Do I Need a Nursing Pillow?
With more parents worried about the economy and focusing on essentials for your newborn you might have thought that a nursing pillow is a must have. But is it really - and how safe are they?
How Did the Invention of the Nursing Pillow Come About?
Nursing pillows were designed to increase the comfort of moms who have only been taught traditional upright breastfeeding positions. It’s solving a problem created by an industry. If you’re nursing while sitting, using a cradle, cross-cradle or football hold, a nursing pillow is essential. When you consider how often you’ll be nursing it’s not surprising that RRIs repetitive strain injuries are common (with these positions). Shoulder and back pain is also common. Most moms are only shown how to sit up to nurse on a swollen, sutured perineum or anxiously trying to keep baby away from touching a cesarean incision site.
If you’re holding the weight of your baby in your arms for a quick nursing session it’s not a big deal but what about those cluster feeds (especially if baby is sick) and it turns into a marathon nursing session. Then it makes sense to have a ‘platform’ to rest your weary arms. It’s HARD to hold a 7lb baby for long periods (and they’re only going to get heavier)! As your confidence grows the pillow tends to be relegated to the back of the wardrobe (if your wardrobe is big enough…how practical is this pillow below?) Imagine dragging this along to your moms group.
Nursing pillows are usually a one size fits all product so depending on a woman’s unique body type it may not be the best approach. Some of the more popular brands such as the Boppy can leave gaps between baby and you making the latch more painful especially as baby can slip down in that space between the Boppy and your baby. Gravity is working against your baby - resulting in more ‘fighting the breast’. The Brest Friend pillow is more adjustable and can create a more snug fit and reduces those gaps. But no matter what bells and whistles a nursing pillow has (iPhone charger, drink holder) the best nursing pillow for most moms and babies is your body.
Nursing Pillow Safety
The Consumer Product Safety Commission staff in August 2023 recommended the first federal requirements to make nursing pillows safer and discourage caregivers from setting babies down on the pillows to sleep, citing dozens of deaths associated with the popular infant product.
You Already Have the Perfect Nursing Pillow
The baby product industry created a solution to a problem created by traditional lactation preparation. Instead of focusing on changing how moms are supported to nurse more comfortably the baby industry made more ‘stuff’ that parents feel pressured to purchase.
When you adopt a biological nurturing position (reclined to your comfort) you create more space for your baby. Grab some pillows and cushions to support your elbows, back etc. But not to reduce strain as there is none but so you can be comfy for so much longer. Notice how your lap magically disappears giving your baby access to your entire torso.
When you lie back comfortably gravity baby is ‘pinned’ to your body while you softly support baby’s body without any tension or weight for your arms to carry. You and baby can look at each other and keep that wonderful oxytocin flowing while YOU are both completely comfortable - even during those marathon sessions.
If this makes sense to you - learn more in the Mindful Breastfeeding class.
Lie back, let baby latch and rest with your baby soaking up this moment.
Tracy
