You’ve already heard or may have tried these common breastfeeding positions: Cross-Cradle Hold, Cradle Hold, Football Hold and Side-Lying Hold. I’ve tried all of them. But I ended up having to invent a new position basically out of necessity. I call this the “Frontal Hold” (or more affectionately known as the “Bear Hug”) position.

Why? First, I found I was getting milk lumps more easily on the right side from the traditional cradle hold, though the football hold position did help some. I also got tired of backaches from slouching and hunching over with the cross cradle and other positions. The side-lying position didn’t work as well for baby and I. Lastly, I was going to travel back to the States when baby was 4 months old, so needed a breastfeeding position that would work in the cramped quarters of an airplane seat using a breastfeeding cape.

Here’s how to do it (works best with the Brest Friend breastfeeding pillow):

1. Sit up tall and straight, making sure you are comfortable with pillows behind you if needed.
2. Put baby facing you between you and the breastfeeding pillow.
3. Adjust baby’s legs so that they straddle around your waist.
4. Use one hand to support baby’s head and neck (make sure baby’s back is straight) at a slight angle with baby’s mouth on par or level with nipple.
5. Your other hand can be on the breast you are offering, when you bring baby’s head and mouth towards the nipple.

To help ensure a good latch, make sure the nipple goes far into the back of the baby’s mouth. Once latched on, baby should be able to suck comfortably this way. However, make sure to burp baby well in between or afterwards, as I have found that my baby often takes in a bit more air this way as a result.

If you are using the Brest Friend breastfeeding pillow, you can clip the two parts of the pillow together and pull the belt tight enough, so that the pillow holds the baby more snugly to your body. You can also angle or tilt the pillow so it supports the baby’s back better.

I started to use this new position when my baby was 3-4 months of age. This position became easier as baby started to sit up better unsupported, and as the football position got more difficult (baby’s body was longer and needed more pillows to support her body on the chair’s armrest). It came in so handy on the airplane too and prevented a lot of lower backaches! I still switch around positions during a breastfeeding session, but have used this “bear hug” position regularly for many months. I’ll have to stop using this breastfeeding position soon though, as she’s finally getting too big and sitting ‘too tall’ to latch and feed properly!