The nurse is teaching a postpartum patient different holds for breastfeeding. Which of the following figures depicts the football hold frequently used for patients who have had a cesarean birth?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

For the football or clutch hold, the mother supports the infant's head and neck in her hand, with the infant's body resting on pillows next to her hip. This method allows the mother to see the position of the infant's mouth on the breast, helps her control the infant's head, and is especially helpful for mothers with heavy breasts. This hold also avoids pressure against an abdominal incision. For the cradle hold, the mother positions the infant's head at or near the antecubital space and level with her nipple, with her arm supporting the infant's body. Her other hand is free to hold the breast. The cross-cradle or modified cradle hold is helpful for infants who are preterm or have a fractured clavicle. The mother holds the infant's head with the hand opposite the side on which the infant will feed and supports the infant's body across her lap with her arm. The other hand holds the breast. The side-lying position avoids pressure on the episiotomy or abdominal incision and allows the mother to rest while feeding.

The Nurse Is Teaching a Postpartum Patient Different Holds for Breastfeeding