BFing with a Pavlick Harness - biological nurturing

[theborrower]

My 7 week old daughter wears a Pavlick Harness - she's had it on 5 weeks so far and probably has another 7 weeks in it. We already have issues breastfeeding (see separate topic about BF issues from day 1) but I wanted to ask about the best positions to use.

We use 'biological nurturing' positions (basically laid back position with her sitting upright) and this seems to work ok , especially as other positions seem impossible, but I'm looking for tips on how to work with her as she gets bigger - have people found this positioning still works ok (does baby need to keep sliding down the knee, for example??)

Thanks

I cradled DD in my arm I guess classic BF position Pavlik harness didn't interfere with this. I even found I was able to BF lying down, although she needed some support to stay on her side facing me. My DD started wearing it at 11 weeks, so our experiences are probably a little different -- BF was already totally established. Good luck.

Hi Borrower, I'm not sure I can help with your specific problem as I never used the position you describe (I did try but found it too difficult). I did bf DD in a pavlik harness though. I just used the traditional across the chest hold. Well actually I used a my brest friend feeding cushion, lay DD on her back and turned her head towards me, but the cushion was more to support her weight than anything else as I have a bad back. This worked for us until the harness came off at 6 months old.

You might want to search back in the breast and bottle feeding thread as there was a post about bf in a harness quite recently and lots of useful advice on there. Typing this on iPhone so not easy to link but it was quite recent - maybe a couple of weeks ago? - so hopefully not too difficult to find.

Good luck and all best wishes to your little DD. Not too long to go now until you can have a skin to skin cuddle.

Hi, we were advised to try 'biological nurturing' because of latching issues, but perhaps I can go back to trying more traditional positions after she has her tongue tie snip (see other thread!).

I found the traditional across chest position a little fiddly - maybe I was doing it wrong - her sticky out legs seemed to get in the way, and the rugby ball position also seemed to be a bit of a pain. Like I said, maybe once we've sorted the latching issues these other positions will become more successful.

I'll also have a look for the other thread on pavlick harnesses - thanks :-)

And yep, I'm really looking forward to proper skin to skin cuddles and bathtime at home and not in a physiotherapist's office!

here discussing Suzanne Colson demonstrating BN positions with a new mum and baby. I believe other babies and mums using the Pavlik have used BN successfully.

with TT you can try pressing firmly at the top of your aerola so that the nipple points straight to the roof of her mouth. then release once she is on.

there is another link I can find but at the mo I should be getting ready for work.