(HealthDay News) -- Although breast-feeding is instinctive, babies sometimes still need a little help figuring out what they're supposed to do.
The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) says there are many correct ways to hold your baby while breast-feeding -- you just need to figure out which one your baby likes. Cradling your baby in the crook of your arm, and the "football" hold -- where you hold the baby next to your body and under your arm like a football, with her head resting in the palm of your hand and her body on your forearm -- are two of the most common positions. You may also want to try lying on your side, propped against pillows, with your baby lying next to you.
Once you've found a position that's comfortable for you both, the AAFP says you should hold your breast with your thumb on top and other fingers below, being careful not to touch the areola. When your baby has "latched on," you will hear her making swallowing noises and see her jaw moving.
