Bf lying down

[Sunisshining12]

My LO is 2 weeks old and ebf. we've had a few bumps along the way so far.

One of the hardest things im finding are the nightime feeds which can average 1hr every hour or 2.

I've got terrible neck & shoulder ache from sitting up crossed legged in bed to feed her & would love to master the laying down position but no matter how much I try it it seems impossible!

I've watched hundreds of videos & demos online.

Sorry if this is tmi but my boob is so saggy/crinkly that when I lie on my side it literally disappears around the side of me like a rock in a sock! My nipple doesn't face forward to LO face I can barely even see it it's all squashed from the saggy weight & gravity.

Does anyone else have this problem?

Is this a tricky position or am I being totally thick & missing something?!

[Ebbenmeowgi]

I found it tricky at first but easier once my dd got a little bigger and had better head control. I think it was a combination of that and of just practicing! Though it sounds like your lo will have trouble accessing the nipple if it disappears like you describe? Does it work if you hold the breast with one hand to help her?

[HateSummer]

Wrinkly saggy boobs shouldn't make a difference. If it helps, fold up a towel or a Muslin cloth and put it under the breast to lift it up. Lay down and just latch baby on first then find a good position. Baby should be right up close to you belly to belly of that makes sense.

[Sunisshining12]

Thanks, baby is body to body facing me pulled in tight. My boob is just so far East or West

Baby is flat on the mattress my head is on the pillow. One arm used to hold in/support baby neck, other arm propped up under my head.

It's like LO can't breathe under there! Put a flannel under doesn't even lift it :-(

[HateSummer]

Try laying a bit more on your stomach than on your side, so the nipple is touching the flannel, pull it upwards if need be, then bring baby in for a latch. Even if your nipple looks saggy and lost, it should still be reachable for baby, and their nostrils are designed to be able to breathe even with a face full of boob :)

[HateSummer]

Infact find the nipple with your hand and bring it up to baby's mouth and then draw him/her in. Once they are sucking well, let go.

[Fruitbatyogi]

Can you latch baby on while you lie on your back- then gently roll over to your side holding baby to you? Think I used to do that at the beginning to work it out.

[picklemepopcorn]

I had baby in my arm in front of me as I lay on my side. Once LO is latched on, the nipple won't be able to disappear round the corner. So if baby is feeding on your left, settle her into the crook of your arm with her head just above your elbow, I would think. Use your right hand to retrieve your boob from wherever it has slunk off to and pull it up to her mouth. Once she's on she'll probably stay on. The good thing about stretchy saggy boobs is that they give you lots of room for manoeuvre!

[Jumble27]

I was the same when I first tried it, I just couldn't figure out how to do it (large of bosom so I had to hold the boob in position)

It did suddenly one time just click though, so I'd say keep trying! It definitely did make night feeds a lot less painful

[Sunisshining12]

Thanks everyone, still trying! My LO latches on if I pull/hold my boob up but as soon as I let go my LO let's go too & off it disappears again

Will keep practicing! Desperate for some rest at night!

[AlbusPercival]

I second the suggestion to lay on your back. Once baby is latched cradle and roll with them.

If you can't get it at home, do you have a local baby cafe you can go to for help?

[lilydaisyrose]

I've never seen anyone else feed lying down so don't think (from reading above) that I do it like everyone else! I put my arm out and lie baby's head on my arm then feed from the opposite boob from the side I am lying on.

[amysmummy12345]

I've got big saggy uns too. I sort of lie not on my back but not on my side, then I tuck the duvet behind my back or have a pillow behind me to stop me rolling completely back, this naturally pulls my nipple off the bed to elevate it to baby's mouth level.

[amysmummy12345]

My baby just lies on the bed, I don't put my arm under their head, the arm closest to the bed I either stretch out above me or tuck under my pillow, my other arm is on top of me... Both hands are currently holding my phone as I'm feeding and mumsnetting at the same time 😁

[Sunisshining12]

Gosh Amy's mummy that sounds a joy! unfortunately my LO & I aren't finding bf very easy. I tried the 'biological nurturing' ha my LO just screamed & screamed!

[eternalopt]

With my second I cracked it, but was more difficult with my first. Tip from the midwife was to rest baby on a pillow and use the top boob if bottom one was squished. Depends what works logistically for you, but it hadn't occurred to me to consider both boobs were in play! Might give you more options?

[amysmummy12345]

I sometimes roll forward slightly too so dd has top breast instead of the one nearest the bed. In all fairness though, dd is nine months old and my boob is still about one and a half times the size of her head. I could probably feed her with my giant whoppers if she was in a different room

I found sitting up to feed really difficult at the start as my nipples face down and out to the sides. God didn't really think things through when he made breasts did he?

Are there any examples on kellymom? That site is usually good for tips.

[amysmummy12345]

The first picture is how I am but I actually put a pillow behind dd so I don't have to hold her in place... www.mother-2-mother.com/tut-layingdown.htm

[Cantchooseaname]

It's tricky to get right, but sooooo worth persevering.
Can you access local support group- baby bistro or the like- that's how I learnt, although it took a while.
I am larger of boob- sometimes feeding with the 'top' boob would be easier- so if lying on left side, roll over a bit and use right boob. I only managed when lo was bigger.
For the current aches- at about 7 weeks, and 11 weeks I had a sports massage guy come to the house. He was amazing at working out the knots. Husband took baby for a walk, hours quiet. Best £40.

[SomethingOnce]

I was just considering what I'd do and I thought could you use an old, soft, full-cup bra for support, and cut out large enough sections of the cup around the nipple to allow a good latch? Bring a bit of engineering to bear on the thing?