Effective suckling

Good signs of effective suckling are if the newborn takes slow, regular and deep sucks, sometimes pausing. The mother should tell you that she is comfortable and pain free.

If you observe that the attachment and suckling are inadequate, ask the mother to try again and reassess how well the baby is feeding. If they still cannot establish optimum breastfeeding, then you should assume that the newborn has a feeding problem and/or the mother has breast problems that make attachment difficult. If so refer the baby and the mother to a health facility for further advice and care.