Feeding newborns lying on their side

Is it possible to breastfeed in this position?

So, the first question, the answer to which young mothers are interested in, is whether it is possible to feed a newborn with breast milk in a lying position?

Today, pediatricians do not insist on one position for feeding newborns.

During feeding, an emotional connection is created between the baby and the mother, which is why it is necessary to eliminate as much as possible all inconveniences, including those that, at first glance, may not seem too significant: neither a tired back in an uncomfortable position, nor numb hands should distract from feeding.

Any position in which both mother and child will be comfortable is welcome . You can choose a comfortable position only by trial and error, experimenting with different options until you find a position in which both mother and baby will be comfortable.

Even after a comfortable position has been chosen, it is worth trying others periodically. This is due to the growth and development of the child and possible changes in his behavior. In addition, sometimes changing positions may be a necessary measure, for example, with lactostasis.

Periodic changes in feeding positions promote uniform development of all lobes of the mammary gland.

Feeding your baby while lying down is, without a doubt, convenient .
Especially if a caesarean section was performed or if the mother had stitches in the perineum after childbirth. Also, feeding while lying down at night helps the mother rest and allows her to get better sleep.

Debunking myths

Myth 1. Nipple preparation is necessary before giving birth.

Women are advised to rub their nipples with a rough cloth, but such actions are more dangerous than useful. Stimulating a pregnant woman's nipples increases the risk of premature birth, since the breast and uterus have a certain connection (if the nipple is stimulated, the uterus will contract).

Myth 2. A newborn should be fed formula immediately, as milk does not come immediately

Mature milk, indeed, begins to remain from the 3-5th day after birth, however, until this moment, colostrum is released from the woman’s breast, which is quite enough for the baby.

Myth 3. For successful breastfeeding, you have to constantly pump after each feeding of the baby.

Pumping after feedings is recommended by close relatives and even sometimes by doctors, supposedly to prevent lactostasis, but in fact they are what cause excess milk production and stagnation. You should express your breasts only when there is pain and severe engorgement, when the baby is unable to latch on to the nipple. In this case, you need to express a small amount of milk.

Myth 4. If a baby cries a lot and often demands the breast, it means he is hungry and does not get enough to eat.

Compared to formula feeding, the baby actually asks for the breast more often, since human milk is absorbed very quickly, and formula takes longer. In addition, it is often easier for a baby to suck milk from a bottle than to extract it from the breast. But this behavior does not at all indicate a lack of nutrition for the toddler. You should only focus on weight gain over the month and the number of times your baby urinates per day.

Myth 5. The fat content of milk varies from woman to woman.

Some women are lucky and have full-fat milk, while others are unlucky because they have low-fat blue milk. This misconception is associated with the color of expressed milk, the front portion of which actually has a bluish tint. This part of the milk is drinkable for the baby, so you cannot judge by its color what kind of milk a woman has in general. If the mother were able to express milk from the posterior parts of the breast, she would make sure of its fat content, but it is very difficult to obtain it manually.

Myth 6. The breasts have stopped filling, which means the baby does not have enough milk.

This situation often occurs after a month or two of feeding, when a woman begins to feel that milk is no longer coming in the required volume. Worries further worsen the situation and can lead to the end of lactation. In fact, the absence of hot flashes has nothing to do with the amount of milk in a woman’s breast, since 1-2 months after birth, milk begins to be produced exactly as much as is needed for the baby, and it often arrives in the gland while the baby is sucking on the mother’s breast.

Myth 7. A nursing mother needs to eat more than usual.

Without a doubt, the nutrition of a mother who is breastfeeding must be of high quality and balanced. However, you should not significantly increase the portions for this. The baby will receive all the beneficial substances from breast milk, even if the mother eats very little, but the health of the woman herself will be undermined by a lack of vitamins

So you should pay close attention to nutrition, but not the volume of dishes, but their usefulness. It should also be remembered that until the baby is 9 months old, nursing mothers should not go on diets or exercise intensively.

Myth 8. Formula is almost identical to breast milk, so it’s the same as what to feed the baby.

No matter how much manufacturers praise their high-quality formulas and no matter what valuable ingredients they add to them, no artificial nutrition can compare with milk from a woman’s breast. An important difference between these two food options for a baby is that the composition of human milk changes in accordance with the baby’s growth and the baby’s needs. Let's not forget about the psychological connection between a nursing mother and her baby.

Myth 9. After 6 months, the baby no longer needs milk

Although complementary foods are already being introduced to a six-month-old baby, human milk still remains the baby's main food product. It does not lose its valuable properties even when the child is one or two years old.

Myth 10

If cracks appear from sucking, it is better to switch to a mixture. The situation when a baby rubs his nipples until they bleed in the first days of sucking is quite common. The reason for this is incorrect application. And having corrected it, it is quite possible to breastfeed the baby for a long time. The use of special overlays also promotes rapid healing of cracks.

Rules for feeding a newborn

The following rules must be adhered to:

• It is impossible for a newborn to bend during saturation: all parts of his body should be in one straight line, and his head should be raised, this will help to minimize regurgitation.
• During the feeding process, tactile contact between mother and baby is important; this contributes to the baby’s relaxation and calmness.
• It is necessary to fix the newborn's head with your hand.
• When the baby suckles at the breast, there should be no clicking or smacking sounds - these indicate that the nipple is not captured correctly or that the newborn has problems with the frenulum of the tongue.
• The baby's mouth should be opposite the nipple.
• Do not allow the baby to throw his head back or lower it.
• The child should not have difficulty breathing.
• If the mother's breasts are large, a rolled-up diaper should be placed under them to relieve pressure on the baby's jaw.
• It is recommended to place a special cushion under your back and hold a thick pillow between your legs.

We must not forget that during feeding it is necessary to bring the baby to the breast, and not vice versa.

What does it mean to feed a newborn on demand?

This means that for any of his squeaks, cries, or head turns, you offer your breasts. And do not limit sucking by time.

Breast milk cannot be overfed; I talked about this in more detail in the article about regurgitation of infants. Read it if you haven't seen it.

Nevertheless, grandmothers often see that the child is often fed and begin to add fuel to the fire and associate this with the fact that there is not enough milk.

What to do with the most common horror stories of grandmothers? Let's figure it out now.

Horror story 1. Look, the baby has been hanging on your chest for half an hour, there is no milk there anymore, better give him a pacifier...

There is no need to worry about the baby hanging on your chest for a long time.

Each child is born with its own character: there are rushes that suck greedily, strongly, and literally after 10-15 minutes they relax and fall asleep. There are quiet children who do everything carefully, and only under their mother’s breasts they feel safe and try to prolong happy moments.

Of course, it’s worth checking whether the baby is latching onto the breast correctly? After all, if it is not applied correctly, he does not receive enough milk, and cannot get enough to calm down and fall asleep.

For a child, a mother’s breast is the whole world, and this concept should not be reduced only to food. This is communication, love, care, affection and tenderness, intimacy and protection.

You can write a whole treatise about the psychology of a baby, but I’ll just invite you to my course “Happy Motherhood: How to Breastfeed and Care for a Baby,” where you can understand these issues in more detail.

Horror story 2. For some reason, the baby often asks for the breast, you probably don’t have enough milk...

This moment is very different from the previous one. Of course, if you consider the breast only as a source of nutrition, it may seem that the baby is constantly eating.

But if we begin to perceive his presence under the breast as an element of communication with his mother, and at the same time he becomes saturated, then it will become easier for everyone around him. After all, no one will demand that a newborn child play independently or do something - he needs his mother, his main assistant and protector.

The amount of milk has nothing to do with how often the baby suckles, or for how long.

Horror story 3. Have you tried to weigh how much milk a child eats per feeding?

The practice of checkweighing is becoming a thing of the past. Each feeding, the baby sucks a different amount of milk from the breast, depending on the reason for the sucking: after all, when applying to the breast to calm down, he first of all seeks comfort, and not food.

Conversely, when hungry, the baby will suck more actively and greedily and suck out more milk.

To relieve worries about the amount of milk and whether the baby is getting enough, there are 2 objective ways. Just two:

1. Count your child's urinations in 24 hours.

If 10-12 or more times, there is enough milk.

If 8-10, you need to analyze breastfeeding techniques, perhaps some rules are being violated and the baby is a little lacking.

Less than 8 times - you should seek a telephone, or better yet, face-to-face consultation with a lactation consultant. And as quickly as possible.

1. Look at your weight gain in a week! If your baby has gained 120 grams or more, everything is fine, don’t worry. He has enough milk.

Main positions and photos

In order to feed your baby while lying down, you can use several positions , changing them or choosing one that is most comfortable. In order to understand how to properly feed a newborn with breast milk, we suggest that you read the detailed description of the poses and also look at the photos.

On the side

Most often, this position is used to feed the baby at night, as it allows the mother to relax and get some rest. There are 3 options for feeding in this position.

1. In the first option, the baby's head lies on the mother's hand, and the lower breast is used to nourish him.
   Thus, the baby's mouth rises and is opposite the nipple. The woman's neck and back should lie on a pillow to prevent numbness.
2. Using the second option, the baby is also fed from the lower breast, but in this case it must be placed on its side on a flat surface.
   This way, both mother's hands will be free and she will be able to hold the baby close to her so that he does not worry or get scared. In this position, the baby should under no circumstances lie on its back, otherwise the swallowing process will be difficult.
3. The third option involves feeding from the upper breast, for which both mother and baby must lie on a pillow. With this position, the mother has one hand free, and with the other she should hold the baby. This feeding option, firstly, helps get rid of milk stagnation, and secondly, it allows you to use both breasts in turn to feed the newborn.

"Jack"

In this position, the mother and the newborn should lie on their sides, with the baby’s legs positioned along the mother’s head. This position is very successful in helping to cope with milk stagnation , since milk from the upper walls of the chest is used to saturate the baby.

Greater comfort can be achieved by securing the baby with a small pillow, which should be placed under his back. This will help both mother and baby avoid discomfort and pain during feeding.

On the back

In this position, the mother lies on her back, the child on her. The baby's head should be turned slightly to the side . This position allows the mother to change breasts during feeding.

Most often, this position is used to feed a baby during the first few months after birth, as it helps to reduce the pressure of the breast milk stream.

"Overhang"

This position is the most effective, as it promotes the correct placement of breast milk along the walls. If for some reason the child’s swallowing process is difficult, then this position when feeding while lying down will be as comfortable as possible for him.

The mother should lie on her stomach, leaning on her elbows so that her chest hangs over the baby, but does not press him down.

POSITION WHEN BREASTFEEDING No. 6: “IMPROMITED cradle”

There is another position in which the baby’s attachment is well controlled - this is when the baby is located on the side of the mother, as if looking “out of the armpit.” Options: “sitting from the armpit” and “reclining from the armpit” - for those women who cannot yet sit. In this position, those lobes of the breast that are located below and outside (and this is the largest segment of the breast) are well emptied, which serves as a good prevention of stagnation of milk in this area. You need to place a pillow under the baby's body to position the baby at the level of the mother's chest. Mothers need back and shoulder support. You need to remember that there should be free space behind the mother’s back (for the baby’s legs).

"Jack"

In what cases should this not be done?

It is necessary to understand that you can feed your baby while lying down only if we are talking about breastfeeding, in which the baby needs to make an effort when he is full. If you feed your baby special formulas from a bottle, he should not lie horizontally. In this case, you need to hold the baby in your arms at an angle of about 45 degrees .

This is due to the fact that when feeding from a bottle, the baby does not make any effort, since the mixture flows out on its own. At the same time, the likelihood that a child lying on his back will choke increases.

Feeding a baby lying on his side is not safer , as there is a risk of developing otitis media - an inflammatory process can be triggered by a drop of milk accidentally leaking out and getting into the ear.

BREASTFEEDING POSITION No. 11: “SITTING FROM THE ARMPIT”

As the baby grows up, he will not always be satisfied with long feedings in one position. At this time, the child will become an active and active “snack master.” And feedings will be done automatically and masterfully; it is enough to support only the baby’s head or arms, if necessary.

The main options for new poses are: “baby sitting” and “baby standing.” There are also options for “the baby ran past”, “the baby is stomping around and sniffling” and others. The child can sit on the mother’s hip, in the mother’s legs crossed in Turkish style, or in a sling. Stand - in front of a sitting, standing, lying mother. One day I saw a baby standing in the “swallow” position and eating with great enthusiasm.

As a rule, the baby chooses these positions if he wants to calm down or communicate with his mother. To fall asleep, use one of the basic classical poses.

Feed with joy!

Common Mistakes

The most common mistakes when breastfeeding a baby while lying down:

• the position of the child, when only his head is turned to the mother’s chest, complicates the swallowing process;
• the baby's chin should be pressed to the chest, otherwise the nipple will slip out of his mouth;
• the newborn does not open his mouth wide enough, which leads to the mother experiencing pain, and the baby himself is not sufficiently saturated;
• the child does not grab the areola, but only the nipple, which is why cracks and wounds subsequently form on the nipples;
• While sucking, the baby smacks his lips and takes quick and short sips, so air enters the esophagus, which later becomes the cause of colic and gas.

Breastfeeding is an important stage for both the baby and the mother. You can make it the least problematic and the most convenient and comfortable, filled with mystery and tenderness, by choosing a comfortable position for feeding. If nothing distracts either the mother or the baby from feeding, this will allow them not only to feel each other better, but also to avoid such health problems as, for example, lactostasis in the mother and colic in the child.

Myths about overeating

Now let's talk about what most often worries mothers and leads them to think that their baby has overeaten:

1. Frequent regurgitation.

Many mothers think that it is overfeeding that causes the baby to spit up. But this is far from true.

It's all about the physiological characteristics of the child's digestive system, which is not yet fully developed and correctly formed. Even if a small amount of milk enters the stomach, the baby can still burp.

On top of that, regurgitation is often caused by excess air that the baby swallows during improper latching.

One has only to correct this point and everything will fall into place, and the question: is it possible to overfeed with breast milk will disappear by itself.

See a detailed article about baby regurgitation>>>

1. Weight gain.

Here, remember the following: weight gain from 0.5 kg to 2 kg is normal and absolutely nothing to worry about.

Large weight gains may occur in the first 3 months, and then as the child begins to move actively, the gains decrease.

By 6 months, the baby should have doubled its birth weight. Read more in the article Weight gain in newborns by month>>>

1. The baby is often put to the breast.

Because of this, many mothers fear that the baby’s tiny stomach is not able to digest so much and may stretch. They constantly think about how not to overfeed a newborn with breast milk.

One thing needs to be said here: stop arguing with nature. Read about feeding on demand>>>

Breast milk contains all the necessary enzymes that facilitate rapid digestion and proper absorption of incoming food by the body. And if excess gets into the stomach, the baby will definitely vomit it.

It is impossible to overfeed a newborn with breast milk.

Important! If your baby falls asleep on your chest while feeding, do not wake him up so that he can burp. If the baby is applied to the breast correctly, then air does not enter the esophagus