How to improve posture while BFing?

bloominautumn

I only know how to nurse one way for each boob. I use the cross-cradle hold for the left side with LO on my lap, and the football hold for the right side with LO on a pillow. And everytime, I am holding her head with my right hand and squeezing my boob with my left, and I'm hunched over her. And my back is starting to kill me.

I am really jealous of all the moms that can nurse their LOs using the traditional cradle hold, sitting up straight. I tried to do that a few times, but I need a free hand to squeeze my boob, else LO's face ends up in it. What am I doing wrong? Anyone have any helpful tips? TIA!

ksulli

Put a pillow under your LO to prop her up higher. Also, try the side lie- it's the.most.comfortable.thing I have discovered. One hand to prop your head up, one hand to hold LO from rolling over. I don't hold a boob out of the way, but imagine you could just position DD far enough back so that she's not smushed into boob.

bonitatinabina143

I have my lo lay across a boppy. Or I do the side lying pose if not the cradle hold.

tokenhoser

Things work differently with differently sized boobs and different babies. Yours is getting old enough to help, though, so it's a great time to experiment with holds. I love side-lying for a break (I use a body pillow behind my back/hips to help hold me at a good angle). Try sitting baby on your knee facing you. Just try different things!

 

nosoup4u

Are you sitting on a couch when you nurse? You might want a pillow behind your back for more support. If you do side-lying, you can put a rolled-up blanket behind your daughter's butt/legs to keep her in position. She also might just be a little too little yet to do cradle hold.

With my first son, we did side-lying 99% of the time until he was a few months old, and I would also always put a pillow on my lap when I did cradle hold with him until he was about six months or so.

katcarls

I was never able to use the cradle hold either, I needed to hold DS' head.  I always put a pillow behind my back and I used the Boppy to put DS up higher.

AGFaso

just wanna say I'm jealous of you ladies who get to try different positions!  I have twins and tandem feed most of the time so I only get to use the football hold.  I will say that if you can get side lying position to work --- It's amazingly comfortable.  I've only been able to get it right a couple times.

tokenhoser

AGFaso:

I will say that if you can get side lying position to work --- It's amazingly comfortable.  I've only been able to get it right a couple times.

It's all about using some props - I have a pillow under my head, my body pillow propping up my hips, and sometimes something behind LO so can't roll onto his back. 

And kudos for breastfeeding twins!