Can someone explain to me in really simple terms how to breastfeed lying down?

[BlameItOnTheBogey]

As in title really. DD is 4 weeks old and we are doing well with feeding but I've never been able to get the hang of feeding in bed. Where do your arms go? Does she feed off the breast which is closer to the bed or the one on top. What angle does she latch from and how do I know that she has got enough in her mouth (I can't see when lying down)? Which hand do I use to latch her on with?

Sorry to have so many questions but I think if we could master this, it would really improve things as I wouldn't be so knackered. Any tips gratefully received!

Hi
Not sure if this helps. Think this is pretty much how i did it!!

Imagine you are lying on your left hand side. DD should lie next to you (tummy to Mummy, nose to nipple as usual) with her head and feet in the same direction as yours. Your left arm either away from everything and sticking out in the direction of your your head or coming right over to hold your breast to flatten it in the same direction as dd's mouth (ie a finger near her chin and a thumb near her nose. Right hand support her shoulders. easiest to feed from you left breast but once you have mastered that you can lean over a bit more and try from the higher one - or just roll over and do all this in reverse. Hopefully now that she is 4 weeks old she will get enough in her mouth from having had lots of practice but maybe get your partner to check or see how it feels.

Hope that helps

you lie on your side with the arm closest to the bed curled up - either round the top of DD's head or rest your own head on it. (basically get it out of the way!)

Then baby lies parallel to you with nose by nipple, legs by your tummy and you feed baby on the boob nearest the bed....

does that make sense?

-lie on your side, one arm above your head (I find it helpful to put it under a pillow
-Lie your baby on her side, head near your nipple
-with your free arm pull her towards you rather than trying to move to her
-latch her on to bottom breast

FWIW I did it with DS but still found it hard with DD - think it gets easier as they get older and have more control. When DS was older I could feed from both sides without turning over, just used to sort of lie him facing up a bit more for the top breast. 4 weeks I think it will still be quite hard but persevere because when they get the hang of it it is worth it!

You can also feed from the "top" breast if you have bigger boobs and lie at more of an angle so you are almost lying over baby. I think its just a case of trial and error and eventually you and baby get the hang of it. When I was starting feeding lying down I actually used to get baby latched on first and then lay down with her

Thanks so much everyone this is really helpful! So if I need to use a hand to hold my nipple when I latch her on, I use the arm which is closest to the bed to do that and put the other arm behind her?

erm..no I think I'd do the other way round. IIRC the bottom arm is pretty useless

Now I would use my bottom arm to hold my breast/shape nipple and my top arm to support her.

Try both ways and see what feels most confy.

hmm, might need to try it when DD's awake

I normally have my arm under the baby's head to bring him up to the right level - but then I only have small boobs.

Do practise during the day - then you will be able to suss it out whlst you can still see! With no 1 DD I used to do this in the afternoon and then just nap with her. Can't do that with no 3 unfortunately...

When DS was small I found this so difficult, but do persevere because it is a godsend! I normally have my 'bed arm' under his head, too, as it raises him up a bit, but it will depend on boob size.

Just practice lots and go by feel- if it feels nippy, pinched, sore -in any way different to other positions- don't put up with it, tinker with the positioning.