What is Latching on (breastfeeding)?
'''Latching on''' is how the baby fastens to the [[breast]] while breastfeeding. A good latch helps the baby get milk. This happens when the bottom of the [[areola]] (the area around the [[nipple]]) is in the baby's mouth. When the nipple is far back inside the baby's mouth this is a good latch. A latch that is not good happens when the baby does not have enough of the breast in his/her mouth. A shallow or short latch causes the nipple skin to press against the hard bones in the top of the baby's mouth. That will cause [[cracked nipple]]s on the mother. Cracked nipples are painful and can bleed.<ref name = whgov>{{cite web|url=https://www.womenshealth.gov/itsonlynatural/overcoming-challenges/breastfeeding-checklist-how-to-get-good-latch.html|title=Breastfeeding checklist: How to get a good latch|publisher=WomensHealth.gov|accessdate=4 August 2017|archive-date=4 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170804173646/https://www.womenshealth.gov/itsonlynatural/overcoming-challenges/breastfeeding-checklist-how-to-get-good-latch.html|url-status=dead}}{{PD-notice}}</ref> ==Positioning== A comfortable position helps the baby to latch well.<ref name = whgov/>{{sfn | Henry | page = 120}} It may take some time for a baby and mother to learn how to get a good latch.<ref name = whgov/> Getting a good latch for breasting can be learned. Mothers can: *Look for the baby's belly button. If the belly button is visible while the baby is latched, the baby is not in a good place.. *Look around. If the mother can talk and use her hands this is a good position for a latch. *Check the nipples. The breasts respond to the baby's need for milk. When the baby is latched well, the breast and nipple are far back into the baby's mouth. But a latch that is not good will start to hurt. A baby that has a poor latch has to work harder to get the milk out.<ref name = whgov/> ==Pain== [[Pain]] means that there is a poor latch. If the pain lasts longer than a few seconds, the latch is probably not correct. The tway for getting a goo