Illustration copyright 2003 Nucleus Communications, Inc. All rights reserved. http://www.nucleusinc.com

In the Australian hold, your baby is held vertically and straddles your thigh, facing you. Your knee supports your baby on his or her bottom, while one hand is low on the baby's head to give control as you bring your baby to the breast to latch. The other hand (on the side opposite from the breast being used) supports and narrows the breast to help the baby form a good, deep latch on the areola.