I find that just as with anything, it can be either a boon or a bust
(no pun intended) depending on how it is used.  Moms who have them
and bring them to the hospital seem to have an easier time.
Hospital pillows tend to be thin, requiring several to give baby
adequate support.  The problem is that the pillows tend to "migrate"
, sliding every which way so that mom often winds up with little or
no suport.  PROPERLY USED a good nursing pillow can be a big help.
I have seen some nursing pillows that are nothing more than a "dog
bone shaped"  small pillow that isn't big enough to support a normal
size baby.  Its only advantage is that it curves to fit mom.  Other
pillows are so large that they don't work in many chairs because the
arms of the chair push the pillow up too high.  For some moms, their
belly is too large shortly after delivery and the pillow doesn't
"fit" well until she's a little smaller.  I usually suggest that if
the pillow doesn't fasten behind mom, she may want to attach Velcro
or ties to ehlp keep it close to her.
Moms need some guidance on how to effectively use the pillow.  It
should be used primarily to help keep baby positioned effectively,
not to completely replace mom's arm.  (Although, in the case of a
mom with a physical handicap, they can do that also.)  If mom uses
it like the bottle propper we saw recently, then it will hinder more
than help.  The idea is to bring baby to the level of the breast.
Mom has enough details to think about as she is learning to
breastfeed.  If pillow support can lift baby, that's one less thing
to think about.  (As mom and baby become more expert, they may not
be as important.)
Winnie Mading RNC, IBCLC

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