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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

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Original poster

Breastfeeding cushions. Fantastically useful or the cushion equivalent of those robo-bins for nappies?

28 replies

tigana · 07/08/2011 15:57

I do remember struggling to get ds to right height to reach my not-ginormous boobs using normal pillows (am long bodied...also may have been cheapo pillows that would squish flat under weight of a small bird, let alone 7-8lb of baby).

OP posts:

Thandeka · 07/08/2011 16:03

Fantastically useful- mybreastfriend pillow completely saved my breastfeeding relationship in the early days. Have lent it to friends since and they found same! Tried other bfeeding pillows like widgey etc found them useless.

HarrietJones · 07/08/2011 16:06

I use my leg. I'm a bit dubious about the value as you can't carry them about with you.

Thandeka · 07/08/2011 17:03

I used to clip mine to buggy! Only needed it for first few months but made a mahoosive difference. Using your leg can mean your posture is squiffy causing discomfort. Cor I sound like I work for them- I really don't just found them to be excellent product that saved my breastfeeding

CMOTdibbler · 07/08/2011 17:05

I didn't get on with them at all - but am tall, and small of nork, so they didn't reach. I put my elbow on the arm of the chair, and that worked fine

orchidee · 07/08/2011 19:19

I was given a dream genii during pregnancy and used it for feeding during the early weeks. I think the benefit of these things over normal pillows or cushions is that (IME anyway with a 91st centile baby) they are firmer and longer than the cushions on your sofa, so they provide more support and let you try positions like the rugby hold with less faff than you may have with normal cushions.

May I suggest that you feed lying down as much as possible - I've just got this happening now and it's soooo good. Did you do this last time?

Original poster

tigana · 07/08/2011 20:02

Last time BF never really worked... with hindsight I believe I had crappy latch (and not fab MW advice re latch..."look ok to me" re minced nipples ). I managed about 10-14 days before going to expressing only and bottlefeeding with ebm until supply ran down.

This time am determined, and want to do whatever I can to help it happen ( so trying not to cynically automatically discount everything that is supposed to be useful.... )

OP posts:

ellmum · 07/08/2011 20:14

I second the dream genii. I still use it sometimes for feeding DD. It's more supportive and more flexible than a normal pillow or cushion. I didn't use it at first, can't remember why now, and tried to use bed pillows. I couldn't get on with that at all (I'm quite tall, 5'10", so maybe that was why, not sure).

JiltedJohnsJulie · 07/08/2011 20:17

Never got one, used cushions or pillows at home depending on where I was and my leg when I was out. Really don't like the idea of being tied to anything that would make bfing less portable.

Was given one of those nappy bins and didn't use that either

Thandeka · 07/08/2011 21:02

I had dream genni as pregnancy pillow- tried it for bfeeding- useless. Whereabouts are you OP? Happy to give you a tryout of my breastfriend pillow if not too far (I need it in Jan for #2 though!). My breastfriend was main one they had in NICU as they really rated it especially as you can feed completely hands free- handy when positioning but all dealing with heart monitors, nasogastric tubes etc! Honest I have spoken to lots of women for whom my breastfriend saved their bfeeding relationship 2nd time. I do sound a bit evangelical but it's amazing!

halfdrunktea · 07/08/2011 21:03

I just used an ordinary pillow as I didn't really get on with the nursing ones.
They might be more useful for doing the rugby hold though. They are also quite useful for propping up babies when they're learning to sit up unaided.

Thandeka · 07/08/2011 21:04

Oh and I'm tall and long bodied too- mybreastfriend gives you perfect adjustable platform right under your norks. I think that's why I struggled with other pillows as couldn't get them high enough. Mybreastfriend clips round your waist and can be tightened in position

iwasyoungonce · 07/08/2011 21:05

I loved mine! Used it for about 18 months! I'm still bf DS now, but he's outgrown it somehow.

Still use the cushion though, behind my back when reading in bed!

EightiesChick · 07/08/2011 21:07

Loved mine. I could do without it when out, and did, but when at home it was marvellously comfortable. I had the mybreastfriend too.

RhinestoneCowgirl · 07/08/2011 21:08

I had a v-shaped pillow, used it quite a lot in the early days, also pg to sleep with. Then it got used to prop up babies while they learnt to sit up. I still use it occasionally for reading in bed...

acatcalledfelix · 07/08/2011 21:24

I had one of the round ones that hooks around your body and I found it invaluable. I started with a V pillow (much cheaper, y'see) but it didn't work for me. My pillow would "stick" in the right position. I had loads of probs with BF so having each element just so was really important for me!

PenguindreamsofDraco · 08/08/2011 09:04

I thought the cushion was rubbish (although had v prem and therefore miniscule baby). The Sangenie nappy thing however is awesome!

Emzar · 08/08/2011 10:42

I got really fed up of using pillows and cushions in the first few weeks. I had enough problems getting the latch right as it was, without having to arrange a load of stuff that kept slipping put of place. So I got a Thruppenny Bits pillow, which ties around the back to keep it in place. It was a bit eye-wateringly expensive, but I don't mind as it made feeding loads easier. It's also light and compact enough to take out if you need to, although I don't usually.

orchidee · 08/08/2011 14:47

OP can I suggest either buying a BF cushion and keeping the tags on / receipt safe etc in case you don't feel you need it, or look into which one you fancy and where to get it from before you give birth, so you don't need to think about it if you do want to go ahead with getting one. I would have struggled both with finding the time to look into options and also with decision-making during the early weeks.

If I hadn't had the dream genii during pregnancy I think I'd have bought the mybrestfriend cushion. We had a lot of problems with positioning and attachment and as I said earlier, a firm base was better than the soft pillows and cushions I had dotted around the house. I think the benefit of specific BF cushions like MBF is that, as a PP said, they can be strapped on around your middle and so if you shift position or stand up or whatever the cushion stays in place.

Zaft · 08/08/2011 16:50

I love my wedgie cushion - I get back pain really easily and the cushion means I don't have to scrunch up my body. I feed without it when out and about but am never as comfortable as when I have the cushion. I had a dream genie but never really got on with it either for sleeping or for feeding. I do think it depends on body type and boob size though. I have a relatively long body and humongous boobs.

Bufster · 08/08/2011 21:35

I never use the one I have for feeding - it doesn't felt comfortable and it is so much easier for me to just support the baby with my legs. But the pillow came in handy when my DD was learning to sit on her own. Given the many positive replies, I'd say get one, as you will probably find some use for it even if it isn't for its intended purpose.

Woodlands · 08/08/2011 21:40

I have a widgey BF pillow and STILL use it sometimes while feeding my almost 13-month-old. I have a long top half so it was really useful to get him up to the right level. Now I tend to use it on either side of me to rest the arm that's supporting DS's head in. I managed without it while out and about when DS was little, but I had to hold him up rather than resting him on my lap/crossed leg like everyone else seemed to do.

Original poster

tigana · 08/08/2011 23:25

Thandeka, I'm in plymouth... and due in January as well.. so thanks but....;D

Thanks all, I will put 'proper BF pillow' in my "maybe/investigate further" pile rather than "utter nonsense" pile.

OP posts:

spiderlight · 09/08/2011 21:49

I bought a lovely handmade one on ebay and it was a lifesaver - really helped us to get established. Over the years it has also been used as a baby-nest, a support when DS started sitting up, a cave, a crawl-tunnel, a pretend lion's mane, and is still used as a pillow/safety barrier when he wants to have a sleep on the sofa.

sunshineoutdoors · 10/08/2011 06:53

Just been reading this thread...I have a 5 day old and bought a dream genii yesterday...already I feel that I can't live without it, I love how it supports baby in right position and supports my back too.

CitizenOscar · 10/08/2011 07:05

Just to put another side - I haven't needed one at all. I have 8 week old DS and find the key thing to being comfortable is the right chair (I.e. Chair with arms &/or supportive back). But I can breastfeed pretty much anywhere, but maybe not as comfortably. At the very very beginning I mostly fed lying down or with a normal pillow/cushion for support but I don't need them at all anymore. I'm not very tall, though, so maybe that's why?

I did borrow a pregnancy cushion but found it useless for BF. Maybe you could borrow one?

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