Upright or koala breastfeeding positions

A hugely underrated position to feed your baby in.

It used to be one of my favourites at later stages of breastfeeding, as it can be very discreet and easy to achieve without fancy furniture or props, wherever you are out and about.

This mum here is sitting in a beanbag and using a long ‘sausage pillow’ to support her arm that the baby is leaning towards. This means mum’s body is fully supported and she is relaxed and comfortable.

Why choose koala?

• It is very supportive for baby, especially if you lean back slightly.
• Great for fast flow/oversupply mums, as milk is not pouring into baby’s mouth – baby is more in control.
• Easy to achieve out and about.
• Perfect for older, more curious babies (when they stop enjoying being fed in a cradle type position).
• Can be easily adapted to younger babies (mum reclining slightly more and using a prop under the supporting arm).
• Can be adjusted for different body types. (see below)
• Offers full frontal body contact between mum and baby, which is super helpful in bringing out feeding reflexes in baby.
• Can help when there’s nipple injury, by changing the latch and therefore baby’s mouth attaching on a different part of the breast tissue, allowing for healing.
• You can often get a deeper latch in this position.
• Put slight pressure on the areola ABOVE the nipple, at 12 o’clock and pull baby in by the shoulder blades. This should provide a deep latch. (A version of the ‘flipple’ technique.)

How to do it?

1. Sit on a chair, sofa or beanbag. (This position can be hard to achieve sitting on the floor cross legged, but not impossible.)
2. Sit near the edge and straddle baby on the same leg as the side of the breast you are about to feed from.
3. Pull baby really close to your torso with no gap if possible.
4. Check the alignment of the nipple with baby’s nose. If nipple comes up too high, add a cushion/folded blanket or piece of clothing under baby’s bum to raise them to the right level.
5. If baby comes up too high for the nipple and having to tuck their chin to look down to the breast, stretch your leg, like the mum in the pictures below. This will lower baby to the right height. Alternatively, experiment with bringing baby to the OPPOSITE breast from the leg they are straddling on, e.g. left leg – right breast. (see baby in the pictures above)
6. Support baby’s upper back and base of the neck, behind the ears by your spread out hand: fingers on one side, thumb on the other.
7. Once baby is latched and drinking, you can lean back more and let baby’s body rest on top of yours, head tipping to the side, supported by your arm. (See photos.)

I hope you enjoy this new position and it helps getting a more comfortable position and latch!