’t ONE way to have and raise a little human. I’m here to guide parents to find THEIR way so that they can thrive in the fourth trimester and beyond.
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