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Natural Birth
WildcatPrincess
member
Those who have had a homebirth (bed question)
WildcatPrincess
member
Of course you probably don't know anything else, but did you find any downsides to not having access to an adjustable bed? I didn't tear or have any complications with DD (in a hospital) so I really had no issue getting up and down, the main convenience for me was having the bed rails as support for BFing. I ask because the hospital I'm delivering at has a room with a plain old double bed and I'm thinking it would be awesome for when DD visits since she'll want to be with me in bed.
Semi-related, any tips for nursing in bed besides side lying? I had a hard time coordinating at the start and always had to be sitting in the glider or next to the arm of the couch. I suppose worst case scenario I could use the glider in the room, but if I did choose that one I'm worried I'll be even more stressed trying to get comfortable with nursing (DD and I had a bad start, I'm really nervous).
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Re: Those who have had a homebirth (bed question)
I used my preggle around my back so there were sort of arm rests on each side and then added an extra pillow for support on whichever side I was laying on. I ended up liking the football hold the most when I had DS (e.g. baby under left arm with legs toward my back, holding head in left hand nursing on left breast). I'd put the preggle behind me so the longer side was on the side that I was nursing on and then put another pillow on top of that so he was up high enough (i'm 5'8" so the added pillow might not be necessary for everybody). It had just enough cushion and support to be comfy.
FWIW, every mom of multiple children that i've spoken to has told me that it's MUCH easier the second time around. You both had to learn from scratch the last time. This time you'll be much more comfortable so you'll be able to guide the LO with a lot more confidence. I'm obviously not there yet but it's been constant feedback from other mothers.
I agree with pp that it is easier the second time around. With DD1 I spent weeks on the couch with an army of cushions to get just the right support I needed, in just the right place.
This time, I made it work with one pillow (we had an adjustable bed at the birth centre but it didn't really give me the back support I wanted). Within a few days I wasn't using any pillows or support at all.
The LC at the BC told me that she actively discourages BF mums using cushions or pillows. She said your arm is all the support you need, and it's much easietr to get out and BF in public if you don't feel tied to your cushions.
I understand what she means, but I wasn't giving up my cushion in those first days, when I was still sore from delivery, for anyone.
Elizabeth 5yrs old Jane 3yrs old
And in my short lived experience of being a mom of 2, things are easier the second time regarding BF. And that is coming from someone who thought nursing was pure he!! for 5ish months was pure he!! with LO#1. (We had latch issues, mastitis, thrush, weight gain issues, and more.)
I have so much more confidence this time. I used the Boppy constantly with J. for months. This time, while I prefer to use it, it doesn't completely throw me for a loop if I don't have it. I only nursed in 1 spot on one of our couches for a long time with J. This time, I can nurse pretty much anywhere already.
Oh, and fwiw, though I do use the side-lying position for nursing in bed, my mom never figured that out with any of us (I have 2 siblings). The only way she could ever nurse in bed was to sit up, latch baby on, and then lay back down on her back (so baby was right on top of her). It sounds awful to me, but it worked for her with 2 out of the 3 of us.
GL!
That was pretty much our experience through about month 4-5. Plus I'm a DD normally, starting out BFing I swear they doubled in size. It was intimidating trying to latch her onto something twice the size of her head!
Thank you for the reassurances. May I ask what a preggie is? I was thinking of getting a husband pillow just for comfort sitting in bed on my own, is it similar to that? I definitely am leaning towards taking that room at the hospital if it's open. It seems a lot more appealing when I think of how big DD has gotten and after seeing how small those hospital beds really are!
My first was born in a hospital, my second was born at home, and I didn't miss the adjustable bed at all.
I used a nursing pillow (My Brest Friend) with both kids, and it helped a lot. I could nurse without it no problem, but when I had access to it, it was so much more comfortable. I did find that nursing in the glider was much more comfortable than nursing in bed. With my homebirth baby, the glider was upstairs, so I wasn't able to use it at all for the first week because I didn't go upstairs... this time around, I'm going to bring it right into our bedroom!
Mommy to DD1 (June 2007), DS (January 2010), DD2 (July 2012), and The Next One (EDD 3/31/2015)
The preggle (L not I) is just a pregnancy pillow that I was given when pg. I honestly hated it when I was pg, the dog used it more than I did, but loved the added support once I had him. I didn't care for the boppy but have heard the breastfriend is better. It seems like it provides more solid support so it makes sense. I definitely had that toe curling pain (the kind when you have to remind yourself over and over not to squeeze the baby's head when they latch and cry when they cry because you know you have to do it again). I completely understand your apprehension, which is why the knowledge that it's so much easier with consecutive pregnancies has been like a lifeline. I hope everybody is right!