U/C hold confusion!?

[Stefka]

I am confused by this c hold u hold business. I am not sure how I should be holding my breast at latch on. I am feeding cross cradle so should I have my fingers at the top and bottom of my breast in a c shape or be underneath my breast in a u with my fingers squeezing the side of my breast?

I don't understand why you're holding your breast.

How old is your baby and what happens when the baby latches on?

Hi Stefka

I hoe things are - if only gradually - improving?

I don't hold my breast at all when latching (and I have fairly huge bazoomas these days!) but I know there's different advice. the combination of big baby and big norks makes it difficult. I think though this contributes to some of the problems I had/have - one is definitely lower than the other and so latch is a bit skew... but I think you need only hold, if you need to if you see what I mean... More qualified BF counsellors may tell you different though.

At the start I did sometimes 'help' the nipple in, especially when I was practising a lower, deeper latch (ie babies head had to tip back more and more of areola in mouth etc)

Good luck!

but just read the other thread! Yes- I think - your instinct is right: U means on either side from underneath. If you think about it, if your baby is in the cross cradle hold this flattens the nipple more to the shape of his mouth as it approaches. Have you had a look at any of the online video clips - they're really helpful I think

Yes they are great. I thought it must be the u one - it helps to get him on faster doing that. I have to hold my breast - partly psychological because of the pain I think. It just helps to hold on to it.

There hasn't been much change. I came off the worst side for 24 hours yesterday, expressed and alternated breast and bottle. Then I did one feed on my bad side to make sure that boob was used a bit. I am going to do the same today. It means I am giving him about two bottles during the day.

I was going to stop today if things had not improved but now that I am here I think I will try and keep going for a bit longer.

Well done. You'll come through this

Oh Stefka,great to hear you sounding a bit brighter.
You go,girl!!

That's it, mate: one day at a time (and another one, and another... )