Jean Ridler asked about helping obese, large-breasted women after Cesarean.

When I was a hospital nurse, here's what worked best for me with these
women. 

We put the chair beside the bed, with the chair arm parallel to the side of
the bed. The mother sat in the chair. Because we had the luxury of electric
beds, we lowered the bed to the level of the chair arm; the mattress and the
chair arm made a continuous level surface. If needed, we used a cloth roll
under the breast to raise the nipple to the baby's level. The baby lay on
his side on the bed facing the breast, nose to nipple, mom's hand
supporting/steering his shoulders. The mom's opposite hand steadied the end
of the breast. The cloth roll supported the weight of the breast, and the
bed supported the weight of the baby. Mom's hands were there just to help
move the baby that last half inch onto the breast and to stabilize the
breast-mouth connection as needed.

To switch sides, mom stands up, steps away from the chair, and the helper
turns the chair around to face the other way, bringing the other chair arm
in against the mattress.

This position could be done at home, too, with an interested dad or
grandparent helping with the set-up. Lacking an electric bed, the helper
would need to be creative with the furniture at hand. . .perhaps a chair
with or without arms, next to a low table, a chest, or a large sturdy box on
which to lay the baby. Use folded blankets or a stack of large towels to get
this surface to the right height for the baby.

Once the mother is having less pain, is moving a bit better, and has lost
some of her pregnancy belly, and once the baby has learned what his role is
at the breast, she will probably be able to position the baby in other ways.


Let me know if this works.
Chris

Chris Mulford, RN, IBCLC
LLL Leader Reserve
working for WIC in South Jersey (Eastern USA)
Co-coordinator, Women & Work Task Force, WABA
 
 

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