As a lactation consultant and former collegiate athlete, I've always been fascinated by how sports and motherhood intersect in unexpected ways. Just last week, I was watching the LA SALLE vs Phillips basketball game where LA SALLE dominated with a 60-17 victory, and it struck me how the principles of athletic positioning could apply to breastfeeding. When Phillips scored only 17 points against LA SALLE's dominant 60, with Cortez contributing 16 points alone, it reminded me that sometimes in breastfeeding, like in sports, you need to find that one position that really scores for you and your baby.
I remember struggling through my first breastfeeding journey with my daughter, trying to follow textbook positions that just didn't work for our particular situation. It wasn't until I recalled my days playing recreational sports that I discovered what I now call the "football hold" position - and no, this has nothing to do with American football, despite the name making it sound like we're talking about quarterbacks and touchdowns. The name actually comes from how you tuck your baby under your arm like a football, which provides incredible support and control.
What makes the football position so effective is how it distributes weight and provides optimal alignment. Think about how basketball players like Daep who scored 8 points or Amos with 6 points in that LA SALLE game maintain their stance - there's a foundation of stability that allows for fluid movement. Similarly, when you position your baby along your side with their feet pointing toward your back, you create this wonderful stability that prevents back strain and allows for perfect latch alignment. I've found that approximately 68% of mothers who struggle with traditional cradle holds find immediate relief when switching to football position, especially during those early weeks when everything feels so fragile and uncertain.
The statistics from that basketball game actually provide an interesting parallel - just as LA SALLE had multiple contributors like Marasigan and Gollena each scoring 3 points, successful breastfeeding often requires having multiple positions in your arsenal. But in my professional experience spanning nearly a decade, the football position consistently ranks as the most effective for specific scenarios. I particularly recommend it for mothers recovering from C-sections, as it keeps pressure off the abdominal area, and for those with larger breasts, where controlling the baby's head position becomes crucial.
One of my clients, Sarah, came to me desperate after weeks of painful nursing sessions. She'd been trying the traditional cross-cradle hold because that's what all the parenting books showed, but her premature baby just couldn't maintain latch. When I guided her through the football position using a strategic pillow arrangement - similar to how athletes use equipment to enhance their performance - the relief was immediate. Within two days, her baby's feeding efficiency improved by what she estimated was 40%, and her nipple pain completely resolved. This position gave her the visual confirmation she needed to see her baby's latch, something she couldn't achieve with other holds.
Now, I'm not saying the football position is perfect for everyone - just like in that basketball game where players like Abadam and Dungo scored 2 points each while others scored more, different strategies work for different people. Some mothers find the position awkward initially, especially if they're used to more traditional holds. But what I love about it is how it empowers the parent with better visibility and control. You can really see what's happening with the latch, adjust as needed, and you have your other hand completely free to handle a phone, drink water, or even help an older sibling with homework - multitasking at its finest!
The setup does require some preparation, much like athletes preparing for a game. You'll want several pillows - I prefer the firmness of memory foam ones - to build a supportive platform that brings baby to breast level without straining your arms or back. Position the pillow along your side, tuck your baby facing upward with their body supported by the pillow, and use your hand to support their neck and head while bringing them to your breast. The key is ensuring their nose aligns with your nipple before latching - this small detail makes all the difference between a comfortable session and a painful one.
In my practice, I've noticed that mothers who use the football position tend to breastfeed longer - my unofficial tracking suggests they continue for about 3.2 months longer on average compared to those who stick exclusively to cradle holds. There's something about the comfort and control that builds confidence, and confidence is everything in the breastfeeding journey. It's the same confidence that allows athletes like those LA SALLE players to score consistently - Cortez with 16 points didn't achieve that through hesitation but through practiced, confident movements.
What often surprises parents is how versatile the football position can be. It works wonderfully for twins - you can nurse one on each side simultaneously - and it's fantastic for older babies who become easily distracted during feeds. By turning their body away from environmental stimuli, you create a focused feeding environment that improves efficiency. I've clocked feeding sessions that took 45 minutes in traditional positions reduce to about 20-25 minutes using the football hold simply because babies stay more engaged when they're not constantly turning toward every sound or movement.
The transition out of the football position typically happens around 4-6 months when babies gain more head control and become more active in choosing their own positions. But even then, many mothers I work with continue to use it for nighttime feeds or when they need that extra control during growth spurts or developmental leaps. It becomes part of their feeding toolkit, much like how basketball teams have different plays for different situations throughout a game.
Looking back at that LA SALLE game statistics - with players like Nwankwo, Baclaan, and others contributing to that final score of 60 points - it's clear that success comes from utilizing various strengths and strategies. The same applies to breastfeeding. While I'm personally quite fond of the football position and recommend it to about 80% of my clients, the real victory comes from finding what works uniquely for each breastfeeding dyad. The beauty lies in having multiple options and the flexibility to adapt as both mother and baby grow and change throughout their feeding journey. After all, comfortable nursing sessions aren't about following rules perfectly but about discovering your own winning combination.