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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

Feeding lying down with small boobs

13 replies

Wrigglebum · 31/03/2012 10:31

Bit of a strange question but I was wondering how other people with smaller boobs have got on with feeding lying down!

At DD I'm not tiny but they are very pert and my nipples don't have a very big 'range' iyswim Grin. I tried feeding DS lying down quite a few times and it never really worked (although he would only feed cradle hold and was very particular, still is about all food!). I just couldn't seem to get my nipple and his mouth to connect. I was chatting to a friend with small boobs and she said she struggled with it too

I'm due in a few weeks and it'll be an elcs, so I'm determined to master lying down feeding. Plus the fact that I also have a toddler means no day naps for me so feeding while I doze sounds perfect! I'm a bit nervous of using pillows etc near the baby in case I do fall asleep.

Has anyone got any tips to help with this?

OP posts:
ceeveebee · 31/03/2012 11:04

I feed lying down first thing in the morning. I was an A cup before pregnancy (no idea what I am now but not much bigger). Used to be pert too but no longer!

I cradle the baby's head in the crook of my elbow and just lie on my side. I sometimes have to hold my boob 'up' to get a latch. If you are having a CS then you'll be in hospital for a few nights and the midwives should show you how too.

I don't sleep while feeding though, I'm too nervous, plus I have twins so have to get up and swap to feed the second baby!

memememum · 31/03/2012 11:06

Not particularly big or small, but I have found that putting a rolled or folded muslin under my breast is useful to raise up the nipple to the right height. Look down at your baby and breast and shove in/pull out some of the material as neccesary. I also find it esential to have a little light clipped on the headboard where I can reach it, so can see to get a decent latch in the dark.

Meglet · 31/03/2012 11:10

Funnily enough I never managed it as my boobs couldn't reach the dc's Grin. I did try but realised it didn't really work for non-floppy boobs. The first time in my life I was jealous of people with large breasts!

But it was fine feeding them sitting up after my sections (well, DD anyway, DS wriggled and was a PITA to latch on). They're so light when newborn that the weight shouldn't be an issue. I did have to use cushions and pillows to prop myself up though, and I had a long, curvy bf pillow to rest them on. I permanently had one side of the bed and one seat on the sofa set up with all the cushions / magazines / water bottles I needed so I could just sit down, put the long one across my stomach and get on with it. Woe betide anyone who moved my cushion arrangement.

I never slept while feeding either, way too neurotic.

Ihaveaveryleakybrain · 31/03/2012 11:11

That's exactly how I do it too; I tried doing it with his head on the bed but he couldn't reach. This is how I feed DS at night and I do sleep like this - I just make sure he is on top of the duvet and he's nowhere near my pillow.

Ihaveaveryleakybrain · 31/03/2012 12:49

Sorry too slow, I mean I do it like ceeveebee.

fuzzywigsmum · 31/03/2012 19:12

I have really different sized boobs so found I could only easily feed lying down on one side when DD was newborn. I actually laid her on a pillow on the other side which was fine. I found she either stayed latched on or snuggled into me on her side or I'd put her onto her back in my sleep. From about 3 months, as DD got bigger and my boobs got saggier, it got easier to feed her without the pillow! Wink

Original poster
Wrigglebum · 31/03/2012 22:04

Thank you all for the feedback, glad to hear it can be done! I think with DS it was just such a nightmare getting him to feed (born with complete tongue tie, snipped in hospital) I was just so pleased he'd latch at all and I never really learnt different ways to feed. Hopefully I'll be a bit more confident in it all this time (and I'm determined).

OP posts:
FloweryBoots · 01/04/2012 23:01

I am smaller of boob (just about an A cup!) and struggled to feed lying down, especially when DS was very young. I found it easier to feed from the 'top' boob instead of the 'bottom' boob when lying down. Haven't seen this recomended anywhere but my Mum said she'd always done this and when I tried it I foudn it much easier.

nooka · 01/04/2012 23:20

I found feeding lying down resulted in milk everywhere. Not good! I think I was about a C cup when breastfeeding (normally nearer an A). I had no problem feeding in hospital after my c-sections though, I just used lots of pillows. At home I had a fantastically comfortable swivel chair with a high back and decent arms. No problem snoozing in that Grin

kickingking · 04/04/2012 11:25

pmsl, I was having this exact conversation with my sister the other the day. The conclusion was that this position was for those with big and/or floppy boobs! I am a pert D/DD when breastfeeding and couldn't manage this position.

I was fine feeding sitting up with a breastfeeding cushion after both my sections though.

ceeveebee · 04/04/2012 11:43

Er no, not just for floppy of boob, just raise baby's head using own arm or a pillow, and slightly lean over.

NoFoodwithaFace · 04/04/2012 11:44

it took a good few months for me and DS to work this out! It really hurt at first because they do end up tugging you nipples! Also the first few times we managed it he was sick everywhere from feeding lying down! Now he's 7 months and still feeding at night I'm so glad of it, you can literally go back to sleep when you've got them latched!

NoFoodwithaFace · 04/04/2012 11:45

Yes what ceeveebee said. When DS was tiny I used to nest his neck and head in the crook of my arm to bring him up

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