How to sleep well and breastfeed baby with a nursing pillow?

The nursing pillow, also known as a pregnancy pillow, is essential for living peacefully in the months before the baby arrives and the beginning of motherhood. How to wedge yourself on a nursing pillow? How to breastfeed your child with it? Which is best suited to your needs? Overview with Dr. Brice Njomagan Tala, obstetrician-gynecologist.

The nursing pillow, also known as a pregnancy pillow, is essential for living peacefully in the months before the baby arrives and the beginning of motherhood. How to wedge yourself on a nursing pillow? How to breastfeed your child with it? Which is best suited to your needs? Overview with Dr. Brice Njomagan Tala, obstetrician-gynecologist.

Very appreciated by future and new mothers, the nursing pillow has many advantages. What exactly is it for? How to use it well? Which one to choose according to our desires?

Pregnancy or nursing pillow: definition

What is a maternity pillow?

The pregnancy pillow, nursing pillow or also a pillow maternity, is an accessory that has multiple functions. It can help relieve the back of pregnant women or young mothers, help with breastfeeding or even falling asleep. You should know that these three names refer to the same cushion: “The best name is ‘maternity cushion’, it is an all-encompassing name”, explains Dr. Brice Njomgang Tala, obstetrician-gynecologist. "As the pregnancy progresses, as the baby arrives, the functionality of the pillow will change."

What use for a nursing pillow?

The maternity pillow does not have just one use... but many! It is thus a precious ally during pregnancy, since it can help you:

After the arrival of your child, their functions change:

It will be understood, the maternity cushion adapts to all stages of our life as future and young mothers: this is what makes it an excellent investment. And if its shape may seem strange to us, it is not complicated to use its maternity cushion.

Cushion for pregnant women: how to use it properly

How to position yourself with a pregnancy pillow to relieve pain?

The very first usefulness of the pregnancy pillow, c It is good to use it to relieve pain that occurs in the middle or at the end of pregnancy, when the belly begins to weigh. Here are the positions to adopt with the cushion in case of pain:

To relieve back pain:

To relieve the sacroiliac region (the joints between the bones of the pelvis and the sacrum) which is painful during pregnancy, you can lie on your side, preferably on the left to free the vena cava, the knees slightly bent forward. Pass the nursing pillow between your legs and put the top one on the pillow: in this position, the knee will slide forward alone will stretch the lower back joint. Your stomach should be resting on it, and it is also possible to place your head on the cushion. A position that will release the tension in your back!

In case of heavy legs:

If you suffer from leg problems during your pregnancy, whether it's circulatory problems that cause your legs to feel "heavy" or fluid retention that causes swollen feet or a feeling of "squeeze" in your ankles. Faced with this, the maternity cushion can help you relieve the pain: by lying on your back and passing the cushion under your knees, or below your ankles according to your preference, you thus raise your legs. Blood circulation will therefore be facilitated, which will gradually reduce feelings of heaviness.

When the belly weighs at the end of the day:

Day by day, the weight of the belly from the sixth month of pregnancy weighs more and more. At the end of the day, if you feel very tired from baby's weight, several positions can relieve you. For example, you can sit cross-legged with the cushion under your stomach to help support its weight. To relax, it is also possible to do the opposite: cross your legs over your maternity pillow. While lying down, you can also put the cushion under your back and fold the ends over so that it wraps around you. The important thing is to find the position that relieves you the most!

In any case, if you have trouble taming your pregnancy cushion, do not hesitate to seek advice from a midwife, who will show you the best way to position yourself on the cushion according to your situation. .

Pregnancy pillow: how to use it to sleep better when pregnant

At the end of pregnancy, it can be difficult for the mother to find a good position to sleep. “In bed, the maternity pillow can be placed between the legs, when the mother-to-be lies on her side. This allows you to rest your stomach on it and therefore get rid of the feeling of a heavy stomach, and to sleep better, ”says the doctor. The position lying on the side with the cushion, mentioned above, can therefore be used in several ways and has many benefits.

Breastfeeding baby with a nursing pillow: instructions

Once your child has arrived, the nursing pillow has new functions (even if nothing prevents you from continuing to use it for sleeping or relaxing!). Thus, it is very useful to easily breastfeed baby or bottle feed him without suffering from his weight, especially when growing after a few months.

There are several possibilities for feeding baby using his maternity pillow: “The position can be lying down or sitting up,” says Dr. Brice Njomgang Tala, obstetrician-gynecologist.

Breastfeeding baby sitting up:

To feed baby in a seated position, either breast or bottle, “mothers can use the nursing cushion when they are sitting on the couch. The sides of the cushion are stuck on her thighs, and it forms an arc above the legs. The child can be placed directly in it, and it will thus be supported, which relieves the mother”, explains Dr Njomgang Tala. It is also possible to put one side of the cushion behind you to support the back, and the other side in front to support the baby and straighten him up effortlessly. Thus, the baby comes directly under the nipple to suckle directly.

Breastfeeding baby lying down:

If you prefer to lie on your side for breastfeeding, it is possible: "By placing the cushion behind baby, it will be kept in a good position, i.e. on the side. His mouth should easily find the nipple,” explains Dr. Njomgang Tala. Breastfeeding your child while lying down can also prevent him from waking up when he has fallen asleep during the feeding.

It is quite possible to use it also otherwise, by lying on your back. The cushion placed behind will help you elevate and wedge yourself more comfortably. Baby will thus be placed face down on your abdomen.

The ideal position for placing baby on a nursing pillow

The nursing pillow is not reserved exclusively for you: it can also be used to place your baby for his nap, when you are transporting him out of the house for example, or to keep him in bed with you. By curling the sides of the cushion, you can seat your little one inside. If the cover is detachable to be cleaned, you can bring it with you outside, in a park, on the beach...

Some maternity cushions even have systems to hold the folded cushion and allow the baby to be positioned on it in complete safety. Thus, it allows a moment of well-being one-on-one with your child.

How to choose a nursing cushion (or pillow)

How to choose the right nursing pillow?

Now that we have seen the many possibilities that exist for using a nursing pillow breastfeeding, you must be wondering how to choose your type of nursing pillow. Be aware that there are several criteria to take into account. Here are the best tips:

If you are lost, do not hesitate to contact a midwife or a pediatric nurse, who will give advice on choosing the right type of cushion. To help you, here is a selection of the best quality maternity pillows.

The best large nursing pillows

1) Les Babilleuses maternity pillow

This is the maternity pillow with the most options possible, made in France and designed by a mother. 195 cm long, it is banana-shaped and has a cover that can be removed and washed at 60°C, as recommended by doctors. In addition, the filling is refillable and can be personalized: you have the choice between ultrafine microbeads, cork granules, a mixture of cork and echographite (an ecological material) or a mixture of polystyrene beads. Depending on the chosen interior, prices vary between €59.50 and €73.50.

2) Modulit Maternity Cushion

The Modulit brand is French, and offers "horseshoe" shaped maternity cushions, made in Angers. The cushions are 170 cm, their composition is healthy and guaranteed without endocrine disruptors. The comfortable cotton cover is easily removable and can be washed. Finally, it is lined with microbeads that guarantee maximum comfort. All for a competitive price of €44.45.

3) Babymoov Doomoo Maternity Cushion

The cushion from Babymoov, also a French brand, is very popular with parents and has excellent reviews. It is a little smaller, up to 170 cm, it is made of ultra-fine and silent microbeads. It can sag, so it is possible to recharge it to be able to use it for a long time. In addition, it is removable and washable, for a price of 59.99 €.