Support when feeding heavy baby

[Almostmum]

Just wondering if anyone has any tips re: feeding a heavy baby. He was 10lb 3.5oz at birth and I'm using the "football" hold (lying him alongside me) to feed him, with him propped on pillows. But even supporting his head means I end up with a really sore wrist and forearm by the end of a feed. Also, as the pillows tend to collapse under him, I'm looking for any ideas of how to support him better, without having a leaning tower of rolled up blankets and pillows etc. Has anyone seen/used one of those strap-on breastfeeding pillows?

Thanks for your help, wise and wonderful mums!

[bec79]

I have a bfing pillow, they are great! I too had a big bub and suffered sore wrists and arms whilst feeding, now I wouldn't go without my pillow.
The only draw back I have found is that you can't take it everywhere you go. I'm sure I would get some pretty funny looks lugging it through a shopping centre :)
So when I bf away from home my wrists and arms really suffer because they aren't "conditioned" to hold bub for so long.

[tickle]

Hi!

I also had a bfing pillow, it was really great!! The only other downside to not being able to take them everywhere was that my ds got so used to feeding in a certain position (on the pillow), he would be really unsettled when we didn't have it. If you decide to get one I would try to find one with a water proof liner. Most don't have these which isn't good if you have a bit of spillage!!

Ellen

[Lallas' Mum]

My first bubba was 10lb 8oz so I know where you're coming from. I used a firm boomerang pillow first time round and fed my son in the usual laying across my lap position, but I sat cross legged most the time.

The most comfortable position was laying down with bub beside me. It was a great chance to have a power nap also!

With my second bub (11 lb 4oz) I upgraded to a feeding pillow I purchased off Ebay. It was a God-sent.

Be sure to take care of your back & shoulders - especially as bub gets bigger. I wished I had of.

Best of luck with your big bubba & remember big is beautiful!!!:D

[xkwzit]

Hi
I bought a zoo pillow (they come in the shape of an animal - I'm not sure WHAT animal :D ). They are quite firm and much thicker than an ordinary pillow to give baby a big lift. It sure saves your arms! You can get them from babyco.

Cheers

[draught]

I had a zoopillow too - they are a lifesaver. You can check them out at www.zoopillow.com - they don't collapse like normal pillows - I can't rave about them enough.

[Nickster]

My bub was 10 pound 12 ounces, so I know where you're coming from. A breastfeeding pillow is a must. I had 2 - a zoo pillow downstairs and a crescent-shaped bf pillow upstairs (bought from "The Warehouse" of all places!!!). Both were great, but like Lalla's mum, lying down was really the best position - I could get myself organised and read a book with my free hand - what a bonus!

I'm not sure how much this applies to you, but I also had really sore wrists, although it was more to do with the strain of carrying around such a weight, and it was a constant type of pain. The only thing I could do was to splint my wrists and give them a rest whenever possible, and I also used to put liberal amounts of Dencorub arthritic cream on them - don't laugh! It's got an analgesic effect and it really eased the pain.

If you want to use splints too, don't bother buying the $50+ ones from the chemist, I just used my ol' rollerblading wrist supports buried at the back of the closet! Same effect!

Good luck :)

[Jadesmum]

while I was in hospital after giving birth, one of the nurses gave me an invaluable tip. If breastfeeding in bed the baby can just lie on the mattress on their side and you lie on your side facing him but with a pillow underneath your upper half? Make sense? Just makes your boob a little bit higher so you don't have to support babies neck because it's just the right height! Also when I breastfed on the couch I just put a two or three cushions under my arm on whatever side he was on which took the pressure off! hope this helps! Lisa

[*Sal*]

How much do those zoo pillows cost please? I couldn't find the price on their website.

Thanx :D

[bec79]

If my memory serves correctly, the zoo pillow is about $70-$80.

[JanetF]

I currently feed a 10 kg baby :) I find that sitting crosslegged is best and if he dozes off, a pillow under the arm with his head on it is fine. I sit in an armchair mostly to feed him and the support of that helps too. Have you asked the ABA group near you what they recommend? They'd probably have more ideas too :)

[our little treasures]

Well I had a baby just off 10pnd and I didnt notice anything different between him and my dd who was 8.8 anyway I feed with a triangle shaped pillow!! And of course laying down but the last 2 nites I have been in agony after his feed where I pull a muscle or something so not sure what I'll do as I hate getting up in the night I love feeding him to sleep!! Makes for a much happier house!!

Oh how is everyone goin with the amount of milk bubs wants my little man is 10wks and 7kg and some days he sits on me every 30mins - hr and about every 3rd days he cuts back to every 2hrs feed for 2days then he thinks oh crap I'm hungry I'll sit on mummy all day!!

My dd was great she used to feed one sided (which I love as if she is hungry I had the other side to offer now I have nothing left!!

Please let me know how your going

[Stace]

My son was 11 Pounds 10 Ounces, and is currently 1 month old (so he's even heavier than that now!). The football hold works really well for me, and I just use a firm feather pillow.

Why don't you try lying on your side on a bed to feed him? I found that pretty easy to manage, you don't have to support his body (as the bed does), and all you have to do is shape your breast for him.

Hope it all works out for you!

If you ever feel like you need to chat, I'm happy for the adult conversation! :D

Stace

[MonMic]

I bought a pre-loved zoo pillow from Ebay which worked out at about 1/2 price with postage from W.A.!

The Breast feeding *** reccommends them and also a similar styled thick wraparound pillow.

I bought this for bub #2 and have found it to be much better that the boomerang pillow that I used for bub #1 which became quite flat and out of shape.

My bubs is now 15pounds and its still very comfortable and he fits quite easily, no overhang yet.

M

[MonMic]

Janet F, how do you call a 10kg nearly 2 year old a baby!

M.