Baby-led attachment
Having another baby after 3 years spent breastfeeding my first, training as a doula, and now studying midwifery, has meant there was a lot of new theory I was excited to put into practice. My confidence in babies intelligence around birth and breastfeeding has never been higher. I was never told about baby led attachment first time round, and after learning about it at uni from a lecturer and passionate breastfeeding and ABA advocate, I was excited to put it into practice. It took the kind of patience I know there’s often little time and space for in the hospital (it was crazy how quickly on placement the idea of hands off breastfeeding support went out the window, for me too). Yes he was born big and with incredible neck strength, which helped. But little babies can do this too. It’s amazing watching them do it, I was so proud every time it finally clicked.
'Baby-led attachment' is the term used to describe the process of a baby seeking out their mother's breast. It offers your baby the most natural introduction to breastfeeding and can be particularly helpful for babies who take a while to get the idea of how to breastfeed, or who have been separated from you following birth and for whom skin-to-skin contact is so very important.
Baby led attachment is touted for many things, one of this is reduction in nipple pain and damage (one of the most common reasons for early cessation of BF or BF difficulties). This kind of reclined feeding was also great for promoting horizontal rest and recovery (reduction of pressure on your healing peri/pelvic floor), and taking the pressure off my neck and shoulders when compared to the kind of upright cradle feeding I did first time around. We didn’t do it all the time, it was still a learning curve and other positions were often needed. Life is busier now and we do it less but I keep trying to remind myself of its benefit and build in restful couch feeds to do it. Read more about baby led attachment via the ABA or Raising Children website.
