Concerning slings and breastfeeding

[Fuamami]

I was just reading the favorite slings thread and thought I'd ask some BTDT mamas for tips on bfing while in the sling. I haven't been able to make it work with either child, but now that I'm going to have a 3 year old and a 19 mo. old, I figure I'm going to have to be a mobile nurser.

So how do you do it? What's the trick? Maybe I should move this to Babywearing...

[kalisis]

Hmmm...getting them in the right spot is key. I find I have a hard time nursing in the sling b/c I have pretty big, floppy breasts that tend to cover their noses, so I need to always hold a hand pulling back a bit of breast.

Just having them high enough to line up with your nipple too.

Have you tried a wrap? I'm going to use one from the start next time b/c I think that I'm going to have better luck nursing in it than I did before.

Hmm...not much help, I guess. But, I understand your desire to figure it out this go 'round.

[sophiamama]

:

I had the exact same problem. I never could get the hang of nursing in the sling with dd. I'm going to have a wrap this time around, so I'm hoping that will make things a little easier. However, I have the same problem....big boobies!

[milk_maker]

I didn't figure it out how to nurse in the sling until DS was around 4 months old. Now I think I'm better prepared and will be successful this time around. I make my own slings now and I made my friend a sling with a shallow pouch by folding the material in half length-wise and sewing it together (making a super long pillow case) and then I attached the rings. The shallow pouch made it easier for me to get her son into the breastfeeding position (I showed her so she could do it) as opposed to the traditional deeper pouched slings. The only drawback to the shallow pouch sling is that you can't use it for a month or two once the baby gets a little bigger because it won't support the head/neck as well as a deeper sling but once you move to the hip carry it's perfect.

I used these instructions to make the sling. They were confusing the first time, but once I made one I just started whipping them out. It's a great pattern.

[Fuamami]

Hmmm, maybe I'll try and make one. I actually have a Maya wrap, but I thought it was a ring-sling. Sorry, I'm not very up on my terminology. I have the same floppy breast problem, and with the little mouths, and lack of head control, I've never been able to nurse them without both hands.

This is kind of OT, but I used to live in West Africa where babies are always worn on the back, and one time I saw a woman's breast stretched all the way over her shoulder feeding a toddler. At the time, I was 20 years old and a little appalled, but now I am a little envious.

[Noniegrace]

That hurts my boob to think about!