The gestalt method of fit and hold is only one part of the Neuroprotective Developmental Care (NDC) or Possums breastfeeding programs (under development as Breastfeeding stripped bare), but an important place to start. This version of the gestalt method of fit and hold for breastfeeding women has been available since 2016. I'm hoping that Breastfeeding stripped bare, the comprehensive NDC approach to breastfeeding and lactation, will be publicly available by the end of 2024. Key elements of the NDC breastfeeding work are also found in The discontented little baby book, and in my research publications, starting here.

The baby in the photo above seems to be breastfeeding happily. If there were any problems, the mother might try spreading out her fingers and placing her hand over her little one's bottom and lower back, to pull her in tighter. Then she'd experiment with micromovements.

You can find out about how to apply micromovements and the gestalt method in the side-lying position here.

Here are two videos of babies breastfeeding happily in the side-lying position, as their mothers apply the gestalt method.

Baby 1

Baby 2

You can see the little one in the video below has something of a 'banana back', with the mother's hand supporting the baby over the upper back. Many babies will not be happy with the hyperextension of the spine which results, and will feel much more stable if the mother's hand is spread out firmly over their little bottoms and lower backs, pressing them in.

Acknowledgements

I gratefully acknowledge the generosity of the women who agreed to share their experiences in these videos, recorded in 2016, for the sake of helping others.

Selected references

Douglas PS, Keogh R. Gestalt breastfeeding: helping mothers and infants optimise positional stability and intra-oral breast tissue volume for effective, pain-free milk transfer. Journal of Human Lactation. 2017;33(3):509–518.

Douglas PS, Geddes DB. Practice-based interpretation of ultrasound studies leads the way to less pharmaceutical and surgical intervention for breastfeeding babies and more effective clinical support. Midwifery. 2018;58:145–155.

Douglas PS, Perrella SL, Geddes DT. A brief gestalt intervention changes ultrasound measures of tongue movement during breastfeeding: case series. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth. 2022;22(1):94. DOI: 10.1186/s12884-12021-04363-12887.