A mother you are helping is positioning her baby at the breast, and you notice her hand is cupping the back of the baby's head. To help her achieve the best latch, you recommend she:

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A baby will resist having their head "pushed" into mom's breast. By having her hand on the back of her baby's head, a mom flexes the baby's head, pushing the chin to baby's chest. This can potentially cause baby's airway to be blocked by mom's breast tissue, and can make swallowing difficult for baby. By teaching while mom is nursing, you are both showing her that she is capable of feeding her baby and giving her the practice so that she knows what to do when you aren't by her side. A mom should bring the baby to the breast rather than leaning forward and bringing the breast to the baby - she will be much more comfortable, and the baby will be able to sustain the latch throughout the feeding.

A Mother You Are Helping Is Positioning Her Baby at the Breast