BREASTFEEDING POSITIONS
Rugby Hold Breastfeeding: A Step-by-Step Guide
The rugby hold places your baby beside you and under your arm rather than across your front. It can be a useful position to try when you want to keep your baby’s weight away from your tummy or when feeding more than one baby.
How to breastfeed using the rugby hold
- Get comfortable Sit somewhere supportive. Place a cushion or pillow beside you if it helps bring your baby level with your breast without making you lean forward.
- Bring your baby alongside you Place your baby at the side you want to feed from, tucked beneath your arm with their hips close to your hips.
- Keep their body aligned Position your baby facing your breast, with their head and body in a straight line rather than their neck twisted.
- Support, without pressing the head Support your baby around the neck, shoulders and upper back so they can tip their head back slightly. Avoid pressing the back of their head towards the breast.
- Start with nose to nipple Bring your baby close with their nose level with your nipple. Wait for a wide-open mouth, then bring your baby towards the breast so their chin makes contact first.
- Check how the feed feels Look for a wide mouth, rounded cheeks and comfortable feeding. If attachment is painful or you are unsure, ask a midwife, health visitor or breastfeeding supporter to watch a feed.
How to position your baby
- Keep your baby close and facing your breast.
- Keep their ear, shoulder and hip in a straight line so their head and neck are not twisted.
- Support their neck, shoulders and back while allowing their head to tip back slightly.
- Bring your baby to the breast rather than leaning your breast towards them.
- Begin with their nose level with your nipple to encourage a wide-open mouth.
When can the rugby hold be useful?
Some parents try the rugby hold after a caesarean birth because it keeps the baby’s weight away from the tummy and scar area. The position can also make it possible to feed twins at the same time.
It is also an option if another position feels uncomfortable. These are possibilities rather than prescriptions: the most useful position is one in which you are comfortable and your baby can attach effectively. Ask your maternity or feeding support team for individual help when you need it.
How to tell whether your baby is attached effectively
The NHS describes several signs that can help you assess a feed. Your baby’s mouth should be wide, their chin should touch the breast and their cheeks should stay full and rounded rather than drawing inward. You may hear swallowing once the first quicker sucks settle into longer ones.
- Your baby is held close, with their head free to tip back slightly.
- Their mouth is wide and their chin is firmly against the breast.
- Their cheeks remain rounded while they feed.
- Feeding feels comfortable rather than persistently painful.
What to do if breastfeeding hurts
Persistent pain is not something you should simply put up with. Sore nipples are often linked to positioning and attachment, and getting support early can stop discomfort becoming worse.
Ask your midwife, health visitor or a breastfeeding specialist to observe a feed. Contact your midwife, GP or NHS 111 if breast or nipple pain does not go away, or if you are worried about other symptoms.
Other breastfeeding positions to explore
The NHS also describes cradle, side-lying and laid-back positions. There is no need to master every hold: trying a different position can simply give you another option if the one you are using does not feel comfortable.
- Cradle hold
- Side-lying breastfeeding
- Laid-back breastfeeding
Where to get breastfeeding support in the UK
For individual help, speak to your midwife, health visitor or a breastfeeding supporter. The National Breastfeeding Helpline provides independent breastfeeding and infant-feeding information and support across the UK, 24 hours a day, on 0300 100 0212.
This guide provides general information and does not replace advice from a qualified health professional who can assess you and your baby.
Setting up the Rugby Hold
Baby Buddy and Best Beginnings demonstrate how to bring a baby alongside the body for the rugby hold, with NHS breastfeeding guidance and routes to individual support.
Watch the demonstration