Apologies from mears who has giving inappropriate advice!

[mears]

Well sort of. I have used phraseology which can be confusing to mums and could be problematic when trying to correctly position a baby at the breasy.

I ofetn use the phrase 'tummy to mummy' but that doesn't apply to women who have larger breasts. They may not be able to get their baby in that position. The main point is that the baby's body and head should be in a straight line and that all depends on the 'angle of the dangle'

So depending on where your breasts lie depends on whether the baby's tummy can face the mother's tummy.

Another pointer I have used is checking that the muscles at the ear are moving. Those may move with a baby not attached correctly - it is better to check that the cheeks look 'full'.

I had breastfeeding update yesterday which was really interesting. The emphasis is on trying to give mothers clear tips without confusion using different terminology.

So apologies out there for duff advice!

sorry about typos - I am so distraught.

lol...... mears you've helped far more people than you can possibly have hindered!

Oh, mears

It's a minefield, isn't it?! The 'ears moving' bit is in the BFI ten steps, isn't it? So it's hardly surprising you'd give that advice. Anyway, that's what updates are for!

Bless you Mears, you were just giving the best advice you had. And it's very kind of you to come back and update everyone!

Interesting advice, speaking as a 36F, I did find 'tummy to mummy' awkward. Maybe that's why I got cracked nipples and mastitis... rugby ball hold was much easier.

both mine have resisted tummy to mummy with every ounce of their being..... don't weven have big boobs, they just like lying twisted for some reason wierd kids

Ignore my last post. I am talking out of my arse today. It's not in the 10 steps at all

(But your advice is still great, mears!)

Aw, Mears! You're fab!

Mine have never done tummy to mummy either - too much boob and they've both preferred the casual "head on one side, sprawled on back, scoffing away" look. Very this season, apparently...

My update was from our infacnt feeding advisor who works for Unicef babyfriendly too. To be fair that used to be the advice but as I said every effort is being made to simplify advice for mothers so simple signs of correct positioning and attachment are being looked for. Pillows are out too by the way. The baby should be attached first and then see if support is needed with a pillow. Mums with larger breasts being given a pillow were disadvataged because the baby could not lie beneath the breast if needed.

I found a pillow helped with DS1, but not with DS2 [gravity]

lol hunker.... ds is in that pose right now. very cute

I should stress that baby's head and body in a straight line applies really to the newborn baby getting off to a good start. I remember my older babies lying with their legs dangling over the edge of the sofa

She reinforced the message by asking do you drink a cup of coffee with your head facing to the left or right? When you look at trying to do that it makes you realise it is really hard.

I think the pillow advice before was really that everyone got a pillow whether they needed it or not. THose of you out there with lovely pert breasts would probably need one (or two) from the outset to bring the baby into line with the breast for attaching. However for some mothers it would not be clear beforehand if it was really need. Once the baby is on a pillow can be inserted into the gap.

Oh and the terminology is position (mother) and attachment (baby).

Fixing and latching are words that are best not used.

Mine are far from pert (serves me right for waiting until 34) and I needed a pillow as ds was so ruddy heavy! Now I'd think 8lb 7oz was nothing, but at the time, it's a lot of weight to support for up to an hour.

Now I have pert

Oooh, Mears, the b/f counsellor I saw at the time made me kind of hold my nipple so ds could do tummy to mummy. Which meant as soon as I stopped, the latch went all wrong. And you just can't hold your nipple in position all the way through a feed. D'y think the new advice will help to resolve this for women too old and too well-endowed for pertness?

Agree Edam - a pillow would be needed then. It was just that the assumption that all women needed them. For some women with large breasts the baby may avctually resy on her knees. If you put a pillow in before trying to attach the baby, she might actually have to pull her breast up for the baby to reach the nipple instead of the baby lying under the nipple if needed.

It is all to do with the 'angle of the dangle'. Love that phrase

x posted there edam. Yes I think it will help.

Position and attachment of baby needs to be sustainable throughout the feed - another thing to check

Sorry hunker [sceptical]

Think you get the message LOL

Hurrah! Maybe if I ever do it again, and get a clued-up midwife/HV/bfc it will be a hell of a lot easier than last time, then.

Here's hoping edam. I will be assessed just shortly to see if I am saying the right thing to mums and then I will be cascading information and assessing other midwives.