Latch (breastfeeding)

Latch refers to how the baby fastens onto the breast while breastfeeding. A good latch promotes high milk flow and minimizes nipple discomfort for the mother, whereas poor latch results in poor milk transfer to the baby and can quickly lead to sore and cracked nipples. In a good latch, both the nipple and a large portion of the areola are in the baby's mouth.
Positioning.
Assuming a comfortable position helps the baby to latch properly. It takes practice to get a good latch. The nursing hold that works best for mother and baby is sometimes discovered through trial and error.
Getting a good latch for breasting can be learned. Recommendations for nursing mothers is to:
Latching on is facilitated by secretions from the nipple that are reported to help align the infants' head with the mother's breast and thought to promote latching and sucking.
Pain.
Pain or pinching is a good indication of a poor latch. If the pain lasts longer than a few seconds, the latch is probably too shallow. The technique for getting a good latch is to gently break the suction by placing a clean finger into the baby's mouth and help the baby latch on again. It is normal for the nipple to look slightly elongated or drawn-out.
When the baby latches, it can feel like a pinch that goes away. If it's more painful than that, it's probably a bad latch. A bad, uncorrected latch can damage the nipple and compromise milk flow for the baby.
Infants will naturally move their head while looking and feeling for a breast to feed. There are many ways to start feeding the infant, and the best approach is the one that works for the mother and the infant. The steps below can help with getting the infant to "latch" on to the breast for feeding.
Hold the infant against a bare chest. Dress the infant in only a diaper to ensure skin-to-skin contact.
Keep the infant upright, with his or her head directly under the chin.
Support the infant's neck and shoulders with one hand and his or her hips with the other hand. The infant may try to move around to find the breast.
The infant's head should be slightly tilted back to make nursing and swallowing easier. When his or her head is tilted back and the mouth is open, the tongue will naturally be down in the mouth to allow the breast to go on top of it.
At first, allow the breast to hang naturally. The infant may open his or her mouth when the nipple is near his or her mouth. The mother also can gently guide the infant to latch on to the nipple.
While the infant is feeding, his or her nostrils may flare to breathe in air. Do not panic—this flaring is normal. The infant can breathe normally while breastfeeding.
As the infant tilts backward, support his or her upper back and shoulders with the palm of the hand and gently pull the infant close.
Tongue-tie.
Sometimes, a baby's tongue is stuck to the bottom of the mouth by a band of tissue, which means the baby cannot open his or her mouth wide enough to get a good latch. Checking for tongue-tie is not a standard newborn test. If the baby is not latching on well and doesn't seem to be gaining weight mothers are advised to contact the pediatrician or nurse to ask about this. Fortunately, it is a very simple fix. Once tongue-tie is treated by a medical professional, breastfeeding improves.
Good latch.
A good latch is important for both effective breastfeeding and comfort. Review the following signs to determine whether the infant has a good latch:
Poor latching.
A shallow latch causes the sensitive nipple skin to press against the bones in the top of the baby's mouth. That can cause pain and lead to cracked nipples.
A poor latch results in a poor flow of milk to the baby, even if the mother is capable of producing plenty of milk. If not corrected quickly, inadequate milk transfer can lead to dehydration and failure to thrive in the baby, and blocked milk ducts and mastitis in the mother. Lactation consultants are experts in helping mothers teach their babies to latch better.