Breastfeeding lying side to side - any tips?

[bunny85]

Hi all

My baby is 7 weeks old and we co-sleep. Since he's not a great sleeper nights are tough and I found that simple change from getting up for nursing to feeding lying down makes a huge difference for me. We've been trying it for a few weeks already but we both are finding it hard and uncomfortable. The way we do is I try to put him on the side with pillow or rolled up blanket behind him, however often he stays on his back with his head turned towards the nipple. I tried both breast when lying on the same side. I can see he's struggling to open wide when in this position and gets frustrated. Even if he does eventually, he can't latch on easily. Then during the feed, some milk always trickles down his cheek, meaning there's a gap and he swallows more air, resulting in more gas related (I assume) pain later on. From my side, discomfort includes inability to rest back and relax without pulling my breast away from him, and also often having to press it down a bit otherwise his nose is deep in it and he can't breathe. I watched many YouTube videos on this and they just seem so effortless! How can I achieve this? Any tips?

Thanks!

[Topsy34]

Adjusting your position might help, so you are more recovery position with pillows under you belly and top knee to stop you rolling forward might work for when you are feeding off the 'top' boob ( so left boob if you are on your right side)

For feeding off the lower boob, bring the baby in closer and lay him on his back and put a towel under his back furthest away from you so he is wedged up rather than on his side.

I think boob size helps too, the bigger they are the easier it is!

[bunny85]

Thanks Topsy, some great advice! Will definitely try everything you said tonight. Yes size does matter in this case! I'm actually on the bigger side (DD) but feels like not big enough to be able to just sort of place my boob next to the baby and let him help himself! As that's what it seems women in YouTube videos do, haha

[Meht]

I seem to remember my arm being up above my head a lot!

[Pollyputhtekettleon]

It's all in your hips and legs. When lying on yout side feeding experiment with bending your kneed to varying degrees and put your top leg further forward than your bottom leg. You should find a better balance that let's you not hold your back muscles to stay in place.

[AntiHop]

I couldn't make it work at that age either. I think around 3 months when she was big enough to make it work.

[SilverdaleGlen]

I would say don't prop onto his side he could so easily flip face first and suffocate!

I think baby needs to be a little older before sleep side feeding really works.

My only tip for big boobs is to prop the nipple into the right place by putting a rolled muslin cloth strategically under boob.

[MumCodes]

Do this a lot with DD who's nearly 9 weeks. I have the arm I'm lying on above my head and she just lies on the bed with me (no pillow under her) and latches on.

But, she's definitely the best at this of 3 kids. Never mastered it with the oldest and DS2 was a little trickier. I think the fact that my boobs are a little floppier now helps.

Getting her hips pointing in the right direction is key to her not rolling away and taking in too much air.

Good luck!

[Pollyputhtekettleon]

I've done this from day one with my babies so in my experience it's not about baby size at all.

[bunny85]

Thanks everyone! Last night succeeded at it s bit more thanks to brilliant advices on here. I don't think it's to do with baby size as I notice when I manage to position him and myself right it works beautifully. It's the only way to get him to sleep anywhere but on my chest because as soon as I move him he wakes. Feeding side to side means he can sleep where he's been fed! I shall definitely persevere and hopefully will get easier as its a lifesaver. Thanks everyone!

[Highlove]

I just couldn't make it work when my DD was tiny. I tried agsin when she was bigger and no problem at all. I'm 36DD so not tiny!