![]() | Is a nursing pillow on the top of your shopping list? If you are intent on breastfeeding, it quite possibly should be. Of course, as you take a good look at the aisle the baby... |
Is a nursing pillow on the top of your shopping list? If you are intent on breastfeeding, it quite possibly should be. Of course, as you take a good look at the aisle the baby supply stores stocks with nursing pillows and other associated accessories, it is easy to get overwhelmed. New mother in particular may find that breastfeeding itself is a chore that requires a lot of attention, finding out which nursing pillows to purchase is just another task they are not sure they want to tackle right now. The experienced mother who may have already nursed one baby most likely will head straight for a favorite brand or shape the second time around, but even in this case it is a good idea to think twice, since innovative new designs have given rise to even more functional nursing pillows. Support your breastfeeding by using the nursing pillow most likely to fulfill your individual needs. To help you along with some suggestions, here are the most commonly overlooked aspects of such helpers.
* Moms who deliver baby via C-section have completely different needs than moms who gave birth vaginally. In this case, a nursing pillow should make the holding of baby in a somewhat awkward position a bearable undertaking while the sutures heal. Best of all, since the nursing pillow takes the awkwardness out of the activity, mom and baby can instead focus on latching on rather than fumbling for position.
* Breastfeeding is not the only task for which a nursing pillow comes in handy. As baby gets older, these pillows become great toys little hands. In some case they may serve as pillows for your baby once she has become a toddler and likes to drink her cup while watching her favorite video.
* Opt for the kind of nursing pillow that is completely washable. In the alternative, it should have a removable cover that may be taken off and then washed. Breastfeeding can be a slightly messy undertaking during the best of times, and working with a hard to clean surface is hardly conducive to continuously using the nursing pillow.
* Try before you buy. Granted, you may not be able to sit down at the store and actually nurse your baby while holding a number of nursing pillows in your lap. Nonetheless, it is a good idea to practice sitting in a chair that looks a lot like the one you have at home while cradling a pillow. Does it feel just right? Is it awkward? Maybe you do not care for the texture of the cover? All of these misgivings may become amplified as you use the pillow for breastfeeding support, and it is a good idea to decide before you buy what you like and what simply will not do.
* If you have twins, your nursing pillow needs are decidedly different from those of a woman breastfeeding only one baby. Make sure that your nursing pillow is functional for your needs, not the needs of the manufacturer.