Talk to me like I'm stupid ... How do I BF lying down?!

[Clumsasaurus]

Just that! DS is 16 weeks and I've never figured it out/got it comfy for us both.

In the last 2 weeks we have gone from cosleeping in a crib right next to me to bedsharing which I LOVE, but would love to feed him lying down rather than scooping him up and sitting in cradle position.

It's been a while since I had a 16 week old but I'll try and help you .
If you lie on your side and put DS on his side facing you but lying on a folded up blanket or a flat pillow to make him higher than you, he should then be able to reach your nipple. You might not even need for him to be lying on anything, it depends on the size of him and the size of your breasts, position of your nipples etc. I think sometimes I cradled the baby's head in the arm that i was not lying on.

It should look like this. There are videos on You Tube which are really useful.

When ds was really little, I used to start by sitting with him in a cradle hold, then slide him round so his body was alongside mine, wriggle down, twist to face him and end up in the above position but after a few weeks, I just put him next to me, turned to face him and assumed the position. In fact I barely wake up tbh.

The key thing imo is that you put them down low enough. Much lower than you'd think. They are down by your tummy, not up by your breasts/chest.

I think I tucked the arm on the same side as the feeding boob under my head, started with baby a bit low, then used top arm to slide them up towards nipple and then hold them in place if they needed it. By 16 weeks they were pretty much doing by themselves as long as I lifted my top up! It is fab for night-time feeds. We have a bed-side cot so normally slid them back over into that when finished.
Am sure someone with actual knowledge will be along to help you in a minute!

Ah look, they already were, while I was typing!

Gosh, yes, this position is amazing, makes nighttime feeds so enormously much less knackering! I just lie on my side, the same side the boob I am feeding from, though sometimes the other side if she's being a fuss-pot, but that does lead to me being in a strangely contorted position. Then thrust my nipple in her face, and off we go. Tbh it is by far my favourite position to feed in, day or night. I just love lying down!

Can he latch himself on during sitting up feeds?

When DS was a newborn and needed help latching it was a bit tricky, but after 6 weeks-ish I would lie on my side with a leg bent and my bottom arm out, head supported on pillows. DS would lie on his side facing me between my arm and leg, mouth level with nipple.

Mine took a while to master it, 5 months plus. I have big boobs, so he is lower than me and nuzzles his face up and I kinda drop the boob into his face. Then when he's done, I swing the other one over, when he has a good grip, I relax. I watched all the videos etc but found that it's very individualistic. Depends on the baby and your boobs, their shape etc.

You guys rock! I think we have cracked it! I had him too high!

Thank you so much xx

Yay! Lying down feeding is amazing.

Yeah I find I have to have dd quite low (nipple pointing almost at her forehead) to get her to tip her head up so she can breath properly. I love this position, I'm so much less tired than my friends coz I can dose through feeds, bliss!

Well done :-)

I find DS can be a bit enthusiastic whilst waiting for me to get ready and shuffles himself up, it really is necessary to shuffle him back again to get a comfortable latch.

I practiced during the day when I was keen for a rest, before I tried doing it half asleep in the middle of the night (bedside cot here too). Experiment to find the position you are most comfy in. I tend to use a long pillow wedged behind/slightly beneath my back and if I remember I find it comfy to have a pillow (often the bottom bit of the long body pillow) between my knees/thighs. But DS can get impatient with me arranging myself!

Hope you find like I do that you get more rest. :)