Bf in a sling-how to do it (and if well endowed?)

[Hormoneoverload]

just that really. Would love to feed in a sling as my three week old is number three and I can't be out and about and stationary for any useful time. But not sure how to make sling feeding work and not sure if it has anything to do with bigger equipment (hh cup but think I've grown!). Are there any tips or tricks? Have kari me wrap sling and coorie pouch (us wilkinet and baby bjorn but not sure they're any use for this!). Grateful for words from the wise.

[EauRouge]

I feed DD2 in a sling sometimes and I'm an F cup (was a G for the first few weeks after she was born), I've found a ring sling and a mei tai to work OK but I couldn't get the hang of it in a wrap. Basically all you do is loosen up the straps or rings so that your baby is at breast height, then you undo your bra or just pull it down and latch baby on.

There are some great tips on BF in a sling and pouch here. My cousin had a Wilkinet and I'm sure she said she BF in it, does it say anything in the manual?

[TandB]

Have a look on the Naturalmamas forum. This issue comes up fairly regularly. I know several people who have managed it successfully in various ways and I am desperately hoping we can make it work when this baby arrives as DS is very, very active so hands free feeding would be a big help.

Someone once told me that one way to do it with larger breasts is to lift your breast over the top of your nursing bra rather than undoing the bra and letting the breast come right out. So the bra sort of supports the breast higher up. You can apparently then feed with the baby in an upright position by loosening the sling slightly. A couple of people have said that a mei tai is the easiest thing to feed in, but I have seen it done in a woven wrap.

[TandB]

Forgot to say, they are not particularly common but if you can get hold of a podaegi I think they are supposed to be good for feeding because they are relatively easy to adjust.

[tortilla]

I was a K cup with DS and then a J cup with DD and I've never managed it. It would have been handy, but I just couldn't get it to work without my boobs being uncomfortable, or feeling the baby was being smothered, or displaying my whole breast to the world. It was much easier to just learn to feed standing up supporting the baby with just one arm and learn how to move from sitting to standing without unlatching the baby! Invaluable skill when chasing 2yo DS around at playgroups!

[knitty]

I have to admit I never managed it when DD was small, too much boobage to wrestle with I think. However I have started to use a ring sling just recently, DD is 10 months now, and I have managed to feed her in it. Not sure if its just because she is older now, but think ring sling might be the easiest to try.

[barleycorn]

I used to feed ds2 in a Kari me, but don't have massive boobs. I had to shuffle him around in the wrap a bit till he was in a reasonable position. It worked well for us in the day as I never had a chance to sit & feed, but worked against at night as he wouldn't feed unless I was moving, so until he was about 3 months I had to get out of bed and rock him while he fed! Not good.

[TandB]

What about something like this?

www.utterlyyours.com

[narmada]

Tried it, couldn't manage it (G cup) - I would have suffocated DD. Think it's only relatively easy if you've got average to small boobs.

[Hormoneoverload]

Thanks all, very helpful. Tortilla, I was k cup with dd1 and nearly fainted when she announced the size! Had no idea it went up that far! I might borrow a ring sling and see how it goes. Tried with the pouch yesterday and found I could do it but clothes all wrong and would have involved exposing flesh the world would be shocked to see! Would a breast feeding vest help do you think? Will look into the links, thanks. And glad it's not just me who can't manage the logistics of sling feeding.

[tortilla]

K cup is jaw-dropping, isn't it? I was so pleased to 'only' be a J this time round :o Breastfeeding vests only suitable for smaller norks IME - the slit isn't very helpful for bigger breasts I found. I did get a couple of good feeding tops by Mamalicious but in the main found feeding tops hopeless and resorted to layers of normal clothes (e.g. vest with wrap top, looseish t-shirt with cardigan)

[Hormoneoverload]

Good to know re feeding vests. I have a plan to make a sort of tube out of jersey material, not tight fitting with elastic to kind of fit just below bra so that tummy not on show when feeding. When I get a break between feeds and dd1 and ds....

[coldcomfortHeart]

I found this video the other day, not sure how useful it'll be to you but thought I'd share it:

Have yet to try it but hands free bf would be brilliant with toddler DS once DH goes back to work

[Hormoneoverload]

Had a go with pouch sling today and think I might manage one handed if not hands free. And found nursing vests in mothercare with clip straps like nursing bras rather than flaps or slits. So no flesh on sus

[Hormoneoverload]

On display! Can feed one handed but evidently not type!