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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Original poster

Tiktok what think you of Clare somebody or other who has a book out about a "revolutionary" way to latch babies on?

42 replies

hunkermonkee · 20/05/2006 21:40

She was on the news in the week talking about her book and how to latch a baby on by reshaping the nipple so that it is flattened in the direction of a baby's mouth - ie if you're latching a baby on whose mouth is vertical on you, you hold your breast with thumb on one side and fingers on the other and slot it into the baby's mouth.

Is this good advice? She seemed to think so, as did woman who was trying it and keeping a video diary of her efforts. I was just a bit mystified at the "this is the way to latch, and any woman can bfeed like this" tone of the item.

(Have I explained this at all well?!)

OP posts:
emkana · 20/05/2006 21:42

You've lost me there! Grin

expatinscotland · 20/05/2006 21:43

I'm lost, too. But I also had to do the football hold the first few weeks w/dd2.

busybusybee · 20/05/2006 21:44

I have no idea from your description hunker - Sorry!!!

My blistered almost bleeding nips were immediately rescued by what midwifes called "The enhanced latch" - an absolute miracle for me!!!!

Sort of - cup the left breast with the left hand and put your left thumb on the skin above the nipple and pull upwards - which does effectively move the nip into a different position

I dont know if that is what you are describing though!

PrincessPeaHead · 20/05/2006 21:46

clare byam-cook is the woman you are referring to hunker... well known to all those who went to antenatal classes at Christine Hill.

Not sure tiktok is a fan, but I'm sure she will be on to let you know!

Original poster
hunkermonkee · 20/05/2006 21:48

OK, will try and explain it a bit better.

A lot of the advice I've seen talks about squashing the breast horizontally - either with one finger above the nipple and one below, or with your hand in a c shape around the breast, but again, fingers below and thumb above the breast (both times I'm talking about eg right breast and left hand or vice versa).

This technique was I think for the opposite hand still, but involved cupping the breast from below and having the thumb to the left and fingers to the right of the nipple. Does that make any more sense or shall I shuffle off and sit cupping my breasts in a corner? Blush

OP posts:
OxyMoron · 20/05/2006 21:49

Sounds like Clare Byam-Cook.

Original poster
hunkermonkee · 20/05/2006 21:49

That's her, PPH! Thank you! Did seem to remember some sort of controversy when I saw her name (then promptly forgot her name, obv!) but wasn't sure if it was on here I'd seen it (although where else I see bfeeding controversy, I'm not sure...!

OP posts:
snafu · 20/05/2006 21:49

That's the way we are taught currently, hunker. King's are following the Baby Friendly Initiative course for midwifery education so I guess it comes from that.

It's shaping the breast to fit the baby's mouth slightly more than the trad way of 'thumb on top, fingers underneath'. Women do tend to look at you rather strangely when you suggest it Grin but it makes some sense to me. Having said that, a newborn baby's open mouth is still quite rounded in shape, so...

What's the book?

SoupDragon · 20/05/2006 21:50

I had to do that because my stupid newborns never gaped. They've all been utterly useless :o Only way was to squeeze-and-shove so to speak.

snafu · 20/05/2006 21:51

x-posted. I've heard of her. Don't know much about her though. Wouldn't say it was exactly a 'revolutionary' way to get a latch - lots of women do it that way naturally anyway, ime...

LucyJu · 20/05/2006 21:51

I know what you're talking about!!! Saw something about it on a LLL website - I think it was called a sandwich hold, IIRC. (Will google in a minute). Found it worked well for me.

Original poster
hunkermonkee · 20/05/2006 21:53

Hiya Snafu - how's training going?

Mine didn't either, SD - even now, DS2 just slurps me into his mouth - doesn't open at all really. Just call me spaghetti-nips Blush Doesn't hurt though.

OP posts:
SoupDragon · 20/05/2006 21:54

Yes, DD is a bit of a slurper too :o

snafu · 20/05/2006 21:55

Hello you - going well, thanks - first year exams looming Shock Can't believe it really. Am up to 5 deliveries now - 35 to go Grin

Hope tiktok pitches up tonight - would be v. interested to know what she thinks of this.

Original poster
hunkermonkee · 20/05/2006 21:56

Five deliveries, brilliant! Has it been nearly a year already? No way!

OP posts:
LucyJu · 20/05/2006 21:56

\link{http://www.lalecheleague.org/llleaderweb/LV/LVAugSep00p63.html\Here.} Starts talikjng about the sandwich analogy under the "cradle position" heading.

SoupDragon · 20/05/2006 21:56

Do you know what, Snafu, I was so close to MSNing you to see if you wanted to be here when BabyDragon was born :o Ummed and ahed about it too long though!

snafu · 20/05/2006 21:59

Oh soupy, were you really? Blush

Next one, mebbe? Grin

snafu · 20/05/2006 22:00

Actually, you probably had a lucky escape - I'm still at the 'gulping back tears' stage every time Grin

SoupDragon · 20/05/2006 22:02

Yes, but it would have involved confessing that I was pregnant and had hidden it from everyone on MN (and that I'd hidden from you up at the playground on one occasion due to the bump :o) Except of course that Essbee had blabbed and you already knew.

SoupDragon · 20/05/2006 22:03

Tears - pah. Would have fitted in well with the waterbirth :)

busybusybee · 20/05/2006 22:05

Hunker your second description is very similar to what I tried to describe - I think its called the enhanced latch :)

You pull the nip upwards with your thumb and towards your arm on the same side

snafu · 20/05/2006 22:06

Noooo - I can't believe you hid from me! PMSL!

SoupDragon · 20/05/2006 22:08

:) No idea what you were wearing, I just thought "sh*t! It's a MN-er! Hide!" It all seemed so reasonable at the time :o Snort!

Must go to bed now - I think I'm due to get woken up at around 4am.

kiskidee · 20/05/2006 22:25

Clare B-C came up in association with GF in an article in one of the big papers about 6 mnths ago. She is also associated with the contentedbaby website.