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		Infant Feeding in Emergencies: A Guide for Mothers (WHO, 1997, 48 p.)
			(introduction...)
			Foreword
			Introduction
			Why is breastfeeding so important?
			Are commercially-made baby milks as good as breastfeeding?
			Why are commercially-made baby milks not so good?
			But can every woman breastfeed?
			But why don't the experts tell us this if breastfeeding is so important?
			Do babies also need tea and water?
			When do babies need more than just breast-milk?
			So a sick baby should go on breastfeeding?
			Do breastfed babies get fewer diseases?
			But my friend's baby got ill and he was breastfed
			So breastfeeding is like a medicine?
			People say that stress stops the milk, so during stressful times how can we breastfeed?
			What about women who have lost a lot of weight? Can they produce milk?
			Do we need special nutrition for breastfeeding?
			But what about anaemic women? Does breastfeeding drain their strength?
			Someone told me breastfeeding stopped you getting pregnant, but isn't that just a story?
			How does breastfeeding work?
			What about women with small breasts or flat nipples?
			You said the baby has a part too. What can he do?
			Why is the baby's suckling-action important?
			How does a baby stimulate the milk?
			The first principle of breastfeeding: good attachment
			Why does good attachment not always come naturally to the baby?
			Why does the baby not always get this right?
			Sometimes it is hard to get a baby close because he is swaddled and his clothing gets in the way
			Even if my baby attaches well, how can I be sure there will be enough milk?
			You said earlier that milk changes during a feed. Can you explain that?
			But I thought you must feed from both breasts?
			You said earlier that confidence was important but not everyone has that. What can we do?
			I know women with breastfeeding problems. Can they be helped?
			My mother told me that you always get sore nipples and you just have to put up with them
			What about special creams for sore nipples? How can we get them during an emergency?
			With this baby-led feeding how can I be hygienic and wash my nipples?
			So if I get my baby well-attached, I will never get sore nipples?
			You say breastfeeding should not hurt, but what about the engorgement that every woman gets a few days after the birth?
			You mentioned blocked ducts, mastitis and abscess. Are they common and how can we treat them?
			All these problems make breastfeeding look too difficult
			You said earlier that you can breastfeed even if you have stopped completely. How can this be done?
			Food supplies can be precarious. How can we feed the babies over 6 months who need more than breast-milk alone?
			What about premature or very small babies?
			I can see the reason for expressing milk for sick or premature babies, but must all women learn to express?
			How do I express milk?
			I can see that breastfeeding is possible in most cases, but we still have to face the times when it is not possible: emergencies create orphans, abandoned babies and severely ill or wounded mothers
			Is it possible to feed a baby artificially without a bottle?
			How do you cup-feed a baby?
			A final word

Why does the baby not always get this right?

A common reason is that a mother is not holding her baby in the best position to achieve good attachment. For example if a baby is held too high or too much to the side he cannot aim his mouth in the best direction. This is more common with first-time mothers or mothers who have previously bottlefed. However every baby is different and even experienced mothers may need a little help with a new baby. Here are the key points of good positioning:

Sit or lie wherever you feel most comfortable.

1. Your baby's head and body should be in a straight line. Whether you hold her sideways, upright or under your arm, her body should 'face' yours. A baby cannot suckle or swallow easily if her head is twisted to one side or her arm is in front of her. Try drinking with your head twisted round sideways and you will realize it is not easy.

2. Her face should face your breast, with her nose level with your nipple. This enables her to take in more of the underneath of the areola than the top part. The touch of the nipple on her lips will stimulate her to open her mouth wide (Figures 4a, 4b and 4c).

Figure 4a

3. Hold your baby close to your body so that she can take in a good mouthful of breast. Bring your baby to your breast, not your breast to the baby. Do not lean forward as this may give you backache.

4. If the baby is newborn, support her whole body, and not just her head and shoulders. This helps her stay close but still be able to move her head and neck freely.

5. If you feel your breast needs support, cup it from below with your spare hand. Avoid holding your fingers like scissors⁸ as this can pull the breast out of your baby's mouth and spoil the good attachment. This common practice comes from a mistaken idea that a baby cannot breathe easily at the breast. Actually nature has designed a baby's nostrils to be at the sides of her nose so that she can breathe while she breastfeeds. A baby can look squashed at the breast and that is fine. As long as she can extend her head freely she will adjust herself to breathe comfortably.

⁸Also called 'the cigarette hold'.

Figure 4b

Figure 4c

If you are exclusively breastfeeding, your baby is healthy and growing and your breasts are comfortable, then you are doing it right, whatever the position.