tips for feeding lying down

[lyra41]

Hi

I am due to pop any time, and wondered if any of you exp bf could give me some advice about bf lying down, as I plan to have baby in bed with me for nite feeds for the first few weeks.

is it best to get baby latched on with me sitting up, and then move to a lying dwn position, or will he be ok to latch on frm lying down next to me do you think?

any advice welcome.

thanks.

I experimented with cushions and pillows and found it worked best if he lay on one, I had one behind me, and also one between my knees for comfort.

I latched on once I was comfy lying down. I didn't want to put my boob into weird directions by sitting down first.

I had this lovely image of being able to do it in the dark - yeah right. Eventually I could do it without waking up - but that was a few weeks down the track.

I always latched them on lying down and didn't use any cushions etc (as far as I can remember! It was a while ago). I think I layed them on the bed, got myself comfortable, shuffled them into the right position, adjusted mine, latched them on and got myself comfy again. I think I had to gently nudge them in closer to get a good latch. IIRC, the tricky bit was what to do with your "underneath arm" IYSWIM Latching on sitting up wouldn't work as you need their body pointing downwards rather than across (as they would be if you fed sitting up).

One personal tip is to put a waterproof protector underneath the baby's head and your breast. I have vivid memories of waking up to discover DS (1.. or 2 - again can't remember!) had stayed latched on enough to keep the milk flow going but hadn't actually been "feeding". It was disgustingly wet, cold and sticky!!

Lyra41, good idea about the bf lying down - best way to get sleep during frequent night wakings. I only got round to it when dd was older (6 months+) but if I have another, would most certainly start from newborn.

I got baby to latch on whilst I was lying down. Lay down on my side with my head on a small cushion (for my comfort), baby's head was in the crook of my arm. Baby was lying its side (just like you would if you were bf-ing sitting up).Inch body/nipple towards baby's mouth whilst using the upper hand to nudge baby's head into the right position. My body had to facing slightly down to get the angle right.

I remember only being able to do this successfully from one side - the left side which was the better performer anyway. My boobs are of modest proportions . I understand that it can be difficult if you are more generously proportioned on top. Depends on where your nipples point when you are lying on your side, I imagine.

I am (ahem) generously proportioned on top and have no difficulty with this.
I lie on my side with the baby in the crook of my arm. then I shuffle us together IYSWIM until we are in the right position.
I then put pillows or my beany breastfeeding pillow against my back for support.
i would really recommend you get a dimmer switch for the bedroom for night time feeding, or failing that a low light lamp, so that you can feed in comfort in the night

I've fed all four of mine lying down but I find for the first couple of weeks at least I need to sit up because they're so floppy. The most important thing at first is to get the latch right for you and the baby.

After that it's about positioning yourself so you're comfy and the baby's latch is still good.

Good luck with the birth and the feeding.

Feeding whilst lying down is lovely - very snuggly, and better than having to sit up in the middle of the night, especially in winter! The first (as in immediately after delivery) feeds for both my children was lying down, actually, and it seemed very natural and logical (restful!) at the time, which set me up well, I felt. Perhaps worth considering? Definitely use a towel under them if feeding in bed at night, to avoid soggy patches in the morning (IYSWIM!)

Fed DD lying down right from the off (bad lazy mummy) would wake up to find her unlatched and asleep snuggled up to me and me lying there boob hanging out! Would echo towel or muslin under baby too. I would lie down then latch baby on and get comfy.

Oh lyra just realise it's you

It look me a week or so to work out the logistics of this but I am still doing it 10 months later and it allowed me to gets lots more sleep than I would have otherwise.

I lie on my side with ds lying on his side facing me - still "tummy to mummy". I used to need to use my top arm to line him up "nose to nipple" supporting his shoulders, and my bottom arm to shape my breast "so that it is like he is eating a burger". All the same principles as sitting up really.

When he was latched and all the time now, I stick out my bottom arm like superman and his head fits in underneath.

I have latched him on while sitting and moved but this is harder I would say that starting in the position you intend to stay in.

Good luck

Mummydaydream - I was the same with both my two their first feeds were lying down. Would definately recommend it for when you are soooooooooooo tired in the middle of the night.

My friend could never do it but I found it quite easy, thankfully .

Thanks all, will be following these tips when the time comes (any day now I hope)!

Hi lyra I wanted to do this as had lots of pain down bellow after birth but couldnt figure it out. Might be worth asking the midwife to help you with it soon after the birth; maybe you will be like sweetkitty that way and it will come naturally! Are you planning to cosleep or return baby to crib afterwards, just interested for next time! Goodluck with everything

I found it easier to feed lying down in the early days.
I lay on my side, lay ds2 on his side facing my boob. I put the arm the was on the bed sort of round above his head so he couldnt roll (not that he ever did lol) and then latched himn on

I did it in hospital a couple of times but it never really worked for us. I seemed to be holding my very large boob out of DSs nose for fear of suffocating him!

Mine never came naturally though it was hard work, having a jaundice baby how wouldn't suck, being threatened with tube feeding and formula, sore nips the lot but after about 3 weeks it all came together. You'll get loads of support on here too.

one more tip on this thread: get a book light. i've got a little LED light that doesn't get hot. that way i can see what i'm doing without waking DH. (i'm a saint!!)

I have a squashy thinnish pillow for myself which I fold in half (for my head) so there is no pillow near ds' head, another pillow at my back which supports my lower back and hips better. Latching on was tricky in this position in the early days as very full of milk but once supply settled down and he had more neck strength it became really easy. Worth persevering with as you will get much more sleep. We still feed like this every night and he is one on Sunday. I have a bed guard on my side of the bed too. Also I was carefull to use blankets and not adult duvet to avoid overheating when cosleeping. Now he is older he is in a grobag and depending which side I am on I have the duvet over me but not him or use blankets.

lyra - I have big boobs so I found it most comfortable to put baby down on bed first (on his side), then lie down next to him and offer him the boob. I would fold a pillow to rest my head and arm, otherwise you end up on one elbow which is very uncomfortable for long feeds. If DH was in the room, he would put the pillow under my head. I had terrible pelvic pain after the birth (8 hours standing up in a birthing pool !!) and found lying down the only comfortabel position. Sitting down was unbearable for weeks !

If you have a bf adviser who can visit you at home, it would be useful so that you can make sure there is a good latch and that baby will not be at the tip of the nipple and causing damage to your breasts and not feeding well.

The nice thing about lying down while you feed is that often you feel very sleepy yourself and can have a nap too !

Good luck !