Why do baby have to be horizontal when you breastfeed?

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

This is just curiosity really, but why does the baby have to be horizontal when being fed? What's wrong with feeding in an upright position? (I haven't had the baby yet, and I was just wondering...)

I don't think they do have to be horizontal, any position which they can latch on in should be fine

They don't have to be horizontal - at least not after they gain good neck control. My DS likes sitting upright straddling my lap. Upright positions are good for babies with reflux. If you end up feeding a toddler () they will end up wanting to feed from all sorts of funny angles

Interesting, when I went to a breastfeeding workshop (NHS) and we were practising holding dolls the MW corrected my position as the babies body was a tiny bit off the horizontal...

they don't have to be. do you mean the 'nose to nipple, tummy to mummy' thing? that's just to reinforce the idea that you need a new born to be fully facing the breast, not with a crooked neck. as they get older they do it their own way anyway.

So is latching on easier if the baby is in a horizontal position?

its easier cos then youre knees dont get in the way (til theyre at an age they can sit)

ruddynorah No, the dolls body and head were in line tummy to mummy and all that - it was just that her feet were a tiny bit lower than the head.

And all of the literature I have seen shows babies being fed in a horizontal position.

So there is no reason for baby to be horizontal then?

I used to BF lying down and I am sure he can't have been horizontal at the time.

the head, neck and spine need to be straight - turn your head and try to drink to see why! This can be achieved horizontally, upright etc.

they just need to be in a straight line so there is no crick in their neck.

Mine never fed horizontal they were too big and heavy for me to hold them. They used to sort of sit up on my lap - I'm that short and they were that tall that they could reach!

Yes, what pooter said - the baby's body needs to be in a straight line - perhaps the midwife misunderstood and thought that the baby had to be in an absolute straight line.

It just means, don't have their body facing upwards as you would when bottle feeding, and don't cradle them so that they are curled up, keep them straight and preferably with their head tilted slightly back.

Baby doesn't have to be but it's just more comfortable. Also, in the early days you can see its mouth better to check its latched on properly. It would be tricky to hold a scrunched up newborn upright enough to feed.

Ds1 had reflux and I did actually start feeding him upright with his legs astride mine when he was about 8 weeks old.

Finally, it wouldn't be as easy to sneak a quick snooze yourself while baby is feeding if he's not lying down!

There a plenty of postitions that you can feed a baby in. Its worth reading the book "The Food of Love" www.thefoodoflove.org/

Also biological nuturing is a good position for the early newborn days.

www.biologicalnurturing.com/

Breastfeeding is an art and you need to find what works for you.

The main thing is to have tummy to mummy and nipple to nose.

Oh yes I love the "Mama Sutra" on the Food of Love website. Keep meaning to get a copy of the book... DS is 18 months now though so I don't know that I really need it!

dd had severe reflux and had to be fed tilted upright a bit, when i fed her horizontally (in bed for example) she became hysterical and far more ill than after upright feeding.

as a result i tended to feed my subsequent babies in the same positoon as it was what i was used to iyswim.

hasn't done them any harm