What Goes Into Making a Good Breastfeeding Pillow
Photo Credit: BabyCenter
For many women, breastfeeding is a skill that is often extremely difficult to master. Having nursing problems can be devastating for a new mom who wants to nurse and provide essential nutrients for her baby during this developmentally important stage in the baby’s life.
Women who struggle with breastfeeding become overwhelmed by self-doubt and feelings of disappointment, not to mention physical discomfort. With all these worries, finding the right breastfeeding pillow can be hard. Some things you want to look for in a breastfeeding pillow are how supportive and secure it is for you and your baby, whether it is comfortable and/or flexible, what type of fabric it is made of, and how firm it is. All of these qualities you want to look for in a breastfeeding pillow.
You want to ensure it is supportive and secure enough for you and your baby. The breastfeeding pillow should be secure enough that it helps you maintain proper positioning and latch on. You want the pillow to be comfortable and flexible. The pillow should give you extra support and make you feel relaxed while you breastfeed.
It needs to be flexible so that you can maneuver it if your baby falls asleep. Also, if it is adjustable, you can make the pillow fit where you are comfortable and most supported. The type of fabric that is on the pillow is also important. You want to make sure that it has a nice feel to it. Also, it is good to see what type of material it is made of; this way, you will know if your baby has any allergies before you buy the breastfeeding pillow. You would also want the pillow free of PBDEs, PVC, DEHP, and Phthalate.
The last thing you want to look at is the shape and firmness of the pillow. You want the pillow to be firm enough to make the baby comfortable but not so soft that the baby falls asleep. It is equally important that the body of the pillow be flat and round. If the portion of the pillow that the baby lays on is rounded, then the baby tends to roll in or away during feeding, which makes it difficult for successful breastfeeding.
These are just a few key qualities you should look for in a breastfeeding pillow; however, when looking for a product, it is always good to do some research. Talk to your doctors, lactation consultants, and moms, and ask them for their advice.
Ultimately, you want to ensure that the breastfeeding pillow you pick is comfortable for you and your baby and will give you the greatest chance for successful breastfeeding.