https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 23 Apr 2026 10:41:58 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-positionspillows#post-64505 Tue, 31 Jan 2012 23:06:34 +0000 BabyBruins 64505@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thank you for all the great advice ladies. I just had a really great bf session with him using a pills from the bed (visiting my mom right now) but I will keep trying MBF when I get home and ask for proper instructions on the various holds at my lactation appointment this week. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-positionspillows#post-64052 Tue, 31 Jan 2012 17:53:08 +0000 sulli301 64052@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I still use cross cradle, it just worked out the best for me &amp; LO but a lot of people like football early on. I had a Boppy but LO kept falling into the spot between me &amp; the pillow at first, so I bought a My Brest Friend nursing pillow...I LOVE IT! Best $35(ish) I ever spent because it made bfing possible for me when we were having challenges. I still got use out of the Boppy because I used it for tummy time &amp; helping LO sit up when she couldn't yet on her own. I now keep the Boppy at my in-laws since we go there frequently &amp; that way I don't have to take my nursing pillow with me. Good luck!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-positionspillows#post-63962 Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:50:24 +0000 T.H.O.U. 63962@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It does get easier as they get bigger but go ahead and use MBF! Also I was always told that the cross cradle should have one hand on the back of the neck not on the head. Pushing on the upper back area will help tilt babies head up and open the mouth further. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-positionspillows#post-63822 Tue, 31 Jan 2012 13:34:44 +0000 pelikila 63822@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@BabyBruins: For me a positioning pillow was a necessity while I learned how to get all the logistics in place. Even at 8 months I still used a positioner, even if it was just a rolled up towel, to help get my son's height in the right place since I always had to use my second hand to hold my breast while the other hand held my baby in place. </p> <p>I also used the football hold but with him laying on his back on the support pillow in the beginning. Perhaps trying something like that would be helpful so baby is laying as if he is getting a bottle but he will be nursing. A couple words of caution if you try it is 1. it requires some leaning on your part to get your breast in the right place for him to latch so it isn't great for your back (and you may need to move your positioning pillow back so you can bring baby's head closer to breast so his body may be mostly behind you so he'll need the support) and 2. if you have a really strong let down then baby may get too much milk at once and choke on it (wasn't an issue for me until a few weeks in but everyone is different). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-positionspillows#post-63636 Tue, 31 Jan 2012 11:36:11 +0000 theknest 63636@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh and sometimes I sit sideways in a chair (with arm rests) - so that one leg is on the ground and one leg is folded up in the chair - this would give my arms more support....does this make any sense? </p> <p>I used the boppy quite a bit for the first few weeks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-positionspillows#post-63629 Tue, 31 Jan 2012 11:33:07 +0000 theknest 63629@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would suggest maybe swaddling him before you start to nurse - that will keep those hands down. If he gets upset, maybe just let one arm out. I only found the cross cradle hold to work for me - the others felt too awkward - but I probably wasn't doing it right. I feel for you, I know it can be a frustrating/exciting time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-positionspillows#post-63594 Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:57:04 +0000 Maysprout 63594@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm not sure if you've seen the happiest baby on the block video but it might be worth looking up the 5 S's. If LO was upset we'd swaddle her and try to get her to calm down and then try breastfeeding instead of trying to feed an inconsolable or squirmy LO.<br /> I mainly nurse with her in the cradle hold (her head in the crook of my elbow) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-positionspillows#post-63593 Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:56:50 +0000 Mrs. Bee 63593@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>in the beginning i found the football hold easiest. sometimes i would use a pillow and a nursing pillow to get enough height. i was leaning too much into charlie when i should have been pulling him into me. maybe an extra pillow might help with your positioning? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-positionspillows#post-63587 Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:49:28 +0000 BabyBruins 63587@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@chopsuey119: I have tried lying down once or twice, but it didn't go well. We tried it last night and he was already upset and didn't latch. I tried another time when we were just resting and he wasn't really into it. But it is something I would like to get.<br /> @pelikila: I don't think I'm doing the football hold right. I thought i would just try to get it before I start using a pillow but wanted to check if others thought a pillow or positioner would make it easier. More questions for my lactation appt this week.<br /> Thanks for your feedback ladies! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-positionspillows#post-63496 Tue, 31 Jan 2012 09:33:58 +0000 chopsuey 63496@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I used the football pose early on because LO's clavicle broke on her way out. Have you tried lying down next to your LO and feeding?<br /> <a href="http://www.askdrsears.com/topics/breastfeeding/rightstart-techniques/best-breastfeeding-positions" rel="nofollow">http://www.askdrsears.com/topics/breastfeeding/rightstart-techniques/best-breastfeeding-positions</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-positionspillows#post-63488 Tue, 31 Jan 2012 09:25:35 +0000 pelikila 63488@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For me football hold or cross cradle worked best in the beginning. I always had to put extra pillows to help raise the height of the boppy I had to make sure I wasn't leaning down and my son was ideally placed. I wouldn't worry too much yet about nursing without a support pillow until you get the nursing established but if you worry, then feel free to practice now. I just know that when my son was a newborn he was just too small to get positioned right, held in place, and not have to readjust throughout the feeding while we were both still learning so a support pillow of any kind was critical for me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-positionspillows#post-63294 Mon, 30 Jan 2012 23:31:49 +0000 BabyBruins 63294@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>A big problem I am having when trying to nurse is keeping my baby's hands away from his face/mouth. He is also very squirmy, but the firmer I hold him, the more upset he gets. Any suggestions for a good hold that keeps baby's hands and body in check? I usually do the cross cradle hold with one hand on his head and one on my boob to be sure it stays in his mouth, the nipple shield doesn't fall off, some hand expression, etc. I have tried the football hold, but have not been very successful.<br /> I also use my breast friend sometimes, but I also try to do some nursing without it because i won't always have MBF with me. </p>