Positions to BF in and education

[~Saram~]

I was thinking the other day as I BF my DD about how we are "told" to BF our babies, sitting in a well supported chair with feet flat on the floor, hold babies head with this hand and manipulate the breast with that. My fav position to feed in is crosslegged on the floor or bed as I find it supports baby in just the right position tummy to tummy yet when I feed this way in hospital I was told it was incorrect. surely women who BF in other countries and thoughout histpry have not sat in chairs??? So what are your thoughtsa? And also anyone know whyn we are told bring baby to the breat not breat to baby? i find that really uncomfortable and don't do it and afgter reading an artilce in the ABA essence mag about indigious Australian women and BF they mentioned that Aboriginal women prefer to bring breast to baby

Thoughts???

[Karina]

I hardly ever feed my girl in the "sitting in a well supported chair with feet flat on the floor, etc" type of position.. I actually find it rather uncomfortable, and she wiggles around so much which makes it tricky...
I usually sit on the floor/bed/couch cross legged and feed her that way as well, as I also find it to be a great supportive position. Sometimes I feed her standing up..
If she is tired or if I am tired, I feed her lying down. I'll lay her on her side and I'll lay next to her and bring the breast to her and she just latches on straight away. While I was in the hospital after she was born, I was shown how to feed her laying down, by a lovely nurse who was most helpful to me.
I have never heard of not bringing the breast to the baby... I find tht quite strange to be honest. I'm sure theres some reason behind it, but I've never even heard of it before..

[Barb Glare]

Hi,

there are a million ways to sit and feed a baby and they are all fine! You just need to find something that suits you. Most mums find that they breastfeed lying in bed (because you can catch some extra sleep) or just cross your legs to support your baby - great for when you are sippling your latte in one hand with mums down at the local cafe. I guess in the early days people tend to put a lot more effort in getting breastfeeding "right". Unfortunately they don't tell you to do that just while you are on L plates - once you've got the hang of breastfeeding you can feed anywhere, any time! But ways of holding babies change quicker than adivce on when to start solids. Now there is a school of thought that attaching in a reclined position works best - google biological nurturing!
Warm Regards
barb

[rosehannah]

I was only thinking about this the other day,
I usually sit on the lounge with DD laying across my lap, she determines where her legs go eg. wrapped close to my body or flung over my knees. When she was new born I rotated her right around the breast as I found the different positions helped to lessen the pain of sore nipples. I think it's the positioning of their mouth over the nipple thats most important.

[Beach Mama]

I had the same issue when the nurse came home for the visit as I was finding that I need to have my feet up on a either a footstool or I had to sit with my legs stretched out long ways on the couch. She told me to start using my feeding chair!(which until then - wasnt used) Now I just feed wherever - but at home its on the couch with a cushion behind my back. On the floor crosslegged is good too!