My thoughts exactly, Jill. Bring baby to breast, not breast to baby.
Big breasted women can position baby somewhat under the breast where baby is lying somewhat on his back. Very important is that mom supports baby and that pillows are used to support mom. Or mom leans back and puts baby on top of her belly and baby latches like with the breastcrawl.
I belonged to the bigbreasted moms and can't imagine that using a sling or a cushion (I've seen them in the shape of a orange-piece) would have helped me in any way.

Warmly,

Gonneke, IBCLC, LLLL in southern Netherlands


--- On Thu, 7/31/08, Jill M. Stancil <[log in to unmask]> wrote:Good for the inventor, I hope she does well.  However, those of us who help
Moms learn to nurse might want another alternative to having to support the
breast throughout the feeding with the hand or anything else.  Simply put, a
pendulous breast "should" (optimally) be allowed to rest at the level
it
naturally falls and the baby positioned so that he/she is at the same level, or

slightly below, as the nipple.  In the video, the woman had her baby lying on a

support surface, like a "My Breast Friend", (one day I'm going to
learn how to
italisize [and spellcheck] on email) which positioned the baby way above the
level that her breast would natural rest, so she would have to hold her breast
up to keep gravity from pulling it out if baby's mouth if Mom let go.  If
Mom
needs to hold her breast as she is establishing the latch, she would need to
carefully lower the breast and baby (simultaneously) to the breast's level.
 If
Mom just let go of the breast after lifting it up, the sudden shift of bresat
but
not baby would pull it out of her mouth.
When the position/movement of Mom's breast is affected by gravity, we
helpers should recognize this and help Mom understand how to work with
gravity rather than ignore or fight its effects.
If Mom did need something to give a little lift to her breast or stabilize it
while
she was learning, she could use a rolled wash cloth or hand towel.
If Mom needs something to raise baby up to the level of her naturally
positioned breast (pendulous or not), the purchased support surface, a folded
towel or blanket might be just the thing, as long as the support surface brings

the baby up to just the right level to allow access to the breast without being

above it.
I'm thankful, but at the same time a little wary, of all the aids for
breastfeeding mothers. After buying pumps, pillows bras, supports,
capes/covering,special clothing, books, etc, bottle feeding begins to look like

the less expensive and troublesome choice (only to the uninitiated, of course.)

Forgive me if you percieve this posting as pedantic, which is not my intent.
The posting is just a response to seeing another gadget that is as likely to
complicate nursing as to ease it.

From a teacher's heart, which is glad to have a means to communicate with
others who are equally interested in helping breastfeeding mothers....I"ve

recently left a salaried position to begin a LC business full-time, so I
currently
have time, and am enjoying, following Lactnet for the first time.
Jill

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