Nursing hands-free with a sling

[peainthepod]

So far I've tried this with my Hot Sling and Maya Wrap, both in the cradle hold, and I'm not finding it very easy. The baby either pops off or I have trouble getting my breast into his mouth without exposing my entire chest. I've been practicing at home in order to eventually be able to discreetly NIP, but I feel like I'm doing it all wrong.

Do I need to wait until the baby has more head control? Or is it that my breasts are too large (I'm about an E cup now that I'm engorged, up from a C pre-pregnancy)? Maybe a different hold would work better?

What am I doing wrong? Baby gets so hungry and I hate that I have to take him out of his sling to nurse, because it means he won't fall asleep in there and I can't get anything done unless he's in his bouncer chair (which he only tolerates for about 10 minutes at a time).

Note: I was given a Moby Wrap for Christmas but I haven't tried it out yet. Would that be a better option? Thanks in advance for your advice! :

[MoonStarFalling]

I have large breasts and I found the football hold to work much better for younger babies. It's at the bottom of this page.

[peainthepod]

Ooohhh, great page--thank you!

[Healthy_Baby]

i never quite got that down. especially if i was trying to do other things at the same time.

but i'll probably give it another try next time around.

[peaceful_mama]

I am---well, let's just say I have ordered a size 34K nursing bra. it has not arrived yet so we'll wait to say that's my official size now LOL.

I just came here to ask the same question I have two older kids and could greatly benefit from learning to nurse in a sling.

history: first one did not nurse--lack of support, second nursed nearly 22 months--tried some options, didn't really figure out anything good. Third child is 8 weeks old.

Options I have tried--Didymos wrap. LOVED it for carrying. Never did figure out how to nurse hands free in the thing with DD. Wore it once in the mall about a week ago with DS2 (then 7 weeks) and while there was quite a bit of nipple-falling-out-of-mouth episodes, I did get him nursing.

Moby wrap tried in grocery store DS then 4 or 5 weeks. I'm now having trouble remembering if we got hands free but I know I had to go into a bathroom to set him up.

Ring sling---I got it with DD I remember at like 2 months. Sometimes. DS I tried it he was about 4 weeks old and I felt like he was hanging so LOW on me. I never have liked ring slings much because of this.

i never have figured out either how to wear them so they're laying in a wrap. always feels too low. I have been figuring out how to get a breast to a baby who is upright facing me--my favorite position.

[peainthepod]

Okay, I've been practicing nursing him in my Hot Sling and a fleece pouch sling I got for Christmas. I can't do it hands-free but I'm to the point where I can wrangle him into a nursing position as long as I don't mind showing some flesh. So yesterday evening DH and I were visiting our bartender friend at a local bar and I went into the bathroom to nurse the baby because he was getting fussy (the bar was pretty deserted). Wouldn't you know it, I couldn't nurse him at all! He was getting fussier and fussier and started screaming and I was getting hot and frazzled and finally gave up.

Back to the drawing board.

[cloverd]

I have large breasts as well. I prefer to nurse in a ring sling. Best option is to sit down and nurse with a loosened sling, then when he falls asleep I can put myself back together, tighten up the sling and continue on with a sleeping baby. Bigger breasts just have more bounce so it's harder to stay 'in position' with a little baby and movement.

[lucifugous]

I would just keep on practicing! Get the hang of it around the house and don't worry at all about being exposed at first. When things are lining up more easily, head over to a mirror and you might be surprised that from a few feet away not much is showing. Soon you'll be comfortable & incognito! It doesn't take that much to direct the tail of a sling for cover, but it's enough to cause a fumble when you don't have the other parts down just yet.

The Moby is great, I nursed more easily in it than in my RS at first. Then I abandoned the Moby for a little while, but since the RS went missing :cry it has been working as well as ever!

ETA: tightening it after getting things going is great advice too! Though I never could tighten my cotton zolowear all the way without both hands :/ I still need practice too!