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Breastfeeding
kjsmith9
member
Co-sleeping & side-lying position questions
kjsmith9
member
LO went to sleep last night around 9:30, and was up at 11:15 and 12:45 before DH and I decided we needed to try *something.* Side-lying BFing was recommended by many of you in response to one of my previous posts, so we decided to give it a whirl. I've done it once or twice since she was born, but never at night.
I'm happy to say that it was relatively successful. She ate at 1:30 and 3:00, and then woke up around 7:00 this morning (and we stayed in bed for this feed too). I should note that we co-slept from 1am-7am - DH wasn't so sure that it was a good idea (he thinks he's going to roll on top of her), but I assured him that I would keep her close to me and it would be fine, which it was!
Anyways, I have some questions for those of you who co-sleep and/or feed your LO in side-lying position on a regular basis...
1) Do you leave baby in the same spot all night? I ended up moving her from my left side to my right side (and back again) so she could nurse from the bottom breast. I can't figure out how she's supposed to be able to reach the top breast without me almost laying on top of her.
2) How long before baby was able to latch well without much help in this position? I had to unlatch her and help her get situated 3 or 4 times each time we nursed because it didn't feel right. But it's basically impossible to hold a breast in one hand and her head in another to get a good latch when we're both on our sides... So I just held the breast and let her get herself on there - it just took a lot of effort.
3) If you co-sleep... Do you sleep in side-lying the entire night? I could not get comfortable for the life of me. If my pillow felt okay, my hips were killing me. If my hips and legs felt okay, my shoulders started to hurt. I was on my side the whole night with my bottom arm under my pillow (above her head), and my top arm holding her back/bottom to keep her close.
Thanks for any suggestions on how to make this easier! I'm glad she seemed to do so well with it, and am hoping to continue if it helps us all sleep a little better 
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Re: Co-sleeping & side-lying position questions
We don't co-sleep, but that's mainly because of LO getting better sleep in his RnP than with us. We co-slept with DS1 and loved it.
1.)) I always switch sides. There is a way to feed without switching sides, but I haven't ever been able to master it. Here's an explanation: https://kellymom.com/ages/newborn/bf-basics/lactation-yoga/
2.) LO is 3 months old now & is just getting so he can latch without much help from me.
3.) Check out the pics and explanations on kellymom.com. The key is LOTS of pillows. One for your knees, one for your back, two for your head, plus a rolled up blanket to support LO. https://www.mother-2-mother.com/tut-layingdown.htm
Thanks for the website suggestions! I'll definitely take a look!
1) Dd started only nursing on the right side so I don't have to worry about switching, A popular method is to snug baby to your chest and roll to the other side for alternate feedings.
2) We started side-nursing around 6 months because Dd had a horrible latch ability when she was little (and I did not trust her in the bed while we were asleep sooner than that), I lay her on her side with her head on the mattress, my "down" arm wrapped around her head, and my up arm supporting my breast.
3) I usually sleep on my back, so when she finishes I roll over and keep a hand on her stomach. But that is another one that is easier to do when they are older.
House / Baby blog
We didn't nurse side lying well until DS was 3 months and could get his head into position on his own better. I keep him in the middle of the bed the whole night. My DH has been sleeping on the couch because he doesn't want to worry about rolling onto the baby. There's room for him to join us now that I'm getting more comfortable with the baby smashed up against me, but he still worries.
We also had to get to the point where he wasn't pooping over night. Now that he just pees, I can put him in an overnight diaper and neither of us has to get up all night long.
I get the top side in position by first scooting the baby away a bit, rolling towards him until the top nipple is about an inch off the mattress, then scooting him back in to get to it.
I roll back to my back when he's dones eating but keep my arm out over his head, or sometimes around him.
I really miss having the covers snuggled up to my chin though, and I'm trying to move him back to his own space, but it hasn't worked so well just yet. It's just so easy to keep him next to me and have easy access to the boob all night.
We have been co-sleeping since my son was 2 weeks old... He does great and he can nurse in any position i put him now, weather we are sitting or standing or laying down... He latching great all on his own and can go on and of during the night if he needs to.
1. I sleep on my side and when we roll over I hug him to me and roll then expose the nipple and hold it up and he grabs on. He is 4 months now, so he can grab on and pull himself in to me as he needs to. i find that when he releases I can flip to my tummy or my back or stay on my side. For a while in the beginning while I was still lose from pregnancy i needed pillows btwn my legs to help my hips and this made a huge difference.
2. I would say it took a month before we learned how to nurse and thats when the latch was perfected and my nipples were tougher and we worked better.
3.I think once you do it more you will figure it out. Some nights I nurse him and then (when hubby is not home) put him away a little and he sleeps on one side and me on the other. Although now that he is rolling all over I put the body pillow on the other side of him so that he cant roll off the bed. He never really goes that far and almost always worms his way to me so we can cuddle.
I love it and i feel like i get more sleep and better sleep, and we have a very close bond! Its also helped to keep my supply up and made nursing easier. Good Luck and feel free to PM me if you want to chat!
Started TTC in 2006, LOTS of trying, and trying, and 7 rounds of IVF with 13 embryos, 2 perfect little boys and 5 loses....
All finished with babies, started to make diet changes, Keto, to be MORE for my kids, lost 30 pounds, still going, and 3 months in, I had a natural cycle, and then ovulated... Hubs and I are going to see what happens now... Maybe a natural pregnancy? After everything we have been through? Or just a return to normal hormones? We shall see what the future holds!
Baby Dust To All!!!
We don't co sleep anymore but when we did..
1) LO slept pretty much in the middle of the bed and I would get up and roll to the other side of him. It was actually nice because I get sick of sleeping on one side if I do it the entire night.
2) I didn't start co sleeping until DS was about 6 months but before that I nursed side lying all the time because that is the position he liked the most. Lots of colicky nights that was the only way to get him to latch on and nurse. He was able to latch on without much help but a month and a half to two months old.
3) I slept in side lying all night. I would have a pillow for my head, a pillow tucked behind my back and a pillow between my knees.