Three points to bring up:

First, to the other staff on the floor: Make sure none of the other staff is
giving mixed messages, like "Gee, you must be tired after today" or, "Why
don't you let us watch the baby for you tonight so you can sleep?" Often,
these are well-intentioned remarks, designed to provide empathy, & said
without thinking about the underlying message that it's the breastfeeding
that's making her tired, NOT the gazillion visitors that have been there!

Second, to the mom, I ask if she's noticed that every time she breastfeeds
she gets thirsty, crampy & sleepy. When she says yes, I say "Great! That
means your milk-making machinery is kicking in!" Then I go on to explain
that the sleepiness is Mother Nature's way of seeing she gets good quality
rest, and that she'll sleep more restoratively right after
breastfeeding--going into the restful stage of sleep faster than she would
without the feeding (does anybody have the reference on this research, which
I heard about at a conference a few years ago? Maybe it's in McKenna's
stuff?).

Third, to the mom (who's been reading all the CPSC stuff warning against
co-sleeping), I ask if she'd like to learn a SAFE way to feed her baby lying
down, that also meets AAP guidelines for safe infant sleeping. Haven't had
anybody yet NOT want to learn this--especially when I point out that falling
asleep while sitting up holding the baby puts baby at risk for rolling off
mom's lap/pillows.

Once I have their interest, I teach them the "Taco Technique", which I
posted about on Lactnet last year, & have copied below:

Being the "queen" of laziness when it came to bf my kids, I developed a way
of nursing in bed that also complies with the "safe sleeping" guidelines. I
call it the "Taco Technique".

Have mom lay on her side, on the side where she plans to bf first. Take a
receiving blanket, folded in a triangle, and tuck a corner of the triangle
under mom at the level of her breast. The long (folded) edge of the blanket
should be toward her head. With me so far?

Place baby on blanket (facing mom's breast), wrap blanket around baby & tuck
that corner under mom as well. This is the "taco": baby is the meat, blanket
is the tortilla.

Baby is now anchored against mom's side--can't roll onto tummy, & mom CAN'T
roll over on baby. Baby also can't roll away from mom & off bed/couch. May
need to place small folded pad under mom's breast or baby's head to get both
at same level.

I point out that this meets safe sleeping guidelines if done on firm
mattress (NOT waterbed) or between mom & edge of couch (NOT wedged at back
of couch). Other safety points: baby can't end up wedged at head of bed or
down under covers, or on dad's side of bed where rolling over may be
possible. Mom can roll to her back, & blanket "points" still keep baby
secure near her.

Emphasize if mom is mentally altered by drugs/alcohol/EXTREME fatigue, she
shouldn't be holding OR laying with baby without baby being secured.

Have any of y'all tried anything like this? I've been using/teaching it for
11+ years, with lots of success.

Smiles,

Carol

Carol Schlef, RNC, MSW, IBCLC
Humor, Health & Hugs
St. Louis, Missouri USA
mailto:[log in to unmask]

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