[Durgical](https://durgical.com/en/) › [DurgiPedia](https://durgical.com/en/durgipedia/) › [Nursing](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/) › [Maternal and child nursing](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/areas/maternal-child/) › Breastfeeding support: latch, positions and common problems # Breastfeeding support: latch, positions and common problems - Fundamental WHO and UNICEF recommend starting in the first hour, exclusive breastfeeding to 6 months and continuing to 2 years or beyond. Updated Nov 5, 2026 ## Key points - Start in the first hour; exclusive breastfeeding to 6 months; continue to 2 years or beyond, with complementary foods from 6 months. - Exclusive breastfeeding: no water or other foods, unless medically indicated. - Signs of a good latch: mouth wide open, lower lip turned out, chin touching the breast and more areola visible above the mouth than below. - Breastfeeding with a good latch does not hurt; pain or cracks point to a poor latch. - A newborn usually feeds 8 to 12 times in 24 hours, including at night. ## What it is Nursing supports breastfeeding from the delivery room: skin-to-skin contact, a first feed within the first hour, rooming-in and feeding on demand. A good latch is the foundation: it prevents pain, cracked nipples and low supply. Most problems resolve by correcting the position and latch and emptying the breast often. The nurse watches a whole feed before giving advice. ## Key points - You can see and hear the baby swallow during the feed. - Minimum expected wet nappies: 1 on day 1, 2 on day 2 and 5 or more from day 3. - The baby may lose some weight in the first week and is back to birth weight by about days 10 to 14. - Fewer than 8 feeds a day on most days can mean the baby is not getting enough. ## Components - Cradle: the baby across the lap, head in the crook of the arm. - Cross-cradle: the mother's hand supports the head; useful for small babies. - Football or rugby hold: the baby under the arm; useful after a caesarean or with engorged breasts. - Side-lying, face to face. - Laid-back: the mother reclines with the baby on her chest, skin to skin. ## What it is for - Protects against infection and is the complete food for the first 6 months. - Supports mother–baby bonding. - A good latch ensures milk transfer and supply. ## Step by step - Watch a whole feed before advising — the problem usually shows in the position or the latch. - Help the mother get comfortable, with the baby close to her, tummy to tummy — tension makes latching harder. - Line the baby's nose up with the nipple and bring the baby to the breast chin first — so the baby takes a big mouthful of areola. - Check the signs of a good latch and listen for swallowing — confirms that milk is flowing. - If it hurts, break the suction with a finger at the corner of the mouth and start again — a poor latch causes cracks. - Encourage feeding on demand, day and night — frequent emptying keeps up the supply. - Review nappies, stools and weight with the mother — these show the baby is getting enough. ## In nursing practice - Engorgement: hard, swollen, painful breasts; it improves with frequent feeds, a good latch and hand expression. - Cracked nipples: almost always a poor latch; correct the latch, and a little breast milk can be applied after feeds. - Blocked duct and mastitis: frequent feeds, changing position, loose clothing, gentle massage towards the nipple and a warm compress; fever or redness needs assessment. - Perceived low supply: usually improves with skin-to-skin contact, feeds without a schedule, night feeds and a good latch. ## Common mistakes - Giving the baby water or other fluids «just in case» in the first 6 months. - Setting schedules or limiting the length of feeds. - Advising without having watched a feed. - Blaming pain on «sensitive nipples» without checking the latch. ## Test yourself Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it. ## What do WHO and UNICEF recommend about the length of exclusive breastfeeding? Exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months, started within the first hour of life. ## What are the signs of a good latch? Mouth wide open, lower lip turned out, chin touching the breast, more areola visible above than below, and a pain-free feed. ## What do nipple pain or cracks usually indicate? A poor latch; the position and latch are corrected. ## How many times a day does a newborn usually feed? Between 8 and 12 times in 24 hours, including at night. [Add to my cards (4)](https://durgical.app/estudiar/?add=/en/nursing/breastfeeding-support-latch-positions-and-common-problems/) ## Connections ## Related 2 - [Kangaroo mother care](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/kangaroo-mother-care/) - [Immediate care of the newborn](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/immediate-care-of-the-newborn/) [← All of nursing](https://durgical.com/en/nursing/) Educational content for students; it does not replace your institution's protocols, supervised clinical training or a prescriber's order. Dose-calculation examples use made-up numbers: they are educational, not a clinical order. Sources: [Infant and young child feeding (fact sheet)](https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/infant-and-young-child-feeding) (World Health Organization, 2026); [Common breastfeeding positions](https://www.unicef.org/southafrica/unicef-parenting/food-nutrition/breastfeeding-positions) (UNICEF, 2023); [5 common breastfeeding problems](https://www.unicef.org/parenting/food-nutrition/5-common-breastfeeding-problems) (UNICEF, 2023); [Newborn Breastfeeding Basics](https://www.cdc.gov/infant-toddler-nutrition/breastfeeding/newborn-basics.html) (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2024). ## **Spotted a mistake?** We are always improving for the community. Tell us what is wrong and our team will review it. Report a mistake Representative model, for educational purposes only. --- Source: https://durgical.com/en/nursing/breastfeeding-support-latch-positions-and-common-problems/ License: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Cite as: DurgiPedia (durgical.com), https://durgical.com/en/nursing/breastfeeding-support-latch-positions-and-common-problems/