What specific positions and aids can I use to help me with breastfeeding?
There are many things to consider in choosing a position for breastfeeding and skin-to-skin contact with baby. Your level of injury, fatigue, spasticity, hand function, trunk stability, and time of day can influence if you choose to be in bed, in your wheelchair, or in a different chair to breastfeed. It may also be necessary to have someone else pick up your baby and position them for feeding. The figure below shows the most used positions during breastfeeding by women with SCI.
Figure 2. Alternative breastfeeding positions that may be adapted for women with SCI.
Watch SCIRE’s video explaining ways you can breastfeed with assistive aids.
Recommendations:
- If you are having difficulties with positioning your baby during breastfeeding ask for the support from your health care providers (e.g., occupational therapists, physical therapists).
- Wheelchair modifications may be required to provide additional trunk support to increase stability while lifting and holding your baby. Adjusting the seat slope or backrest angle can change centre of gravity and improve stability. A backrest with deeper lateral trunk support or the use of a chest strap may also add stability. Changing the position of sideguards or widening the chair can allow for more room for baby’s body and legs when held in football or cross cradle positions.
- Wedges can provide support for sitting upright in a bed (providing support for the back, belly or the infant after birth), or be used as leg support to reduce spasms and improve blood pressure.
- Carriers (harnesses, wraps, ring slings) can be used during breastfeeding and thereafter. They may be useful in positioning your baby when bottle-feeding or using a supplementary nursing system and can help to keep them upright after a feed to reduce spit-up/reflux.
- Breastfeeding pillows are available in a variety of shapes, weights and stiffness (firm versus lighter and more flexible). Some mothers find that their own regular pillows work well if the breastfeeding pillows do not provide enough support.
Adding a long waist strap to a breastfeeding pillow or infant carrier that also wraps around the wheelchair backrest, can give added security, and reduce the tendency for the pillow to slide forward or for you to lean forward while holding the weight of the infant in front.
