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Infant feeding

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

Baby dislikes feeding laying down - do I do it correctly?

11 replies

musicmusic · 11/08/2012 10:33

I bf the baby ( he is 14 weeks old) and during the night I prefer to take him to my bed as he feeds every 2-3 hours. sometimes he will feed laying and sometimes will cry - and then I will have to sit a put him on a nursing pillow. When I laying down, I normally out my head under his head, so that is snugled around my breast to feed. what is the reason that he prefers nursing pillow than just laying in bed and feeding?

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BedHog · 11/08/2012 10:39

I can't work out your positions from your description sorry - your head under his head Confused?

When I feed DD lying down I lie on my side, she lies on her side facing me so we are tummy to tummy. Then I put my hand on her back or bottom to stop her rolling over.

SarryB · 11/08/2012 11:16

When I feed lying down, I have my head on a pillow, LO in the 'crook' of my arm to stop him rolling back, tummy to tummy, with his mouth just a bit higher than nipple height.

needsadviceplease · 11/08/2012 11:43

I found it much trickier to bf lying down at first - hard to find a comfy position for both of us, and he def preferred me to sit with him in cradle hold. Getting him latched on lying on top of me, tummy to tummy (biological nursing style) helped, then I'd gently roll sideways supporting him in the crook of my arm. We did a bit of daytime practise too - just went to bed topless and offered the boob at random.

Since about 14w though he's actually preferred lying down to feed, and sometimes gets a bit distressed feeding in cradle hold! - he seems too distracted and unable to unwind, somehow.

I'm sure different positions in relation to gravity result in different speeds of milk flow, too? I'm just speculating there though.

mrswoz · 11/08/2012 21:43

I am wondering if you mean putting your hand under his head? Often babies don't like having their heads held whilst breast feeding, I have found. Just thought it worth a mention if you didn't know...

I can't offer any useful advice on good lying down positions I'm afraid, I always end up with really sore shoulders and backache, as have suffered an upper back injury in my teens and I've never been right since :(

musicmusic · 12/08/2012 14:17

yes, I meant hand uner the head - or more precisely under his neck... if some of you saying that baby is in 'crook' of your arm - do you mean you put arm uner his neck and then along baby's body to stop him rolling?

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needsadviceplease · 12/08/2012 16:41

Yep, exactly that. So baby is still cradled the way I would if sitting up.

Mombojombo · 12/08/2012 19:03

Quite often you need to hold baby much lower than is instinctive when feeding lying down. Baby should tip his head back and extend his neck to feed, so you may need to drop your arm lower, and wiggle him down a bit to do this. Keep him very close tummy to tummy.

If it helps, start off with him cradled upright as you would if you were going to feed there, then gently roll over and settle him under your breast so he can reach up to it. It's much easier for baby to feed from 'under' the breast than over (try swallowing with your chin on your chest, then with your neck straight - it's much easier straight!)

Keep trying, it can be a lifesaver!

BedHog · 13/08/2012 09:52

You could try lying him on his side on a pillow instead of in the crook of your arm, then reach over him with your top arm to stop him rolling off.

musicmusic · 13/08/2012 11:22

thank you. this hazbeen very helpful. will try tonight x

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BertieBotts · 13/08/2012 11:28

Yes to what others have said, and also, have him much further down than you'd think. So that he has to look "up" to reach the breast. At first his nose should be level with your nipple.

Another thing if he doesn't like being laid flat in any position is that he might have reflux? Is he sick a lot or very cry-y? If this is the case you could try lying on your back, slightly propped up on pillows, with him on your chest.

MrsHoarder · 13/08/2012 11:41

DS just lies on the bed, tummy to tummy, head on the bed and mouth at nipple-height. My arm is above his head, preventing him from being able to wiggle up to the pillow.

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