My top breastfeeding tip is......

[bunjies]

I am currently b/f my 2 week old 3rd child and I was wondering what top tips other Mumsnetters have learned through experience that they would pass on to make life easier.

My contribution is that from my experience (although this may be different for others) you shouldn't expect to be able to hold your new born baby in the crook of your arm like they do in all the posters. I found that the heads of all 3 of my children have been/are too small to reach my breast when being held in this way. The only way I can get a good position is by holding the head in one hand and my breast in the other and bringing the two together. It was only after a few weeks of doing this (possibly a couple of months - can't remember) that I could get them to feed like that. Would have saved many a tearful moment if I'd known that from the beginning. Those posters have a lot to answer for in my opinion.

Anyone else?

[collision]

Good thread, Bunjies! My tip would be to BF lying down as it is so comfy and you can read a book while you do it. It is easier for ds to suck and I can fall asleep if I want to.

The mw told me to hold ds1 like a rugby ball whilst BFing and it was fine while he was tiny and it made me give up after a while as I couldnt hold him and didnt know how else to do it.

[aloha]

If you are struggling at all or feel any pain, ask to see your hospital's lactation consultant - my hospital runs excellent breastfeeding clinics. Ask for help from a breastfeeding expert - not a midwife or HV.
BTW I agree with you about positioning!

[paolosgirl]

Could I maybe add - I think it all depends on the - ahem - size of you boobs! As someone who struggles to fill an A cup, lying down would have been pointless, as they would have not reached my babies mouths. The only way I could feed was by holding them in the crook of my arms at an angle.

I think the thing to do is to try a few positions until you're comfy - and to remember that it shouldn't be sore (unless ob. you have mastitis or something.

[Bozza]

Mine is a bit more selfish - but have a drink, maybe a book, phone and TV remote to hand when you sit down.

[dinosaur]

Find Tiktok's great threads on mumsnet about why breastfeeding does not mean you can't booze! And why pump and dump is a waste of time!

[suzywong]

Another vote for lying down, it is so relaxing for you too, you can still hold your breast underneath with the hand on the same side when they are very little and your breast is full. It's a really useful position IMO

HTH

[Bozza]

Deffo think laying down is worth trying but found it worked really well with one baby but not the next. So another tip - do not expect the same breastfeeding experience with subsequent children as with first.

[collision]

And also,

1. Have the remote control handy for the TV in case you get bored.
   2 Have a book at hand for the same reason.
   3 Make yourself a nice hot drink
   4 And a snack
   5 And some chocolate
   6 And a blanket in case you both nod off and it gets a bit cold
   7 Have the phone near you so you can answer it easily and you dont have to disturb the baby.
   
   I like to be kind to myself

[Beansmum]

buy a cordless phone
buy the best nursing bras you can afford, you will be wearing them day and night for months.

[Sponge]

I could never make lying down work. I found it really uncomfortable so it must have something to do with breast size and shape etc (I'm another quite small one).

[Catilla]

Cusions, cushions, cushions!

I'm just in the process of finishing bf (ds is 8m) and still have my "nest" on the sofa. Pillow & cushion behind me for back support, bf cushion on lap, extra cushion at head end, just to raise him a bit higher so I don't slouch so much. And at the start there were the cushions to sit on too! I can feed him elsewhere (and strongly second the posts about lying down) but the sofa is where I spent hours and hours when he had long lazy feeds and I didn't dare move him for fear he'd wake up

[Caligula]

Make sure you keep a bottle of wine and a glass very near to hand once it's after 7pm in the evening!

[MummytoSteven]

a few hankies can be just as good (and are a lot cheaper) than breast pads

[nailpolish]

if you are tired, bf lying down, make sure you are comfy tho or you get cramp in your arm!

[bunjies]

I never did get the hang of bf lying down. Is this something that's better done when they're a bit older?

[marthamoo]

I couldn't feed ds1 lying down as the milk dripped out of his nose GP was baffled - she had never seen it happen before. It didn't bother ds1 but it freaked me out!

Used to feed ds2 lying down all the time at night - and wake up hours later with him still latched on and sucking away.

[shimmy21]

I did the lying down thing a lot and my boobs are miniscule so it's not all about size! Perhaps more to do with having very sucky boys...

But - my tip is don't do the lying down (and catching 40 winks) thing so much that you become used as a permanent dummy when co-sleeping -can't turn over for hours. Detach yourself when they're full!

[paolosgirl]

I also had a VERY sucky boy....but still couldn't manage to line up my pimples with his mouth - the distance was just too great