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Infant feeding

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

Original poster

What is the secret to feeding lying down?

39 replies

Daffodilly · 05/02/2009 14:28

I would love to be able to feed DS (2 weeks old) lying down - I figure I could at least doze/rest through the night feeds that way. However, I don't seem to be able to get the latch right. He just ends up chewing the end of my nipple and it is agony! I have fairly small breats - wondering if this is part of the problem when lying down?

Does anyone have any advice or is there a knack I am missing?

OP posts:
Sorryforbeinganuisance · 05/02/2009 14:30

Yes the smaller the more difficult ime!

I have found lying on my side makes it much better, but it's hard to drift off in that position and you need to be propped up iyswim.

Not sure if anyone else might have a better idea.

ilovetochat · 05/02/2009 14:31

i used to lie on my side with my lower arm up above my head or even lie on my back and let dd lie on my chest.

RobynLou · 05/02/2009 14:34

hmmm, i have big boobs so might not be much help, have you tried latching on whilst sitting on the bed and then lying both of you down - a bit of a contortionist trick but after a couple of times you'll have figured out your positioning...
i lay curled around lo and brought her legs/bum very close to me and her head further away iyswim?
and of course she lies on her side...
hth

myjobismum · 05/02/2009 14:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

llareggub · 05/02/2009 14:37

It only worked for me when DS got a bit bigger and more mobile. From about 6 months or so I had some lovely snoozes when breastfeeding. I'm hoping I'll get the hang of it this time around.

ellideb · 05/02/2009 14:38

I lie on my side with my top knee at right angles to stop me rolling over and to stop DS from wriggling down. I put the arm that is near the bed under my head or pillow, make sure that DS nose is in line with my nipple and put my hand between his shoulder blades and bring him in close.

You can place a pillow between your legs to make it more comfortable. Make sure your DS head is not tilted back or down but is in a comfortable position otherwise it will make it hard for him to latch or swallow.

I've been doing this with DS (5mths) now since I brought him home from hospital and its great. We both sleep much better. I just leave him to it and he finds my nipple if he wants a feed int he night, I hardly wake at all.

Mummyfor3 · 05/02/2009 14:38

I have big boobs and could not manage feeding lying down with newborn. IMO, it does get easier when baby a bit bigger. I seem to remember that DS3 managed from about 4 weeks onwards - he then turned into a limpet and would not let go ALL night .. but I did get some sleep some of the time.

mawbroon · 05/02/2009 14:45

Are you actually helping him to latch on? Or is he doing it himself?

I remember my ds could latch and unlatch himself from a couple of weeks old and often I would have no idea in the morning of how many times he had fed in the night!

I also worked out that I could just kind of roll over towards him and have him feed from the "top" boob to save us turning over for the other side.

aquababe · 05/02/2009 14:46

my dd was way older than 2 weeks before I managed to feeding lying down.
I first managed it with cushions then gradually moved them away

ellideb · 05/02/2009 14:48

mawbroon You are a genius! I've never tried that! Does it require largish boobs though? The rolling over and switching sides thing is the only part that grates at night so to have a solution is just brilliant! Thanks!

MrsBadger · 05/02/2009 14:50

I managed the Mawbroon Roll with moderately petite 32Ds.

dd was fine feeding lying down whne tiny and then got the hang of it again abotu 4m, but in between we just couldn;t make it work - either she or I was the wrong size/shape...

mawbroon · 05/02/2009 14:52

Well, at their biggest (when he was excl feeding at 5-6 months) I was a 34E. So not that huge on the grand scale of things I guess...

It did take me months to figure it out though, I wish I had thought about it sooner!!

mawbroon · 05/02/2009 14:52

LOL at the mawbroon roll.

Novmama · 05/02/2009 14:55

Agree with other comments - support head with pillows with arm underneath ( although if your lo is a protracted feeder like mine you may get stiff/pins and needles. My dd lies on side with her feet up on my thigh and we are tummy to tummy.

Due to rsi in hands/wrists from early latching on issues (my dd is now 10 wks) i can only feed lying down which means i have been able to continue bf but am so bored of lying in bed (sofa occasionally but not ideal). Does anyone know if:

a) any potential problems for dd with exclusively feeding this way?
b) how can i express and feed from bottle say 2-3 times a day so can get out and about? (especially once weather improves - would like to feed until dd is 6 months)

dustbuster · 05/02/2009 14:56

I think when they are tiny it helps to prop their head on your arm above the elbow (on the side where you are feeding) and then use your lower arm to prop them on their side, so they are still "tummy to mummy". I have pretty small boobs and got the hang of this when DD was about 4 wks. It really is worth doing - makes such a difference, esp. in the middle of the night!

ellideb · 05/02/2009 14:56

Right, I will try the mawbroon roll tonight. My 34 dd's should be adequate don't you think?

Novmama · 05/02/2009 14:57

Agree with other comments - support head with pillows with arm underneath ( although if your lo is a protracted feeder like mine you may get stiff/pins and needles. My dd lies on side with her feet up on my thigh and we are tummy to tummy.

Due to rsi in hands/wrists from early latching on issues (my dd is now 10 wks) i can only feed lying down which means i have been able to continue bf but am so bored of lying in bed (sofa occasionally but not ideal). Does anyone know if:

a) any potential problems for dd with exclusively feeding this way?
b) how can i express and feed from bottle say 2-3 times a day so can get out and about? (especially once weather improves - would like to feed until dd is 6 months)

nulgirl · 05/02/2009 15:00

I second the roll but have pretty huge breasts (34h at the mo). I have taken to feeding my ds (2mo) that way. He wakes for a feed and I take him out of this moses basket and feed him both breasts lying on the same side. The tip i find is to empty the bottom breast first or it is really uncomfortable and might leak when you lie on it to do the other side. This appraoch protects ds from his elder sister (2.6yo) who still sneaks into our bed every night and snuggles up right beside me. I then put him back in his moses basket as I am determined to have one child who can sleep independently

CherryChoc · 05/02/2009 15:10

I do what mawbroon does too - I discovered it one night and now think it is the best thing ever - but was never able to describe it.

I have small breasts (B, maybe C cup while nursing) and it was the only way I could feed for the first two weeks. Will explain it as best I can for feeding on your right side, you can obviously reverse the directions too

In the very early days, I would lie down on my right side, with my head on a pillow, my right arm sticking out (so just under the pillow) and lie DS down on his back just next to my chest, then I rolled him over so he was quite snug against me and usually he latched on by himself if my nipple was close enough to his mouth. He never liked being swaddled, so I had to pin his left arm straight down in the corner between my ribs and the mattress. (Does that make sense? I wasn't lying on his arm, but it was trapped between my body and his so it couldn't flail around.) Then I used to use my left hand around his back/bum to shift him and get him into the best position, and he would hold onto my finger. The MWs kept reminding me to bring his body in very close to mine, which seemed to help him stay latched as well.

Have put a picture on my profile if you want to see my position and his (although he isn't facing me in the picture, you get the idea.)

CherryChoc · 05/02/2009 15:15

Sorry picture should be working now. It's one of my favourite pictures because he is so tiny But excuse my appearance, he was 90 minutes old!

CherryChoc · 05/02/2009 15:17

Sorry to triple post - Should have read "then I rolled him over so he was lying on his side, snug against me..."

StealthPolarBear · 05/02/2009 15:20

I've only ever been able to do it when DS was older as well - he definitely has to help.
I discovered the mawbroon roll as well - I couldn't believe I had spent so long rolling over! SOmetimes gives you a stiff shoulder though

naturalblonde · 05/02/2009 15:20

Not sure but will watch with interest as my dd is at the sane stage. Although she is napping at the moment, but I will suffer later when she refuses to go to bed.

naturalblonde · 05/02/2009 15:21

aah. wrong thread.

StealthPolarBear · 05/02/2009 15:21

Ah what a lovely picture CC - you both look so content