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Infant feeding

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

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Original poster

Laid down feeding

31 replies

GingerRodgers · 21/07/2014 20:32

Planning on bf this baby and have a sidecar cot set up ready as want to safely co-sleep.
I've been reading a few threads about 'learning' how to bf laying down- is it really difficult? Am I deluding myself I can just pull dc over, shove a boob in and feed?
Where can I learn how to feed like this?

OP posts:

Original poster

GingerRodgers · 21/07/2014 20:32

Anyone with any experiences I'd love to hear from you, thanks.

OP posts:

DoItTooJulia · 21/07/2014 20:39

In my experience, all bf 'holds' take practice. I never got the ruby ball hold, despite feeding both of mine for their first years.

Lying down was my favourite position as I could snooze or read.

You might find you need extra pillows or cushions to get any hold right.

But for me, with my first dc I definitely had to 'learn' how to bf, not just how to do it lying down.

Best of luck, if ever you are struggling, we are here!

nugget05 · 21/07/2014 20:40

I co-sleep with ds and never considered there could be an issue with laying down feeding. I literally just pull him to me and he feeds, neither of us even wake up properly . The only issue I have is the excess milk and the other boob leaking all over the bed covers but I just sleep with a towel under me and move ds away when he's finished so he doesn't get wet.

Jumblebee · 21/07/2014 20:43

I definitely had to learn how to feed lying down, but once I got the hang of it it was so much comfier when doing night feeds. Although I did once fall asleep while feeding DD and very nearly rolled on to her

For me it was practising how to get baby comfy laying on her side whilst holding my breast in position (unfortunately my boobs are huge and I always had to have a hold whilst feeding otherwise DD wouldn't have been able to find it!!)

yongnian · 21/07/2014 20:43

I found it a bit tricky with DD1, could never seem to get the hang of it. With DD2 I'd acquired a dream genii pillow (very firm and long down one side with another short pad on the other(sorry badly explained but google it) and this has been ace - I lay DD2 along the long bit, lower than me, so mouth at nipple level and she can happily lie there feeding at the right height, body supported and raised. My back is supported by the other bit and it has really worked well this time. It's very firm so keeps her in position well.
Also, when she was younger and still finding it easier to latch in conventional position, I'd start her there then recline to lying down.
Hope that helps, hot brain is like mush this eve!

TheJourney22 · 21/07/2014 20:44

My DS is 8 Months, I EBF for 4 Months. He's now formula milk fed & weaned on 2 meals a day.

Any position for breastfeeding you need to learn.

However for me.... Lying down was the easiest!!! Co sleeping works perfectly for this also ... We would sleep through the whole night & he'd latch on when he wanted with no help from me (so basically helped himself!) didn't have to get up at all! Works perfect for co sleeping.

However, DC will associate feed to sleep. May only sleep on you/next to you & wake up if you move .... I'm talking day naps too here. I'd get up for a pee & the sod would know I'd gone!

But ..... now he's 8 months, sleeps in his own cot all night, in his own room (and no I am not lying) occasional wake up as teething etc

Breastfeeding lying down is also the best way to help heal your body especially if you have stitches, an episiotomy or CS. It's also the best for co sleeping.

ClariceBeanthatsme · 21/07/2014 20:48

If you have quite large breasts roll up a muslin cloth and pop it underneath the breast you are feeding from. It will make it easier for a new baby.
Once you have mastered it and baby is a bit older its the best thing you don't even really wake up just whip your top down. I frequently woke up and DC was still latched on but fast asleep.

ElephantsNeverForgive · 21/07/2014 20:48

I found feeding lying down is easier with a slighty older baby. A few neck muscles and a bit of head control help a lot.

watchtower · 21/07/2014 20:51

I found laying down feeding actually helped to get the latch right in the early days.

Used to kind of dangle the boob in which prevented the issues I was having with the baby not latching on full (areola and all).

Original poster

GingerRodgers · 21/07/2014 20:56

I managed to ebf dd for 6 months and carries on until she was 2 but always sat up at night to feed her and killed my back! This time I feel like I'll need as much 'sleep' or just being laid down time as possible hence wanting to try co-sleeping/laid down feeding.
Hoping I'll be able to feed again like I did last time but really helpful/useful to hear tips esp about big boob feeding. Mine are humongous! Hate them. Always had to use 2 hands to feed dd. Really hoping it works this time.
Wrt feeding to sleep, I'm fine with that. Always did it with dd and no lasting effects. Made life easier!

OP posts:

Wednesbury · 21/07/2014 20:57

I think it is a trial and error thing. I assumed with DC1 that I could not feed lying down as I don't have even slightly big boobs, so I didn't think they would reach. However, with DC2 I was so tired I persevered and did manage it, but really had to lie leaning forward on my side. The other thing I found was that co-sleeping, I had her on the side away from DH with a bed guard, so I was always feeding at night from one side, resulting in one bigger boob and a numbness in my right hip that has never gone back to normal.

Not sure what I'll do with DC3 when he/she arrives! Maybe if I swap sides with DH every other night ...

fledermaus · 21/07/2014 20:59

With DC1 it took me about 6 weeks to get the hang of getting a good latch lying down. With DC2 I fed lying down from birth even though we didn't have a good latch that way at first, and mangled my nipples! So I would say it is worth taking some time to get a good latch lying down.

BocaDeTrucha · 22/07/2014 10:37

Ds is 10 months and I've also found it's easier the older he gets. When he was very little I would like on my left side, for example, and he would feed from my left boob. Now he's bigger, I can lie on my back and with my arm under his neck he can reach my boob on the side he's lying on (boobs have obviously sagged and now reach down lower at the side.... :( )

However, the big thing for me now is that lying on my back gives me terrible back ache in the morning so I have to be careful.

RedCountryRoads · 22/07/2014 14:36

I found it easier feeding lying down. The only thing i did is put a pillow behind DD's back so she didn't roll on her back while feeding. We both lie on our sides. In this heat we don't get quite as warm as traditional holds.

Hallloumi · 22/07/2014 22:41

I found it quite hard when DD small - under 8 weeks (but I persevered as needed the rest) - and then it got a lot easier. I found earlier on I had to help her latch on and this involved getting her onto boob while still propped on my elbow and then once she was on rotating that arm round so I could lie down. Now she just latches herself. I've never mastered the problem of how to use both boobs overnight without her or me having to move around bed though.

captaincake · 23/07/2014 17:34

Am I deluding myself I can just pull dc over, shove a boob in and feed?

No. That what DS and I do in the early days we had lots of relaxing skin to skin time practising and very luckily found it easy very quickly. DS and I both lie on our sides facing each other and I use both breasts. It took a little longer to get used to using the 'wrong one' i.e. left one when lying on right side. I use my pregnancy sausage pillow behind my back and bottom for support/comfort.

Booboostoo · 23/07/2014 17:45

I found lying down a bit difficult in the beginning as the nipple was too far away from DD's mouth, but then it came into its own when she was a little bit older. Co-sleeping and feeding lying down was the only reason I got any sleep during her first two years.

minipie · 23/07/2014 18:07

Didn't work for me till DD was at least 5+ months - I think partly due to her tongue tie and partly due to my small boobs (nipple much higher up than baby's mouth)

So, depends on you and on your baby. Don't rely on it but it may work.

Oly4 · 24/07/2014 16:01

I do it, comes naturally. Just keep trying if seems hard at first

ClearlyMoo · 24/07/2014 22:57

We have a bednest. Almost impossible to feed without moving her as cot would have to be so far down bed if never get in or out of bed. Plus fold down side in the way...

LemonBreeland · 24/07/2014 22:59

I never quite got it with the DSes but with DD we managed fine. I think it was easier as she got slightly bigger.

feekerry · 25/07/2014 10:03

i have had 2 c sec so had no option at first! ye for both babies it was just a case of rolling over, boob in mouth!
with dc2 i was a bot more confident to pull boob into better position when lying down.

flipflopsonfifthavenue · 25/07/2014 13:31

OP I'm hoping to do more bfing lying down with dc2 for same reasons as you - hoping ill get more sleep!
I bfed lying down a few times with DS but never quite clicked. My boobs are huge and I had to lie a little but on my back so that my too boon didn't smother DS while he was feeding from bottom boob. Not sure if I should have rolled more into tummy and given him top boob? Never really worked it out. Was never really comfy enough that I could snooze during the feeds but hoping to give it another go this time. Good thread, was going to start one myself!

moggle · 25/07/2014 16:26

Can I ask, when feeding lying on your side do you feed with the boob nearest the bed? Does that mean that if you share a bed with someone else, you only ever feed lying down from the same boob every time? As otherwise I imagine you have to turn to the other side, move the baby, but then baby is between you and DP which I know is unsafe for you to fall asleep again this way?
Just trying to understand the logistics!

feekerry · 25/07/2014 17:25

moggle i switch sides but do most of the feeds on the outside one then early morning i roll ds over my tummy to the other side so yes he is inbetween me and dh. i have never considered it to be an issue... i cradle an arm round ds so it acts as a barrier but never had an issue with either dc's.

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