Breastfeeding lying down - Should or should not and some notes for mothers

Lying down is a position for infants that is often not recommended by many people because when lying down, babies often experience vomiting, discomfort, even asphyxiation due to the mother's nipples. So how to breastfeed lying down and still be safe.

When to breastfeed lying down?

Usually there are 3 positions to breastfeed: embrace the front of the chest, the pair under the armpits and lying position. In which, breastfeeding position is quite comfortable for the mother, the mother can rest and breastfeed at the same time.

Babies should be breastfed if they breastfeed

According to breastmilk expert Kelly, who received certification from the World Breast Milk Council (IBCLC), is a member of the International Association of Breastfeeding Consultants, the Breastfeeding Advisory Association in the United States. .

“Moms can hear someone say that lying down and breastfeeding will cause ear infections. However, studies have shown that this is not true. Regardless of position, breastfeeding helps reduce the incidence of ear infections. This is one of the misconceptions that comes from bottle-feeding. There is evidence that if a baby is bottle feeding on his back, formula can spill into the tube (the tube connecting the nose, mouth to the middle ear), causing infection.

However, mothers need to understand two main issues:

Breast milk and formula milk are not the same thing - breast milk inhibits the formation of bacteria, while formula is a growth medium.

Breastfeeding and bottle feeding are not the same - milk does not stagnate in the mouth when a baby is breastfed directly, but when a bottle is fed, the milk can leak into a "puddle" in the baby's throat (even if the baby doesn't suck).

Also, the positions the mother breastfeeds, the baby is in a lying position - whether the mother is lying or not. So, there is no need to be afraid when lying down to breastfeed. Relax and rest ... while your baby is breastfed "- Expert Kelly said.

Through monitoring 40 mothers breastfeeding their babies in many different positions during the first month after birth, scientists discovered that infants breastfed more easily when the mother was lying down. Explaining the above phenomenon, the scientific team said that when the mother lay, lay her baby on her stomach and breastfeed her baby stimulated the baby's reflex, just like the case of lactating mammals.

Baby should not lie down while drinking formula

When bottle feeding, formula can leak out when the baby is not sucking and swallowing, resulting in milk stagnation in the mouth and increased risk of milk flowing into the ear. This is the reason why mothers should not bottle-feed while lying down because even if the baby is properly bottle-fed, the milk can still flow into the eardrum because babies are often fed on their back.

Tips to help mothers lie down properly

Place a pillow or a small curled blanket on the back of your baby so baby doesn't roll back during feeding. For more comfort, moms can also put a pillow behind her or rest between her legs. The first times you practice lying down, you may need the help of someone else to lean comfortably on the back pillow, and also to keep the hips and lower legs from stretching too much.

Place the baby on his side, facing the mother so that the nipples are aligned with the baby's nose. If you are breastfeeding on the left breast, lie on your side on the left side. Pull the baby's legs closer, touch the mother's body so that they create a V-shape.

Use the free hand at the top to guide the breast into the baby's mouth. Once the baby is used to lying down, he will know how to reach the mother's breast. Try not to let the baby's neck go too far, making it difficult for him to swallow.

Once your baby's mouth has found and latched on her breast, you can gently push her shoulder toward you.

Leaving the baby's head always free to move, this makes it easier for the baby to release the breast when having any difficulty while feeding. When the baby gets used to the lying position, the mother can lie on her back and then put the baby on the chest to suck, so the mother's body can be more comfortable.

Should we continue to breastfeed or not?

Bed-feeding has been maintained for hundreds of years. If the baby is properly lying down, there will not be any digestive or health problems. In other words, it is completely possible for you to breastfeed lying or sitting down, as long as you are comfortable.

Many people believe that babies are prone to choking, spitting up milk ... so they often pick up when feeding. In fact, this phenomenon is only encountered when the baby lies on the bottle, because there are small holes on the pacifier, even if the baby does not suck, the milk will still flow into the mouth, when the baby refuses to swallow it will overflow or choke milk. . When the baby is feeding directly from the breast, a moderate amount of milk will only flow into the mouth when the baby sucks, so the baby will not choke.

In addition, for mothers who give birth by cesarean section, mothers are tired or breastfed at night, lying down is the best way for mothers to rest, breastfeed well, and sleep well.

Some things mothers should pay attention to when breastfeeding lies

Always keep your comfort and your baby when breastfeeding.

Before breastfeeding, mothers need to clean the nipples by using a thin gauze cloth soaked in moist water to clean the nipples.

Sucking and lying down is an easy position to make your baby sleepy. Mom should always pay attention to all baby's reactions, when the baby falls asleep, you need to quickly pull the baby out of the baby's mouth and adjust the most comfortable sleeping position for the baby. If the mother falls asleep, chances are that the baby will be suffocated from the pressure of the baby's nose.

When the baby is spilled milk out, the mother needs to clean the baby's mouth and ears, to prevent breastmilk from flowing into the ear, causing an ear infection.

Do not let your baby suckle on one side for a long time because the baby's skull is thin, the joints are not stable at the moment, lying down for a long time may cause the baby to be distorted. Therefore, mothers need to pay attention to change the baby's lying position on all sides.

If this is the first birth, mothers should ask the help of a nurse, doctor or family member to help the baby get the best lying down position. Because when nursing improperly, it is easy for the baby to swallow excess air, causing vomiting, bloating.

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