Breastfeeding pillows

**littlerose12345** · 11-07-2012, 02:01pm

you know those kind of half donought ones?

Worth it or another think that I really don't * need * ?

**squidgell** · 11-07-2012, 02:09pm

When I was at home I just used a V pillow (which I had already used through my pregnancy) and then when I was at other peoples I didn't bother with a cushion. The V pillow was very useful but I wouldn't have been that bothered if I didn't have one.

Probably not being that helpful!

I think I would be more inclined to see how you get on without it, you can always try using a normal pillow and then get one if you decide you need one.

**Honey Dew** · 11-07-2012, 02:17pm

Waste of money IMO.

**diamond301** · 11-07-2012, 02:31pm

i loved my widgey pillow, well worth the money imo

**jamsplat** · 11-07-2012, 03:38pm

if its a beanbag type filling then great

, but if its a normal cushion type thing then

**Lilybett** · 11-07-2012, 03:56pm

I had a beanbag type one and it was brilliant, so useful as B was a big heavy baby (over 10lbs at birth

) and holding her up to feed her regularly was hard work! I'd really recommend them.

But it is one of those things that some people can't live without and others don't care for it. My suggestion would be to go without initially and see how you get on, if you struggle maybe you can invest in one. Mine was borrowed from a friend so no outlay if I didn't get on with it!

**Bert2e** · 11-07-2012, 05:01pm

not great IMO - can really hinder positioning and mean that babies are held too low to feed, may also mean that mums cannot feed without them which can be a pain if you want to go out and about. I'd look at biological nurturing positions and use the pillow that nature will have left you with after the baby is born ;-)

**Mrs B** · 11-07-2012, 05:09pm

I just used whatever cushion was on the sofa, or a rolled up jumper when out. I did have a v shaped one but it wasn't any more useful than a normal one.

**claireh** · 11-07-2012, 05:32pm

I had a v shaped one and I definitely found it useful, infact I still use it now.

I used it for upstairs feeds. Downstairs I used a normal cushion to bring them up higher. When out and about I used my handbag /jumper etc to help support bring them up to boob height. My back would have got knackered holding them up for every feed!

I breastfed both of mine until 11.5 and 13 months so it got a lot of use. I still use it now as my youngest has a bottle of milk before his nap and going to bed at night. Well worth buying imo.

**bubbasweet** · 11-07-2012, 06:11pm

I have one, borrowed from a friend, although I've mostly been using ordinary pillows or cushions I wouldn't have bought one specifically.

**gizamojo** · 11-07-2012, 07:49pm

I had one a loved mine as both my boys were bruisers and I found it easier with a bf cushion than a normal one. It also came in handy when the boys got older and could just about sit up as we could put them in it as support and know if they toppled over they would land on something soft lol! Xxx

**Raspberry beret** · 12-07-2012, 12:05am

I've found mine very useful. I got a v shaped pillow while I was pregnant and it was handy for sleeping (one bit between my knees, one bit along my back), also used for bfing - it was handy in the v early days to be able to slide sleeping baby with cushion onto the sofa in the short spaces between feeds. I sometimes lie him on it on the sofa next to me to chatter at him. We are just starting to use it to prop him in a more upright position and I think I'll use it like gizamojo for helping/soft landing for sitting up so I can see it being useful for a while longer!

**jamsplat** · 12-07-2012, 07:59am

Originally Posted by Bert2e

not great IMO - can really hinder positioning and mean that babies are held too low to feed, may also mean that mums cannot feed without them which can be a pain if you want to go out and about. I'd look at biological nurturing positions and use the pillow that nature will have left you with after the baby is born ;-)

I would agree if I had just stuck a bf pillow on my lap then dd1 and ds would have been way too low to feed (dd2 was enormous so might have managed) but for me the advantage of the bean bag pillow specifically was that it could be shaped to be helpful in all sorts of positions. I certainly used it to wedge/prop when feeding lying down. They are also good for propping the tv remote/telephone on and them not rolling off

Personally I think there is alot of trial and error in finding positions that work for you, I remember studiously studying the norwegian governments breastfeeding booklet and thinking 'well thats all very well but when I do that my nipple is nowhere near where it is in that picture.......'

Babies are different too, dd1 was only really happy feeding in the rugby ball position. Easy as pie with a newborn but required a bit more sofa space with a 1 year old

Also positions that are great in the comfort of your own home may not work so well in a cafe or chasing your toddler round the park

As for not being able to feed without one and then not being able to go out, I am a bit surprised by that one. I felt that bf was something one had to continually evolve with as baby got bigger rather than a static 'I learnt it this is how I do it thing' so finding multiple ways of doing it was just part of the journey. I wonder if its got something to do with confidence, that maybe mums feel they couldn't bf out and about because they need this set up or that they would acctually rather not bf in public and the need for a particular set up is easier to defend than just saying 'I'm not comfortable with that'

oh dear I have rambled a bit but in essence bert2e, I generally agree with you but still think that bean bag cushions can be a very useful tool