How to Breastfeed: Step by Step

1. Sit in a comfortable chair. Support your baby on a pillow on your lap.

1. Support and narrow your breast with one hand using a "U hold." Your thumb will be on the outer side of your breast. Your fingers will be on the inner side.
2. You can also use a "C hold," with all your fingers below the nipple and your thumb above it.

1. Your other arm is behind your baby's back, with your hand supporting the base of the baby's head.
2. Point your fingers and thumb toward your baby's ears.

1. Touch your baby's lower lip with your nipple to get your baby's mouth to open. Wait until your baby opens up really wide, like a big yawn.
2. Bring the baby quickly to your breast—not your breast to the baby.
3. Guide your breast into your baby's mouth.

1. The nipple and a large part of the darker area around the nipple (areola) should be in the baby's mouth. The baby's lips should be flared out, not folded in.
2. Listen for regular sucking and swallowing sounds while the baby is feeding. If you cannot see or hear swallowing, watch your baby's ears. They will wiggle slightly when the baby swallows.

If you need to take your baby off your breast (for example, to reposition), you will need to break the baby's latch on your nipple.

1. To break your baby's latch, put one finger in the corner of your baby's mouth.
2. Push your finger between your baby's gums to gently break the latch. If you don't break the latch before you remove your baby, your nipples can become sore, cracked, or bruised.