>>Just as we encourage hospitals to show lots of babies skin to skin against
mommy instead of "burrito babies" in bassinettes throughout their floor and
waiting rooms, we need more of the "laid back" (at whatever angle the mom
WANTS to use) pictures around - in books, magazines, videos and posters.

There is a NYC hospital that has - or will soon have - a poster of a woman
semi-reclined in one of hospital beds, newborn sprawled across her nursing
while she plays with her baby's hand.  The caption:  "This Is So Easy!"
They'll be putting one in every room, complete with hospital logo and
looking very official.  Not at all hard to come up with, and a picture like
that is worth several thousand words.

I wonder if the simplest "laid-back equipment" for an office might be a
futon.  The more experienced mother can "sacral sit" in it - that slight
tilt backwards that most mothers come to eventually.  The newbie can have
pillows behind her head and use it as a couch, adjusting her angle to suit
herself.  But really, any old couch (except the bolt-upright one that I used
for years!) would be fine.  Though come to think of it I used my very
upright loveseat the first time I tried it with a client, and we managed.

One of my coolest "laid-back success stories" involved a folding chair.  Mom
scooted her bottom forward until the nape of her neck rested on the top of
the chair back, legs stretched out in front.  Uncomfortable for her, but it
she understood the principle just fine, went home, and nursed up a storm on
her own couch.

You might experiment with a doll.  Does the furniture you're considering
allow you to lean back far enough (comfortably) for the doll to "stick" to
your chest totally hands-free?  Then it'll probably be fine.  And of course
remember that laid-back isn't the New Correct Way.  It just tends to work a
whole lot of the time.   I love rules.  But there just isn't much about
breastfeeding that involves them.

Diane Wiessinger, MS, IBCLC, LLLL  Ithaca, NY  USA  www.normalfed.com 

 

 

 

 


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