Breast feeding pillow - necessity or waste of money?

[RhiRhi87]

Hey! Just wondering whether I should get a breast feeding pillow or not? There's a variety of prices and shapes which make it confusing! Also there's then the pregnancy pillow! What do I need if anything?! Any recommendations? All advice welcomed :)
Rhi xx

Yes used mine a lot

No, I never had one and never felt the lack.

There you go, two opposite opinions! I'd wait till you're breastfeeding and see if you want extra support.

Was a necessity for me (3 dc). I had a Widgey from John Lewis.

1st time around I had a Widgy.But with my second one I didn't use it so much as I was out at toddler groups etc from v early on and managed perfectly well with a pillow or cushion so they are by no means essential.Just using extra pillows in bed for bump.There was a thread about this the other day and lots of people liked the £7 Ikea v -shape cushion.

I have a mothercare one, it is thicker and firmer than a normal cushion or pillow and I found it essential. I had awful back and shoulder pain during bfing before I got it, no pain after.

I bought this one once I was home from hospital and loved it. Only wish I'd bought it during pregnancy because I really could have done with the extra support at the end.

Pregnancy pillow has been very useful for both pregnancies, but then I have rubbish hips, you might not need one. I would highly recommend it you have the slightest aches and pains.

For breastfeeding ones, I found it not very useful and tended not to bother with it, and a normal spare bed pillow was fine, however I am very short with a very short body, so the distance from lap to boob isn't that great, a normal pillow on my lap and a normal cushion at my back was enough to put DS in the right position, if you have a longer body, you might find it more useful.

BFed for 3 years, never once missed having a special pillow.

I really appreciated mine. I used a pillow at first but what a difference the bf one made. I expect a lot is to do with size of mother, baby, boobs etc. It just helped for getting the baby and I comfortable during the feed and I didn't have to support the baby as much so it was less strain on by back.

HI never had one feed my DD untill she was 15 months old but she slept in bed beside me I know a sharpe intake of breath all round but it worked for us. I think your money will be better spent on other things.

I bought one, didn't really need it, but then bought another to put over the corners of the hearth/fire place corners to stop DC1 bumping his head on them when he started rolling.

I think they're a bit like birthing balls. You feel you might really need one, but you never know until you are actually in labour/are b/feeding.

I think people who have c-sections find them invaluable.

I'd wait and see if you feel like you need it. I used a normal pillow or cushion when dd was tiny and for me it was fine. They're easy to get hold of post birth if you need one. Fwiw I had a c section as well and breast feeding dd was fine and I didn't need any special cushioning.

Got one and only used it a handful of time in 12 mths of bfing.. C section here as well and no issues as boobs very far from the incision which is at bikini line. I would wait and see how you feel. In early days a normal cushion to support arm is nice but not essential and long haul you become a pro at feeding any which way in any place!

I had one and it never seemed the right height...I sent it to charity even though we were planning another child (now pregnant with DC 2 ) I got on better with a stack of pillows!

Someone lent me one and I did use it a lot at first...then got the hang of it and didn't use it as much. Probably wouldn't have thought to buy one though/ wouldn't say they are by any means a "necessity".
Like most things I'd probably wait until the baby comes and assess whether you think you actually need one.

I loved mine, but I could also have done without it.

Mine is in the shape of an animal (could be a dog, cow...who knows?) and was brilliant when I had dodgy pregnancy hips, when I was first feeding as I needed a blood transfusion and was too knackered to lift the baby, and when I was attempting to give tummy time (which is a completely different rant!)

It is also cute enough to reside in a bedroom and is now a "special pillow" for when either child is ill and needs a sofa and duvet day.

I just used normal pillows, though I have opted for a v style pillow this time though as it will have other uses, also cheaper than just a special breastfeeding pillow. I think something to support you is very usefull but it doesn't have to be a 'breastfeeding' pillow as such.

I have a 'my Brest friend' one that was given to me and hasn't been used, it's the old style and way too big and clumpy. I use my long body pillow from mothercare in bed, and a v pillow my mil gave me when feeding while at my desk (at home, I'm not flashing to an office ).

I think it's definitely worth it, but if I didn't have to work and feed I'd probably manage without. In bed its just me being lazy and I'd manage perfectly fine if I didn't have one.

Fed 3 kids and never needed one. Waste in my opinion

I have a dream genii - used it to support bump when sleeping when pregnant and later discovered good for bf in bed after baby arrived. I tried to use 'normal' pillows but ours are too airfilled and 'foofy' to give good support I found whereas the dg is firm. I like having a pillow under elbow when feeding but just use normal cushion when feeding on sofa.

I bought a maternity long pillow but wish now I had just bought a nursing one and used it for both pre and post birth!

I bought a 2nd hand theraline maternity/feeding pillow off ebay for £12 including postage. I love it, so comfortable!

Loved my widgey cushion though once baby got bigger a cushion did the job... Pretty essential for the first 6-8 months for me. Bit everyone's different! Congratulations!