How to feed a newborn lying down, proper breastfeeding on the side

There is no right or wrong way to latch on to your newborn while breastfeeding. Over time, mother and child themselves find the most comfortable position for themselves. It certainly wouldn’t hurt to learn several application techniques, since frequently changing life circumstances require a woman to show flexibility. This is especially true for a growing baby, who quickly grows and develops, showing more and more activity. At the initial stage of caring for the baby, “lying down” positions for breastfeeding are considered the most comfortable. The article will talk about how to feed a baby while lying down, how to provide the baby with comfort and safety during lactation.

The feeding option in the lying position is one of the most convenient

Key factors for proper feeding

It is very important to feed your newborn properly.

This becomes possible only if a number of basic rules are observed:

A woman should not allow the baby's body to become curved. It should be approximately at the same level. This rule may not apply only to the head. It is best if it is slightly raised. Thanks to this, it will be possible to minimize the likelihood of regurgitation of the baby during feeding.
For complete relaxation and calmness of the baby, it is necessary to press him tightly to the body. It is important to ensure full body contact of the limbs, tummy and head.
To fix the head, a woman must place her hand obliquely.
Smacking sounds are not typical for an infant when feeding in any position. Most often, in this case, the nipple is grasped incorrectly. The situation is also one of the symptoms of problems with the frenulum in a newborn. In this case, you should not hesitate to visit a specialist. He will be able to carefully study the characteristics of the manifestation and prescribe the necessary treatment.
Feeding must be done if the baby's mouth is located just opposite the nipple. This means that the baby should be brought to the breast, and not vice versa.
For a baby, freedom of the occipital zone is important. A woman should not put pressure on her. It is only allowed to lightly hold the baby in this area. In this case, sudden and rough movements should be avoided.
It is necessary to ensure that the cervical spine always remains in one line. Depending on the individual preferences of the baby, the head should be thrown back or down. Otherwise, the swallowing process will be difficult. Do not press the lower part of your head too tightly to your chest. Otherwise, the child will not be able to open his mouth, which will lead to uncomfortable feeding conditions.
If you have difficulty breathing, just change your position. Pediatricians recommend slightly raising the head or changing the angle of the baby's body.
If a woman has large breasts, then a rolled up towel will help create comfortable conditions. It should be placed under the mammary glands. This will significantly reduce the pressure on the baby's jaw.
Experienced mothers use pillows of different sizes when feeding. They allow you to change the baby’s position at any time and enable the mother to feel more comfortable.
A woman should drink water when feeding. Lactation leads to severe dehydration, so mommy becomes constantly thirsty. It must be eliminated in time.
Mommy should worry about skin contact. This is very important during the feeding period. That is why a woman and a baby should have a minimum amount of clothing.

Pros of lying down feeding

Through trial and error, many women understand that it is more convenient to feed a newborn lying down for several reasons:

A newborn, as a rule, falls asleep during the day after eating a hearty and satisfying meal. At the same time, there is no need to carry it, shake it, or lull it to sleep. Some babies with sensitive, restless sleep do not tolerate being transferred from their hands to a crib. They wake up, are capricious, and cannot fall asleep peacefully a second time. And when the mother is lying next to her, she only has to take out the breast - and the baby is fast asleep. This way she can relax with him both during and after meals.
After a complicated birth, caesarean section, or stitches in the mother’s perineum, it is difficult, if not completely forbidden, to sit. Lying down poses will solve this problem, allow the muscles to relax, and the stitches will not be injured.
At night, half asleep, it is convenient to offer the breast in a horizontal position without getting up. True, this is only suitable for supporters of mother and child sleeping together on the bed. If the baby sleeps separately, night feedings will be organized differently.
It is safe: the method will not allow the child to fall or roll off her hands if the woman is too tired and suddenly dozes off. He will release his breasts and remain on the bed anyway.
The position ensures correct grip of the nipple, as well as the anatomically correct position of the baby while eating: the whole body is pressed against the mother, the head and spine are located in the same line.

Lactation in the side position

Many mothers feed their baby lying on their side. Thanks to this position, they can relax and unwind well. It is ideal for night feedings, because the woman can take a short nap until the process is completed. Additionally, it should be noted that there are three options for how to lie on your side.

You can breastfeed your baby while lying down from the bottom. To do this, just place the baby's head on your hand. Thanks to this, the baby's mouth will be right in the nipple area. The second hand will be completely free, so the woman can lightly stroke the baby with it. Mommy should rest her head and shoulders completely on the pillow. Otherwise, the risk of swelling increases during the process.

Side feeding prevents the development of lactostasis

You can breastfeed while lying down using the second method. In this case, it is also possible to obtain milk from its lower part. It is assumed that the baby will lie independently on a flat surface on one side. At the same time, the woman does not have both hands occupied. Additionally, it is recommended to lightly hold the baby close to you. In this case, he feels much calmer.

We recommend reading: How often should you feed a newborn?

Feeding can also be done with the diaper rolled up. However, in this case, it is necessary to avoid a situation in which the baby lies on his back. This situation aggravates swallowing and can lead to disturbances in the digestive system. Additionally, it should be noted that this option is used extremely rarely, because it can cause mommy a lot of discomfort.

She has to constantly lean on her elbow, which begins to get tired and numb after a certain period. The nipple also enters the baby's mouth from the top position. In this case, the risk of it slipping out of the oral cavity increases.

Is it possible to feed a baby in a lying position with top milk? The position involves first placing the baby on the pillow. He must place his entire body on it. Mommy will need to hold the baby with one hand. At the same time, the second one remains completely free. The pose helps prevent chest congestion. It can be used for each breast separately. By turning the baby from one side to the other, you can also get the opportunity to feed with upper and lower milk.

Incorrect breastfeeding while lying down

How long should you breastfeed your baby?

When feeding, situations should be avoided when:

The mother bends over the baby, leaning on her elbow (this position is uncomfortable and quickly tires the woman);
The baby's head is turned away from the chest;
The baby is far from the breast.

Also not recommended:

Wean the baby's breast - you need to wait until the baby is full and refuses to feed;
Tolerate pain during lactation;
Allow the child to latch onto the nipple only (without the areola);
Apply the baby when the mother is sick or in an irritated, upset state;
Ignore baby hiccups, coughing, restless behavior during lactation.

Jack: comfortable and practical position

For nursing mothers, lying on your side is quite comfortable. She can position the baby in the same way. In this case, its legs should be at the level of the mother’s head. This option is recommended to be used to prevent stagnation of lower milk. The disease in medical practice is known as lactostasis. If you feed the baby in the “jack” position, you will be able to prevent the development of the disease at the initial stage. Additionally, it is possible to obtain milk even from the upper walls. To fix the body, it is allowed to use a small pad. This will make it possible to place the nipple opposite the newborn's mouth. At the same time, mom will also feel comfortable and not feel pain.

When feeding with a jack, the process will bring pleasure to the woman and her child, and will also increase the bond between them

Recommendations for proper feeding

In order for breastfeeding to occur correctly, experts advise paying attention to the following rules:

No matter in what position the baby will suckle, it is necessary that his torso be located in the same plane (this applies to the stomach, shoulders, legs and head). For example, when feeding lying down, the baby should not be on his back, but on his side. An incorrect position will make swallowing difficult and also contribute to the development of muscle tension.
Newborns should be carefully clasped diagonally with their arms (from the legs to the head). In this case, you should carefully fix your head.
The breast should be presented in such a way that it is supported like a bowl. To do this, take it with one thumb from the top side and four from the bottom.
You should always pull the baby to your chest, and you should take a position that will be comfortable for both mother and baby. There is no need to stretch your chest to the side, while bending over too much.

There are often situations when the baby wants to breastfeed only on a certain side. In this case, the second breast can also serve to feed him. To do this, the child should be placed on a small pillow on top. This will help the mother feed the baby with the “upper” breast.

Following these simple rules will help a mother raise a healthy baby without much hassle.

This video is for mothers of newborns:

26 Nov 2021 Yuki 519

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How to properly feed a baby in a supine position?

The process of feeding a child can be organized even if it lies entirely with the mother. At this moment, the woman can sit comfortably on her back. The baby will certainly feel contact with her through contact in the tummy area. Before starting feeding, it is recommended to slightly turn the baby's head to one side. Thanks to this, it will be possible to properly organize the saturation process. It remains possible to constantly change the breast from left to right. Pediatricians recommend using this position for feeding the baby in the first two months of his life.

This rationale has also been confirmed from a scientific point of view. During this period, every mother experiences fullness of the mammary glands. If you feed your baby in a normal position, he may experience strong pressure. The situation is not only unpleasant, but also dangerous. Incorrect posture can cause choking. If a woman lies on her back, the intensity of the stream will decrease several times. Additionally, the baby's tummy will be massaged, because he will constantly lie on it. This will ensure the release of gas and serve as a prevention of colic.

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.

Overhang: convenience and practicality

The woman decides independently how to feed the baby (lying or sitting). However, she will need some advice from women experienced in this matter. To achieve greater feeding efficiency, it is recommended to use an overhanging position. Thanks to the correct positioning of the baby, it will be possible to give him not only foremilk, but also hindmilk. The latter option contains a large amount of vitamins and minerals beneficial to the body. The position is also recommended to be used if the baby has problems sucking at the breast. The situation also occurs after bottle feeding. It is much more difficult to get food from the breast than from it.

The pose requires the woman to stand on her elbows while lying on her chest. In this case, the breasts will hang over his mouth. You should not put too much pressure on him, because in this case the baby will experience discomfort and tension.

It is best to position the baby so that his head is slightly turned to one side

The main mistakes of mothers during lactation

The baby's swallowing process becomes more difficult if his head is almost completely turned towards the mother's chest.
The nipple will constantly slip out if the baby does not press his chin to the chest.
The baby's mouth is too open. In this case, the woman will experience pain. The situation is dangerous and can lead to the baby not being able to eat well.
The baby grasps exclusively the nipple, but does not even grasp part of the areola.
If positioned correctly, the baby should not eat in short sips. The situation with smacking and clicking is also considered abnormal. In this case, oxygen can enter the digestive system, which contributes to the appearance of colic and gas.
The baby cannot take the nipple into his mouth well. He only squeezes it lightly between his two gums.

Every mother should monitor the position of the baby when feeding. Otherwise there is a risk of improper swallowing. The baby can be at the breast for a long time, but at the same time not eat at all. Most often, the situation arises due to improper latching: the baby takes only the nipple in his mouth. In this case, the areola remains unnoticed. The situation is dangerous and can lead to cracked nipples. In this case, mommy will experience pain throughout the entire feeding.

The baby may also feel severe discomfort and refuse to eat food. Against this background, quite often one can detect anxiety during the feeding period. That is why it is important for a woman to choose the right position that will be used by the baby while eating.

The lactation period is an important process for every woman. Thanks to her, mommy establishes a bond with her baby that will last a lifetime. It is important to choose the right pose and carefully practice the process. Thanks to this, feeding will be effective, and the baby will always feel full. Immediately after the birth of a baby, it can be difficult for a woman to navigate. However, only a few months will pass, and an invisible connection will be established between them. It is necessary to give time to learn to feel each other. On the way to this, the woman is ready to endure a stiff back and pain in her arms. It is important to take not only comfortable positions, but also position yourself in such a way as to prevent the development of stagnation of milk in the breast. Special pillows will help ease the addiction situation. It is recommended to purchase different sizes of these products.