Sore neck...feeding related?

[RedPanda]

My neck and back are soo sore. The pain only comes when I look down at bubs as I feed him. :confused: I know BFing mothers sometimes get sore necks and backs, but can it cause the same kind of pain in bottlefeeding mothers? I cradle him in my left arm and feed him with my right, and it hurts my neck!! Anyone else had this??

[sam's mum]

I would say so. I had a really sore neck at the start (breastfeeding, but stick with me), and it was from.....


The pain only comes when I look down at bubs as I feed him.

looking down too much, and not changing position. :D :laughing:

seriously, if it takes twenty minutes on one side and ten on the other for breastfeeding, you are probably taking about the same amount of time. If you are sitting looking at your bub for that whole time, that is a big strain on your neck.... looking straight down. :)

It's hard, but look at bubba less, make sure that you move your eyes and head to different points around the room.

[Spewiesmum]

try a feeding pillow. I found it made a huge difference (I breast and bottle fed).

[TwoBlue]

stop looking at him (if you can! he is such a gorgeous little man !!)
and change sides half way through :D

[tomtom]

I was exactly the same. I have an old neck injury and it gets stiff and sore quite easily.:thumbsdown: I gave up BF earlier than i wanted and found bottle feeding less painful and the fact that DH gets to bond and share the experience when feeding :smiliedance: made me feel a little less guilty about giving up

[Blairsmummy]

Just cos bubba is not 'attached' to you doesn't change the feeding position!!!!! If BF mums get it, so can you.

I find a pillow under bub (across my lap) to help out heaps. I broke my back in 2000 (fine now though), and needed to find lots of ways to support my back..... and quickly! That is what my physio recommended. Also do some small head rolls and neck stretches before you sit down to feed. I find that helps relax all the muscles first so I don't get tense or sore when feeding.

Hope this helps!

[RedPanda]

Thanks ladies - all very good tips. I will make an effort to change sides, stretch and not look at him so much! Otherwise my back will only get worse when he gets bigger and I"m picking him up all the time!!!:eek: