Dear Lactnet Friends:

Lara lists reasons that obesity can impede both lactation and breastfeeding.

To that I would add that hospital staff are often ignorant/impatient about
helping an obese woman to breastfeed. There are different positions,
outside the usual, that are helpful.

Putting the breast on a flat surface (overbed table, the bed) and placing
the baby on its side on the surface can be helpful. Variations on
football/clutch can work.  Laid-back positioning can work. Sometimes when
baby lies parallel to mom's body, and mom is leaning back, the large breast
can fall to the side and baby can feed.

If you ever work with an obese woman or a woman with very large breasts who
is a skilled breastfeeding mother, ask her to teach you.

An obese mother may have small breasts, but a huge lap and short arms. We
must be creative and take time and be patient and encouraging; many
hospital factory systems don't allow for that.

warmly,

-- 
Nikki Lee RN, BSN, Mother of 2, MS, IBCLC, CCE, CIMI, ANLC, CKC
Author:* Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Breastfeeding Therapy*
www.nikkileehealth.com
https://www.facebook.com/nikkileehealth

*Get my FREE webinar series*

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