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Table 1 Criteria and grading system for positioning, attachment, and suckling among lactating mothers visiting health facilities in Gondar town, Amhara Regional State, Northwest Ethiopia, 2020

From: Breastfeeding technique and associated factors among lactating mothers visiting Gondar town health facilities, Northwest Ethiopia: observational method

Criteria for correct body positioning

 Baby’s body close to the mother’s body

  

 Baby body and neck straight

  

 Baby facing toward the mother’s breast

  

 The whole body supported by the mother

  

Criteria for grading body positioning:

Grade

Score

None or only one out of four criteria has been fulfilled

Poor

0–1

Any two of the four criteria has been fulfilled

Average

2

Three/all the four criteria for body positioning were fulfilled

Good

3–4

Criteria for the correctness of attachment

 More areola is seen above the baby’s top lip

  

 The Baby’s mouth is wide open

  

 Baby’s lower lip turned outwards

  

 Baby’s chin touching the breast

  

Criteria for grading of correct attachment:

Grade

Score

None of or only one out of four criteria has been fulfilled

Poor

0–1

Any two of the four criteria has been fulfilled

Average

2

Any three or all the four criteria has been fulfilled

Good

3–4

Criteria for the correctness of effective suckling:

 Slow suckling

  

 Deep suckling

  

 Sometimes pausing

  

Criteria for grading of effective suckling:

Grade

Score

None or only one of the three criteria has been achieved

Ineffective

0–1

Any two or all three criteria has been achieved

Effective

2–3