Ok so she's 7 weeks old now and I'm finding it awkward to tuck her legs around me when I'm feeding on the couch, we have pretty big couch cushions so her legs sorta scrunch up lol
We haven't really mastered the cradle hold, I'm so unco at it and she seems to hate it - probably cos I'm really unco!
So for the people that had to feed via the football hold - how long were you able to do it for?
Or for a better question - when does the cradle hold become easy lol
I only did it part-time, but we used it between 2 and 10 weeks, and then she wasn't really interested anymore. My mum used to crack up laughing when I did it, because she almost looked like she was sitting up, the way I held her, and she was this wee dangling thing at the time. But it worked.
When you cradle hold, do you have a cushion behind your back, a pillow in your lap and your feet on a phone book? Up til about 12 weeks I was friggen religious with that. I got really antsy if people came over and rearranged my feeding nest. Now I still have her on a pillow if we're at home, it's just comfy that way, but the phone books have been banished.
have you tried a triangle pillow ? i found that helped me feed, though in cradle hold, but i sometimes didn't even have to hold? ITMS. i just attached bub and let the pillow do the work!
have you tried lying down too? not sure how practical it would be during the day with the other munchkins, but perhaps early morning and evening/night?
hope that helps
and good work on the feeding!
x madame x
I still do the football hold and bibs is now 8 months old! I just could never master the cradle hold and I am well endowed in the boobie department so I find the football hold just so much easier. Makes feeding in public a bit awkward though.
Yeah I've tried a pillow but cos my boobs float around my belly now, she ends up higher than they are. Plus there's the suffocation problem I have cos it seems to flop over her face and she cant breathe lol
I use a triangle pillow at the moment and lie her on that when feeding.
Haven't tried lying down, that seems a little scary to me. Lol
I used it with all three, dd1 for 9 months, dd2 for 8 and Ds for 4. We fed in a recliner using a pillow. As they grew their legs would rest on my shoulder. With Ds I used a milk bar pillow and it helped me to get him balanced properly and it felt comfortable.
I used the football hold full time with all three of my babies, I must be weird LOL, but I just couldn't do the cradle hold comfortably. I fed DD using the football hold until she was 15 months old .
I used a triangle pillow with a pillow behind my back and their legs just wrapped around me.
I've always wondered if I'm the only person who only ever did the football hold!
The football hold was a disaster for me. Even at 1 day old DS just used his legs to push himself off the back of the chair.
Another alternative to the football hold that works for many mums who struggle with the cradle hold, is to sit in a reclined position and try having baby vertically down your chest and tummy. Have you tried that?
Hi,
The football hold can be a lifesaver in the early days. However, it does get difficult as the baby grows. usually mastering the cradle hold just needs practice and patients but most mothers and babies get there. Having a helper, such as a lactation consultant or a breastfeeding counsellor at your local Australian /breastfeeding Association meeting can help enormously. It's amazing how a few hits and tips from an experienced mother can help
Lying down feeding is awesome! Dont knock it til you've tried it!
The feet kicking the couch happens with cradle hold too, it just takes longer. Have you tried no pillow or just a folded towel to get bub up at the right height?
Yeah, Mel, try lying down! Once you get the hang of it, it's ace! We only do it for night feeds now, otherwise my boob gets snapped about like a rubber band.
I saw an awesome mum football holding in public - she perched her nappy bag on an adjacent chair and used that to support the baby. Clever!
football hold for 3 years and counting here!
Over the next few weeks she will be less floppy and other holds may become easier. But, if you have a large bust, you may find that football holds are always easier...
You don't necessarily have to wrap her legs around you - anything that gets that little head where it needs to be is fine. I used to cross my legs and just rest bub on my thing to get to the correct height
We did the football hold for about 2 1/2 months and it just got too awkward when we were out etc. I decided to change to the cradle hold, it took a cpl weeks of persevering and practice for both of us to get it but now I don't use the football hold at all. I find it so much easier to cradle her, especially when we are out and about.
DS is 22 weeks and I still prefer the football hold at home. I do use a My Breast Friend bf'ing pillow though. And like Audax, I have a nest of pillows on the couch supporting my back. I don't use the football hold out because I can't seem to do it without the pillow so I revert to the cradle hold - I just don't find it so comfortable and feel like DS feeds so much better in the football hold (but that could be my imagination). Our couch at home is pretty deep so while I have the pillows behind my back, DS' legs now kind of wrap around behind me - he kicks like crazy when feeding and my DH finds it very entertaining to watch. Of course, I can't see it in my position.
We did the football hold for 15 months. Towards the end I could do the cradle hold but DD would only do it on one side. It was a pain to feed in public though.
we still do the football hold at times but now that she is bigger i pop her out to the side rather than along beside me ITMS...argh so hard to describe typing lol.
lying down for a feed can also be a nice way to feed. i would only recommend trying it for the first time when you are both super relaxed (so there's a chance to wriggle into a comfy possie for both of you!).
How long did you do the football hold for?
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