Hey everyone! In honor of Mother’s Day, I want to give a shout out to all of the moms currently feeding their newborns and infants! As my blog this month, I delve into the topic of feeding positioning.
The Importance of Posture in Infant Feeding
Regardless of whether you are nursing or using a bottle, it is important to take into account your posture while feeding your little one. With feeding a baby on such a small amount of sleep, the last thing most people pay attention to is their posture, which can result in pain. Since a feeding session can take anywhere from 10-45 minutes depending on latch and how distracted a child is, it is important to be able to hold a sustained posture that is not stressful on your body.
Tips for Improving Your Posture During Feedings
So how do we make sure our posture is good while feeding our little ones? One way to improve your posture is to bring your little one up to your chest and rest them on a pillow when you are in a chair with your back supported. This way you are not expending a ton of energy holding your little one for any length of time. It is important to be in a position where you are comfortable with your baby close to you; and with your shoulder, head, and pelvis aligned to reduce stress on your spine.
Using Pillows for Support
To help reduce stress on your neck and shoulders it is good to use pillows; you can use specific breastfeeding pillows such as a Boppy, or really any type of pillow will do, as long as you can place your little one on top and rest your arm regardless of feeding position. It is important to move the pillow to suit your needs, so for example if you are currently nursing in a football hold, place the pillow on the side you are nursing the baby to be able to provide more support.
Adapting to Your Body’s Needs
Is your torso very long and the Boppy doesn’t quite fit? That’s ok, just place another pillow underneath to raise the Boppy up a little so that you can be in the best position for your body. The newborn and infant phases are tough on everyone, taking a minute to provide support can help you feel better in order to take the best care of your child.
Postpartum Pelvic Floor Evaluation
Also, don’t forget that it is best clinical practice to have a pelvic floor evaluation postpartum regardless of delivery type! If you have any questions about feeding postures or want to schedule a postpartum pelvic floor evaluation, feel free to contact me here at CSCM! Happy Mother’s Day!
