How do I breastfeed without being on my back while I sleep?

Susan - posted on 11/02/2009

I used to take a receiving blanket, roll it up and prop the baby up on his side with it and it kept everything firmly in place while I was on my side and was able to sleep. Hope that helps! Also have the baby lower than your nipple so that their head tilts back to latch - helps with positioning.

Meaghan - posted on 10/31/2009

I have a 8 month old that i still nurse and i lay on my side and he eats and when hes good and asleep my boob falls out i have a ddd size boob.. At first i was scared he was goin to suffocate in my boob but then i realized it was ok...

Gwen - posted on 10/31/2009

How old is your baby? I have co-slept while nursing with my son since he was about a week and a half old. He eventually got good at keeping the latch. I bet she will too! That being said, because of the way the mechanics of breastfeeding work, you don't need to worry about "the milk going in the ears." B/fing moms are safe on that! In fact, b/f babies rarely get ear infections. Anyway, cosleeping is a great way to get additional sleep, bond with your baby, facilitate breastfeeding... PLUS, it's a deterent to SIDS (if done properly and safely). So yay for you! Though... I wouldn't get too used to her sleeping on top of you, I know from experience that that's a tough habit to break (they get used to sleeping while in motion).

Jessica - posted on 10/31/2009

as your baby gets older they will latch on better and learn to do it easier and yes that will help with feeding lying down!

Jayne - posted on 10/31/2009

Angela, we have all been there. Who said when we first said that we wanted to breast feed our first baby we thought it was going to be easy?? I don't think you will find anyone who said that it would be. I have a very happy and healthy 4 year old now and after having the section the breastfeeding was the best thing I did to have my time with my baby. I'm here any time you want some advice or someone to talk to

Jamie - posted on 10/31/2009

I just lay sideways and lay my baby on me sideways or on her tummy. She'll get the hang of it fast! Don't worry about ear infections. I do it all the time and my kids have never had one. THey say the good bacteria outweighs the bad and it's a push.

Terri - posted on 10/31/2009

I stopped trying to sleep while nursing my daughter for a very good reason. My husband was helping me out in the middle of the night once and I found my daughter alongside him in bed because he fell asleep. I shudder to think what might have happened! I KNOW it's hard; just know that it's necessary to protect your baby, which means not keeping her in bed with you!

Angela - posted on 10/31/2009

i was hoping that once they hold their own head up that they'll be able to do the latching a lot better and help me cope with breast feeding lol how old till they hold their head up on their own or at least til they start ?? thank you everyone for your encouragibg words!

Brenna - posted on 10/31/2009

just lie on your side and lie your baby on her side and as she gets older she will learn to keep it in her mouth and also to latch on themselves when they drop it.
It's not true that feeding on your side can give them an ear infection. They can feed upside down, sideways, standing or anyway as they create a vacuum when sucking. x

Blueprincess - posted on 10/31/2009

during my son's first two weeks i breastfeed my baby while im sitting down putting him on top of a pillow for support. then i learned to breastfeed while we are both lying down, just cuddle your baby close to you and make sure to feed on both sides of your breast. try not to fall asleep while doing so and make the baby burf after every feeding.

Carol - posted on 10/31/2009

It is better to breastfeed while awake. That way you can make sure the baby is safely attached, encourage the baby to finish the breast, and protect the baby from slipping between yourself and pillows which could cause suffocation.

It is difficult for a new mother to stay awake while breastfeeding, so maybe you should get up and sit in a chair during the feeding. Sleeping with the baby is dangerous.

Jayne - posted on 10/31/2009

I never breastfed my little boy lying down. I had an emergency c-section and they automatically put him on my side to feed him after he was born. But I found a pillow and holding my breast into his mouth so he could stay latched whilst sitting did the job. Okay it took a few weeks to master, but I managed to breast feed him this way until I managed to do without the pillow and was able to do it anywhere sitting up. Fear not it will get easier, we have all been there one way or another. Good luck

Sylwia - posted on 10/31/2009

turn her to side like u are ,tummy to tummy just sideways and get the right hight so she reaches very easy

Angela - posted on 10/31/2009

awsome information that you very much!!

Angela - posted on 10/31/2009

thats what i am doing. just taking in advice. she's a week old.

Minnie - posted on 10/31/2009

Hmmm...I manage with C cups. I just tuck my daughter into me, belly to belly with her mouth where my nipple is, latch her on. I use a big body pillow behind me and under my legs. When she was a newborn I used a rolled towel behind her to keep her on her side.

Kim - posted on 10/31/2009

Nurse while laying on your side and baby laying on the bed. It is great for late nigh feedings and moms that just had csections and don't want baby on their bellies. With a little practice you can offer baby both breast while laying on the same side. Caution: it will put you and baby to sleep.

Jessica - posted on 10/31/2009

also if your baby needs to be higher up to reach, you can cradle you baby while you lie on your side, have your baby on your arm and pull them in close

Jessica - posted on 10/31/2009

when you lie down on your side and have your baby in tummy to tummy ready to latch on, where does your nipple sit naturally? i find for me i find where my nipple sits naturally, make sure that it's in line with my babies nose/mouth area, sometimes i have to put a pillow of stuff some of the blanket behind me to support my back...

Simone - posted on 10/31/2009

hi you can get pillows to support baby. i put my daughter on her side and i'm on my side to. i find that easier to feed her like that.

Victoria - posted on 10/31/2009

How old is your baby?

Wendy - posted on 10/31/2009

i have never nursed my kids laying down before but you could get a boppie pillow thy have at walmart or really any store. try holding the baby in the football position. it might be easier for the baby to stay latched on if you sit up. if you feed a baby laying down the milk can go up into the ears and cause ear infections so be careful with that