https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 15 May 2026 15:22:36 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-on-breastfeeding-a-newborn-without-a-pillow#post-1465834 Tue, 04 Mar 2014 10:11:43 +0000 Mamaof2 1465834@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would use the diaper bag </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-on-breastfeeding-a-newborn-without-a-pillow#post-1465819 Tue, 04 Mar 2014 10:07:18 +0000 rattles 1465819@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I nursed her in a football hold with the diaper bag next to me in the chair supporting her weight. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-on-breastfeeding-a-newborn-without-a-pillow#post-1465167 Mon, 03 Mar 2014 22:34:58 +0000 birdofafeather 1465167@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>i would prop her up on something for a long time! maybe 3 months? used my knees, bags, jacket, etc until all of a sudden she could support herself more. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-on-breastfeeding-a-newborn-without-a-pillow#post-1465117 Mon, 03 Mar 2014 21:50:09 +0000 luckypenny 1465117@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>what about having baby in more of a sitting upright position instead of laying down? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-on-breastfeeding-a-newborn-without-a-pillow#post-1465035 Mon, 03 Mar 2014 21:08:56 +0000 Smurfette 1465035@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would cross my legs, use the diaper bag as a pillow, but it never worked for me. I always used a pillow. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-on-breastfeeding-a-newborn-without-a-pillow#post-1465021 Mon, 03 Mar 2014 21:02:28 +0000 creativemomma15 1465021@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Danizaur: I use my leg crossed and kind if hunch over, but it isn't very comfortable for me. But I have a friend who does weekly dr visits with her LO and found an inflatable pillow made by my breast friend. She said it was $15 on Amazon and I have seen her blow it up... It doesn't take much air or time and deflates in a second or two. She loves it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-on-breastfeeding-a-newborn-without-a-pillow#post-1464937 Mon, 03 Mar 2014 20:30:46 +0000 oliviaoblivia 1464937@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Have you tried the laid-back position?<br /> That's what I did a lot in the beginning. It helps to have gravity working with you. </p> [attach=1339/14/n1w1jc.386x325.image.jpg] https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-on-breastfeeding-a-newborn-without-a-pillow#post-1464926 Mon, 03 Mar 2014 20:24:41 +0000 regberadaisy 1464926@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Danizaur: I use my leg! Think like when you're sitting and one leg ankle rests on the other. I'll usually use an armrest to prop my knee up and rest my arm on my raised knee and BF that way. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-on-breastfeeding-a-newborn-without-a-pillow#post-1464917 Mon, 03 Mar 2014 20:19:30 +0000 cheesetomywhine 1464917@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't have this issue but one of the mums in the mums group I went to had a travel boppy to help her nurse. It was inflatable. Maybe that would help you? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-on-breastfeeding-a-newborn-without-a-pillow#post-1464895 Mon, 03 Mar 2014 20:05:16 +0000 Mrs. Tiger 1464895@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>They make a diaper bag that doubles as a nursing pillow!</p> <p> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004S2WUIG" rel="nofollow">http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004S2WUIG</a> </p> [attach=1630/14/n1w0ct.500x353.41kIwRQEoeL.jpg] https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-on-breastfeeding-a-newborn-without-a-pillow#post-1464787 Mon, 03 Mar 2014 19:00:10 +0000 mrs.shinerbock 1464787@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>As PPs have said, crossing my legs, chairs with arms or beside a table, or using the diaper bag to support my arms. Also, turning sideways in the chair and bringing my knee up sometimes worked. I could use the back of the chair to rest my elbow and have LO kind of sitting in my lap, reclined back on my arm. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-on-breastfeeding-a-newborn-without-a-pillow#post-1464782 Mon, 03 Mar 2014 18:56:29 +0000 lawbee11 1464782@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I do exactly what @MsMini: does. Just practice at home and you'll get better at it. I haven't used the Boppy for nursing since she was a few days old. I find it easier to nurse without a pillow. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-on-breastfeeding-a-newborn-without-a-pillow#post-1464771 Mon, 03 Mar 2014 18:49:11 +0000 Beyond2 1464771@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@HabesBabe: once we got better head control, we could get by without it in a pinch. I still used the pillow at home for long time though. :-) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-on-breastfeeding-a-newborn-without-a-pillow#post-1464692 Mon, 03 Mar 2014 17:55:35 +0000 HabesBabe 1464692@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Beyond2: 10 weeks? I pretty much used it for the first 10 months... whoops! I wouldn't bring it outside the house, though, so at least I had that going for me.</p> <p>Nursing without a pillow was super hard! Sometimes I would use my diaper bag as a "pillow." </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-on-breastfeeding-a-newborn-without-a-pillow#post-1464688 Mon, 03 Mar 2014 17:54:48 +0000 Running Elley 1464688@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MsMini: @redsmarties: This is what I do too!</p> <p>It's really really hard and I avoid it when I can :( When we're at DH's family's house I just use a throw pillow or something, I always use my breast friend at home. It does keep getting easier as LO is getting bigger (She's currently 3 months). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-on-breastfeeding-a-newborn-without-a-pillow#post-1464632 Mon, 03 Mar 2014 17:37:30 +0000 T.H.O.U. 1464632@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I couldn't do it either. And I wasn't using a ns </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-on-breastfeeding-a-newborn-without-a-pillow#post-1464571 Mon, 03 Mar 2014 17:11:49 +0000 Torchwood 1464571@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Any chance a sling would help? You might could use it to support him without your hands, if you could get it in the right spot. No kids yet here (I like to read these threads so I can know what to anticipate!), but that's just what came to mind. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-on-breastfeeding-a-newborn-without-a-pillow#post-1464565 Mon, 03 Mar 2014 17:10:03 +0000 Pepper 1464565@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had a lot of problems BF him as a newborn without a pillow (I used a shield too). At early appointments, they let me use the lactation room where they had a pillow. It got a lot easier once I could sit him upright. No tips, just commiseration! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-on-breastfeeding-a-newborn-without-a-pillow#post-1464563 Mon, 03 Mar 2014 17:08:12 +0000 sarahbs 1464563@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm working on this too (my son is 2.5 weeks old). I use a shield too and have been experimenting with crossing my legs and resting his head on one leg once he's latched on (which can take a couple minutes). It works OK sometimes but other times he slips down. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-on-breastfeeding-a-newborn-without-a-pillow#post-1464558 Mon, 03 Mar 2014 17:06:23 +0000 Mrs. Oatmeal 1464558@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Danizaur: I crossed my legs (so that my leg sort of supported her), and hunched over a bit. I also used cross-cradle hold, so she was secure, but supported. It might have been easier for me though, because my BF boobs are seriously massive...they basically reach to wherever LO is. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-on-breastfeeding-a-newborn-without-a-pillow#post-1464554 Mon, 03 Mar 2014 17:05:21 +0000 pinkcupcake 1464554@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Awh, it took me awhile - at least 3-4 weeks - to really feel comfortable nursing. Until then, nursing without a pillow was really tough. I needed DH to help hold her head, settle me in, etc. It just took lots of practice but became second nature after not too long :)</p> <p>Sorry , I don't really have any advice - just with time it'll get easier! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-on-breastfeeding-a-newborn-without-a-pillow#post-1464544 Mon, 03 Mar 2014 17:03:25 +0000 Beyond2 1464544@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I couldn't do it... For the first 10 weeks I brought the my breast friend everywhere :-/ </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-on-breastfeeding-a-newborn-without-a-pillow#post-1464536 Mon, 03 Mar 2014 17:01:06 +0000 artsyfartsy 1464536@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: Good to know it's not just me. Lol. LO gets enough to eat but it seems like everything else is a struggle. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-on-breastfeeding-a-newborn-without-a-pillow#post-1464524 Mon, 03 Mar 2014 16:57:08 +0000 Foodnerd81 1464524@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Using a chair that has arms helps for sure, but I never had to contend with a nipple shield on top of everything else. I actually have the travel boppy and while it's definitely not a necessity, it would help in situations like that. But really, this is a very short phase and it will gets lots easier within a few weeks. </p> <p>Then again, at home I still use my Brest Friend to nurse her at 7 months. I can do it easily without but it is still more comfortable with! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-on-breastfeeding-a-newborn-without-a-pillow#post-1464522 Mon, 03 Mar 2014 16:56:29 +0000 jedeve 1464522@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It's so hard! But they get bigger by the time you figure out a good method. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-on-breastfeeding-a-newborn-without-a-pillow#post-1464521 Mon, 03 Mar 2014 16:55:35 +0000 MsMini 1464521@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would cross my legs with the leg on top being the same side he was feeding on, then rest my arm on my knee, I ended up hunched a tiny bit but it worked well until he could feed sitting more upright on my lap. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-on-breastfeeding-a-newborn-without-a-pillow#post-1464516 Mon, 03 Mar 2014 16:53:44 +0000 singingbee 1464516@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It was easier for me to nurse on my left side without a pillow, so if we were out in public, I nursed on the left side. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-on-breastfeeding-a-newborn-without-a-pillow#post-1464514 Mon, 03 Mar 2014 16:52:19 +0000 artsyfartsy 1464514@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Gah. Went for T's one week check up today (which went great! He's gained his birth weight back plus 3 extra ounces! I'm thrilled about that!) and I had to feed him before we left. The doctor let us use the exam room to nurse and it was our first time since the hospital nursing without my Boppy. It didn't go well. It took me, both of our jackets bunched up for support, and DH supporting him to make it through the feeding. I'm using nipple shields so I kind of have to secure that in place with my hand and to compress my breast so he can get a better latch (which usually doesn't work out. That's another issue) and once he latches on I can't really let go. I can hold him myself for all of 2 minutes before my other arm feels like it's going to break...plus he starts to slip down and I can't readjust him.</p> <p>Ugh. Help me? I don't want to have to lug a pillow around out in public just to feed my baby. I know it'll get easier once he gets older and more head control, but I still feel like I shouldn't need DH and two jackets to feed my LO. Lol </p>