During pregnancy, the mother makes all the nutrients the baby needs to grow and thrive in the womb. After the baby is born the breasts naturally begin to provide milk, making as much as is needed to feed the baby. The primary function of female breasts is to produce milk in order to nourish an infant, a process called lactation. The breasts, which are composed primarily of fatty tissue, also contain milk producing glands called lobules. Lobules are connected to the nipple by a network of tubes called milk ducts. The breasts produce milk from water and nutrients removed from the bloodstream. The milk is stored in the lobules until the hormone oxytocin signals the tiny muscles in the lobules to contract and push the milk through the ducts.

Cross Cradle hold

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  Sit in a comfortable position. Keep the back straight.
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  Keep a pillow on your lap to support the baby.
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  Hold the baby close and facing the mother.
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  Gently support the baby's neck, back and shoulders. The palm of your other hand can support the baby's back.
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  Baby's nose should be facing towards the nipple
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  Check to make sure the baby's ear, shoulder and hip are in a straight line.
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  Tickle the baby's upper lip with the nipple. When the baby opens the mouth wide, help him/ her to attach to the breast by taking more of the areola inside the mouth.

Cradle Hold

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  Sit in a comfortable position. Keep the back straight.
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  Keep a pillow on your lap to support the baby.
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  Hold the baby close and facing the mother.
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  Gently support the baby's neck, back and shoulders with the mothers' hand and wrist
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  Support the breast with either the "U" hold or "C" hold
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  The baby's head will be in the mother's forearm and the baby's back will be along the inner arm and palm.
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  Tickle the baby's upper lip with the nipple. When the baby opens the mouth wide, help him to attach to the breast by taking more of the areola inside the mouth.

Football Hold

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  This position is more comfortable when the mother has twin babies and wants to feed them.
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  Sit in a comfortable position. Keep the back straight.
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  Keep a pillow on your lap to support the baby.
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  Hold the baby close and facing the mother.
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  Gently support the baby's neck, back and shoulders with the mother's hand and wrist
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  Let the baby lie on the mother's arm.
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  Baby's nose should be facing towards the nipple.
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  Support the breast with the other hand.
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  Tickle the baby's upper lip with the nipple. When the baby opens the mouth wide, help him to attach to the breast by taking more of the areola inside the mouth.

Lying Down / Side Lying

This is an outstanding position if the mother had a caesarean or difficult delivery, or if she is breastfeeding in the middle of the night.

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  Start by getting comfortable lying on the side. The baby lies facing the mother, so the baby's tummy is facing the mother's tummy.
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  Check to make sure that the baby's ear, shoulder, and hip are in a straight line - not twisted.
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  Put some cushions or pillows behind the mother for support. A rolled-up baby blanket can be placed behind the baby will help support them - remember to remove it after the feeding is completed.
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  Tuck the arm you are lying on under your head or pillow (ensure the baby's position is not altered by the pillow) and use the mother's free arm to support and guide the baby's head to the breast.

The Laid Back

Lay - back breast feeding, also known as biological nursing, is when the mother lies back in a comfortable semi - reclined position on a comfortable sofa or bed.

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  Lean back on a sofa or bed
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  When you are comfortable place the baby on the chest. Baby's tummy should be resting on the mother's tummy.
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  Allow the baby to self attach. In this position the baby will try to find the breast and attach by themselves. Otherwise, the mother can help and guide the baby towards the nipple.
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  Pillows or cushions can be used to support wherever needed.

APPROPRIATE POSITIONING OF MOTHER AND BABY DURING LACTATION IS MOST IMPORTANT TO MAKE
BREAST FEEDING SUCCESS.

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  Wakes up and acts restless.
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  Put hands to mouth.
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  Make sucking noises.
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  Turns head towards breast.
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  Puckers, smacks, or licks lips
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  Has clenched hands.

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  Cuddle the baby.
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  Skin to skin on chest.
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  Make sucking noises.
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  Talk or sing to the baby.
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  Puckers, smacks, or licks lips
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  Pat or rub the baby's back.
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  Change the wet diaper.
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  Feed him /her if they are hungry.

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  Breast milk meets all the nutritional needs of the baby.
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  It protects the baby from infectious diseases.
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  It is available fresh and at the right temperature whenever the baby needs it.
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  It builds a strong emotional bond between the mother and the baby.
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  The breast-fed babies are proved to be more intelligent

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  It helps the mother to reduce body weight and get back to the pre pregnancy weight.
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  It reduces the risk of breast cancer in premenopausal women.
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  It saves you money.
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  It gives protection against breast and ovarian cancer.
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  It helps the mother in family planning as it has contraceptive effect & helps delay the next pregnancy.
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  Breast feeding mothers are more relaxed and happier.

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  Discarding the colostrums.
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  Mother should not take cereals for the first week of delivery.
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  Breast feeding will make them lose their figure and their breasts will sag.
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  Mother should be fed with more ghee after delivery.
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  Pressing the breast yields more milk
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  If the mother is ill, babies should not be breastfed.
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  If the child is sick, then he should not be breastfed.
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  Increased intake of milk by the mother will yield more milk.
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  Breast of small size cannot produce an adequate quantity of milk.

A lactation consultant is a certified healthcare professional who specializes in breastfeeding. They provide most of their services during the first few weeks of a baby's life to help parents get comfortable and become proficient in feeding their children.

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  Provide information on how to increase or maintain a milk supply.
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  Teach parents to recognize and respond to the cues of hunger of a baby.
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  Drafting feeding schedules.
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  Helping parents learn how to get babies to latch.
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  Treating feeding mothers for cracked and sore nipples
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  Treating mothers with breast engorgement
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  Teaching parent's positions for breast feeding
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  Informing parents on expression and storage of breast milk
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  Discuss the importance and management of breastfeeding with pregnant women and their families.
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  Managing lactation in preterm babies

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  Antenatal and postnatal counseling.
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  Breast engorgement.
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  Plugged ducts or breast infections like mastitis.
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  Sore, cracked, or painful nipples.
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  Milk supply concerns
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  Struggling with breast feeding positions
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  Issues with latching, tongue-tie or sucking
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  Your baby is not gaining weight.
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  Pumping either once you return to work or for bottle feeding with breast milk.
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  Baby refusing the breast.