How to support breastfeeding
Other platforms explain it with text and video. In VMS you practice it on the patient.
Breastfeeding support in the first days shapes how long a parent breastfeeds. Simple coaching on latch and cues prevents pain and poor feeding.
Step by step
Start skin-to-skin early
Place the baby on the parent's chest soon after birth. This helps the first feed and keeps the baby warm. [1]
Teach feeding cues
Early cues are rooting, hand to mouth and lip smacking. Crying is a late cue. [1]
Help with position
Baby's ear, shoulder and hip in a line, belly facing the parent. Bring the baby to the breast, not the breast to the baby. [1]
Check the latch
Mouth wide open, lips turned out, more areola visible above than below. The parent should feel tugging, not pinching pain. [1]
Feed often
Most newborns feed 8 to 12 times in 24 hours. Let the baby finish the first breast before offering the second. [1]
Check intake
Look at wet and dirty diapers and weight. Wet diapers should increase over the first days. [1]
Address problems
Sore nipples usually mean a shallow latch. Refer to a lactation consultant for ongoing pain or poor weight gain. [2]
Common errors
- Waiting for crying before feeding.
- Accepting a painful, shallow latch.
- Not checking diapers and weight.
Practice it in VMS
In VMS you do this on the patient, not on paper: every step goes on the checklist with a score, and in Teach mode Blocky tells you what comes next.
VMS cases that train this skill
Sources
- OpenStax, Clinical Nursing Skills (CC BY 4.0)
- AHRQ Health Literacy Universal Precautions Toolkit (Teach-Back)
- AAMC Core Entrustable Professional Activities (Core EPAs)
Facts and steps follow AAMC Core Entrustable Professional Activities (Core EPAs); AHRQ Health Literacy Universal Precautions Toolkit (Teach-Back). VMS is not affiliated with these organizations. Updated: 2026-10-11.