Can I Feed My Baby Breast Milk Lying Down
11 different breastfeeding positions
You lot may need to try a few breastfeeding positions before finding a favourite that works best for you lot and your babe. Check out our picture gallery for inspiration
At that place's no correct or wrong way to hold and feed your baby, and each mum and baby will observe their own preferred position to feed in. What's important is that you both experience comfortable.1,two Knowing a few different breastfeeding positions and techniques can be helpful considering life often requires us to exist versatile, especially as your babe gets bigger and you beginning to get out and nigh more than.
Detect 11 dissimilar breastfeeding positions and discover out what is all-time for you and your babe:
- Laid-back breastfeeding or reclined position
- Cradle hold
- Cross-cradle hold
- Rugby ball hold
- Side-lying position
- Laid-back breastfeeding after a c-section
- Upright breastfeeding or koala hold
- Dangle feeding
- Nursing in a sling
- Double rugby ball hold
- Dancer hand nursing position
Whichever breastfeeding position you cull, think:
- Get together everything you lot demand, such as a drink, snacks, your mobile, TV remote, book or magazine, before you start feeding. And don't forget to have a wee first – yous may not exist able to go up again for some time!
- Make sure your babe is comfortable. Whatever position you're in, your baby should be stable and supported, while his head, neck and spine should not exist twisted.
- Ensure you feel relaxed and comfortable too. Apply cushions, pillows or rolled towels to back up your back or arms if you demand to.
- Check your babe is latching on correctly. A proficient latch is vital for comfy breastfeeding.
- If your baby struggles to latch or breastfeeding makes you sore, seek support from a lactation consultant or breastfeeding specialist. They will also be able to prove yous how to support your infant to help you feed more comfortably.
1: Laid-back breastfeeding or reclined position
The laid-back breastfeeding position, likewise known as biological nurturing,i is frequently the beginning mums try. If your baby is placed on your chest or tummy as soon as he's born, all being well he'll instinctively work his way towards one of your breasts and attempt to latch on – this is known equally the 'breast crawl'. Skin-to-skin contact helps stimulate his feeding instincts, while gravity helps him to latch on well and keeps him in identify.
Nonetheless, laid-back breastfeeding isn't just for newborns – information technology can work well with babies of any historic period. It may be especially useful if your baby struggles to latch in other holds, he doesn't like his head being touched as he feeds, if you have a forceful let downwards, or if your breasts are large, equally mum-of-one Isabel, Great britain, discovered: "The combination of my big boobs and a small 2.vii kg (6 lb) baby made positioning tricky at kickoff. It took me a few weeks to realise at that place was no position I 'should' be in. In the end I mainly breastfed lying down with my baby balanced on meridian of me."
You'll probably be comfier if yous're reclining gently rather than lying flat on your back. Use cushions or pillows so you lot're supported and can encounter your babe.
2: Cradle hold
This is the archetype position almost of us movie when we think of breastfeeding. Information technology involves yous sitting upright, with your baby positioned on his side, his caput and neck laying along your forearm and his body against your tum, in a tummy-to-mummy position.3 Although it'due south a very popular position, it's not always easy with a newborn because it doesn't give your infant as much support as some other holds. A pillow or cushion behind you and a breastfeeding pillow beyond your lap propping up your babe or your arms may give you more support, and avoid strain on your back or shoulders. If yous utilize a breastfeeding pillow, make sure it doesn't lift your baby too high – your breasts should remain at their natural resting height to avert sore nipples and a strained latch.
"I used the cradle hold because it worked! It felt comfortable and I liked sitting in that location just looking at my baby," says Rachael, mum of ii, Italy.
3: Cross-cradle hold
This looks similar to the cradle concord but your arms switch roles so your baby'due south trunk lies forth your reverse forearm.3 The aim is to support your infant around his neck and shoulders to let him to tilt his caput prior to latch. This is a great newborn breastfeeding position and is as well good for small babies and those with latching difficulties. Considering your baby is fully supported on your reverse arm, you have more command over his positioning, and you can use your gratis manus to shape your breast.
Julie, mum of ii, U.k., likes the flexibility of this position: "I unremarkably do the cross-cradle with my newborn. It gives me a manus costless to tend to my toddler at the same time."
In the early days, don't hold your baby around his head as you lot might push his chin on to his chest. This can result in a shallow latch (as your nipple hits the base of his tongue rather than his palate) and sore nipples for you. As your baby gets bigger this technique becomes much easier, and y'all can residue your baby's head in your hand (equally shown in our gallery paradigm higher up).
4: Rugby ball concur
In this position (also known as the underarm or clutch), you sit with your baby resting forth your forearm. His trunk tucks alongside your side, with his feet towards the back of the chair, or whatever yous're sitting on.3 This is some other helpful early on nursing position because it supports your baby well, while giving y'all plenty of command and a proficient view of his face up. Existence tucked in closely aslope your trunk will help your baby feel safe too. Mums who've had a c-section, twins, or a premature baby, forth with those who have larger breasts, may also like this position.
"With my beginning girl I had very large K-size breasts that were double the size of her head," remembers Amy, mum of two, Commonwealth of australia. "I placed a rolled-upwardly towel underneath each breast to help elevator them upwardly as they were so heavy, and fed her in a rugby ball hold, but more upright so she wasn't overwhelmed by their size. This position was also good as I had a c-section wound and couldn't remainder her across my body."
five: Side-lying position
Ideal for relaxed dark feeds and breastfeeding in bed or on the sofa, side-lying can also be more comfortable than sitting if yous've had a caesarean or stitches.3 You and your baby need to prevarication on your sides adjacent to one another, abdomen-to-belly.
"I struggled to sit upwards in bed during countless night feeds, partly due to having had a c-section, partly due to exhaustion," says Francesca, mum of one, UK. "Then I discovered I could feed my babe lying on my side and relax at the same time."
"Maisie couldn't attach whatever other style than the side-lying position due to her tongue-tie. A lactation consultant showed me how to do it. It seemed like she could handle the strength of my flow and hold on better in this position. When her mouth grew bigger she became much amend at attaching in the regular style," says Sarah, mum of 2, Australia.
6: Laid-back breastfeeding after a c-section
If you've had a caesarean commitment and can't notice a comfy breastfeeding position,3 this may help. Reclining with your baby's body beyond your shoulder volition let you nurse comfortably without whatever weight or pressure on your wound, or you could too try side-lying.
vii: Upright breastfeeding or koala hold
In the upright or koala hold, your babe sits straddling your thigh, or on your hip, with his spine and caput upright as he feeds.4 You lot can exercise this hold with a newborn if you lot requite your baby plenty of support, and information technology'southward also a convenient fashion to feed an older baby who tin can sit unaided. The upright or koala hold is oft the virtually comfortable breastfeeding position for babies who suffer from reflux or ear infections (who frequently prefer to be upright), and it can also work well with babies who have a tongue-tie or low muscle tone.
"When my baby was older I often used the upright agree considering information technology was comfy for both of united states and I could still feel her body close to mine," says Peggy, mum of one, Switzerland. "Information technology was too discreet when we were feeding in public."
viii: Dangle feeding
This breastfeeding position involves your baby lying on his back, while y'all crouch over him on all fours and dangle your nipple in his mouth.four Some mums say doing this for brusk periods helps if they have conditions similar mastitis and don't desire their breasts to be squashed or touched; others merits that gravity helps unplug blocked milk ducts, although there'southward no scientific evidence to back up this however. You can as well dangle feed while you're sitting, kneeling up over your babe on a bed or sofa, or almost lying downwards but propped up on your arms. You may need to use cushions and pillows to support yourself and so yous don't strain your back or shoulders.
"I used the dangle feeding position a few times when I had blocked ducts and other methods of easing out the lumps in my breasts hadn't worked. Information technology seemed to aid – I retrieve because gravity was in my favour, and considering the angle and position of my babe were so different to our normal breastfeeds that she drained my breast differently," says Ellie, mum of two, UK.
Dangle feeding is probably not a breastfeeding position you want to practise regularly, but it might merely help if y'all need to mix it up.
"I used a dangle feeding position when my babe was struggling to latch," says Lorna, mum of two, Great britain. "It wasn't the most comfortable manner to breastfeed, merely at the time I'd exercise absolutely anything to get him to latch. Information technology worked – and we're still breastfeeding eight months on!"
9: Nursing in a sling
It may take a little exercise, but breastfeeding your baby in a sling tin be convenient when you're out and about, looking after older children, or even doing light chores.
It's also handy if your babe dislikes being put down or feeds frequently, as Lindsay, mum of two, US, found: "I used a front carrier often with both my babies. When we were out I tied a sarong around my neck and draped it over the carrier so it worked as a cover. They would nurse similar this until they roughshod asleep."
This method usually works all-time if your baby is an experienced breastfeeder and can concord his head up past himself. You tin can breastfeed in all sorts of slings, including stretchy wraps, ring slings and front carriers. Whichever you lot cull, make certain you lot can ever see your babe'south confront and his chin is not pressed against his chest.
10: Double rugby ball concord
The double rugby brawl hold (also known as the double clutch) is a great breastfeeding position for twins, every bit yous can feed them in tandem while having your hands relatively complimentary.4 Yous'll probably need to use a specially designed twin breastfeeding pillow while feeding similar this, especially in the early on days. This gives actress back up to get both babies into position, and also minimises pressure on your belly if you've had a c-section. You may also find that with your hands freer, you can tend to ane baby without disrupting the other'south feed.
"When my twins were born they were tiny and needed feeding every two hours, twenty-four hours and night. I soon realised for me to accomplish annihilation other than feeding, I needed to tandem feed," says Emma, mum of two, UK. "I used the double rugby ball hold with a breastfeeding cushion."
Other breastfeeding positions you could attempt with twins include two cradles crossed across one another, one twin in a rugby ball hold and one in a cradle hold, and double laid-back or double upright breastfeeding positions.
11: Dancer hand nursing position
If your baby struggles to stay latched on or has low muscle tone – perhaps because he was born prematurely, has a condition such equally Down's syndrome, or has an affliction or disability – try this agree to back up both his head and your breast.four Kickoff by cupping your chest with your hand underneath, fingers on one side and thumb on the other. And then edge your hand frontward so your pollex and index finger form a 'U' shape just in front of the breast. Your 3 remaining fingers should continue to support the breast underneath. Remainder your baby's jaw on your thumb and alphabetize finger as he feeds, with his chin at the bottom of the 'U', your pollex gently belongings 1 of his cheeks and your index finger the other. This hold gives your baby plenty of support and you control over his position, as well as a great view of his latch.
Source: https://www.medela.com/breastfeeding/mums-journey/breastfeeding-positions
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