10 Different Ways to Use a Nursing Pillow
One of the main reasons behind the popularity of nursing pillows is their ability to make breastfeeding an easy, comfortable, and enjoyable experience for moms and babies. However, the best thing about them is that you can use them in many other ways that you might not aware of. Let’s take a look at a few things you can do with a nursing pillow:
#Nursing
The primary use of a nursing pillow is to support the baby during breastfeeding. By bringing your newborn close to your breasts, a feeding pillow not only ensures a good latch but also helps your little one get the maximum amount of breast milk possible. A healthy latch = a pain-free feeding session!
#Bottle Feeding
A feeding pillow is a perfect item for bottle feeding, mainly for two reasons: first, you can feed single-handedly, and second, to support your arm, especially during long feed sessions. In fact, nursing pillows make it easy for other family members to feed your baby comfortably.
#Butt Pillow
Whether you have given birth to your baby via cesarean or vaginal delivery, soreness of the lady parts is natural. To avoid the pain, sit on the hole of the pillow, and it will relieve pressure on the site of your incision. Thus, a nursing pillow emerges as a boon to those mothers who experience perineal tearing or abdominal incision.
#Baby Snuggles
Even when you aren’t feeding, you can use a nursing pillow to snuggle your little one in your lap. While holding your baby close is a beautiful thing, you can’t manage his weight for a long time. A feeding pillow supports your baby’s butt and thus saves your forearms, shoulders, and back from pain.
#Sibling Support
Elder brothers and sisters love to keep the new baby close, but they cannot hold him properly in their little arms due to nearly no upper body strength. By keeping the baby secure in siblings’ lap, a feeding pillow frees Mamas from worrying that the baby may fall from the lap.
#Tummy Time
Another way to use a nursing pillow is for tummy time, in which you place your little one on his belly to play. As your baby spends most of his time on his back, reclining on the stomach can be a stressful experience for him. By propping your baby up, a breastfeeding pillow not only eases your baby’s tummy time but also play a vital role in strengthening his neck and back muscles.
#Supported Sitting
You won’t believe it, but breastfeeding pillows were initially designed to help babies sit up independently. Later, when mums started using them to support their infants during breastfeeding, they came to be known as feeding pillows. By creating a perfect little nest, a nursing pillow supports your baby’s back whenever he tries to sit on his own.
#Labor & Delivery
Hospital-provided pillows or your regular pillows are not enough to prop you up when you’re in active labor. Alternatively, you can take advantage of a nursing pillow during labor and delivery. You can use it to elevate your legs and alleviate pain during contractions. Even you can use a nursing pillow to support your neck and head in the recovery room. So don’t forget to add it to your hospital bag checklist.
#An Elevation Helper
Once your little one starts walking, chances are she will bump into things, trip, fall, or even stub her toe. If your tot ever suffers from a leg injury, you can use a nursing pillow to speed up the healing process by elevating her lower half.
#During Pregnancy
Above all, you can take advantage of a nursing pillow to make your pregnancy easier, even before your little one arrives. Of course, you can place it behind your back as a cushion to get relief from pains and discomforts during the final trimester of your pregnancy.
