In plain words
The LATCH score is a tool that nurses and lactation consultants use to write down how a breastfeed is going. LATCH stands for Latch, Audible swallowing, Type of nipple, Comfort, and Hold. Each part is scored 0, 1, or 2, for a total from 0 to 10. A higher number usually means the feed is going better. The score records what is seen during one feed. It is not a test that shows whether a baby is getting enough milk, and it does not diagnose a problem. A low score can prompt a closer look at the latch or the position. Many mothers have never heard of it, but it may appear in hospital notes. You can ask what your score means and what the person scoring was looking at.
The deeper version
The LATCH score, described by Jensen, Wallace, and Kelsay (1994), rates five items from 0 to 2: latch, audible swallowing, type of nipple, comfort, and hold, for a maximum of 10. It was designed as a charting and documentation tool to standardize nursing observation in the early feeding period. Its validity against measured is limited. The Score is a related tool that grades nipple damage. Both are used more for documentation than for diagnosis. The controversy concerns whether LATCH adds value beyond structured observation by a trained examiner, and how appropriate it is as a research outcome.
Where it comes up
- Getting a deep latchFeeding Your Baby
- Breastfeeding positionsFeeding Your Baby
- Nipple pain, cracks, and healingPostpartum: Your Body
- Tongue and lip tiesFeeding Your Baby
What mothers here say about LATCH score
No one has posted under this term yet.
Sources
- Jensen D, Wallace S, Kelsay P — LATCH: a breastfeeding charting system and documentation tool. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing, 1994