I’ve always fed in a wrap wherever we are by making a fwcc tie then making a pouch in one of the shoulder rails, popping baby in and latching on then supporting him/her there with the other rail. I’ve not explained that at all well have I? I’ve no idea if it’s a recognised carry or not b ut it works for us or rather it used to work….
I’ve always been a 8-10 dress size but after Olivers birth I find myself on the larger side of 12. That’s fine but because my boobs are larger too the only way I can nurse in this position is to put two or three fingers on the breast so he doesn’t get smothered (obviously not ideal with my mastitis issues!). It’s a pain as it doesn’t leave me hands free which is tough if I need both hands for hand holding when out.
I had Rye in the mei tai and I could then feed hands free.
I did sort of manage it with a ringlsing, with him laid down..but I confess I was never over confident about this way, as I too was worried he was getting smoothered…although he was suprisingly good and at moving his face, or if he was uncomfortaqble he’d wriggle.
But yea I did find feeding him sat upright easier.
Yes you totally make sense, however I am a big boobed mama and never got it right that way, too much over hang! I agree with the others, upright’s the only way for me, I could do it in a FCC tied looser than normal so it hung lower and the baby’s face was the right height for the boob. Either that or as the others say, a mei tai might be the best bet. I have one I am happy to lend you for a while if you want to try it out.
(I’m a 36L bra since having T so I can back wrap and fling a tit over my shoulder, now. )
With Lolo I used to feed her in the upright as, even from birth, she HATED being in the cradle position! I just used to bounce the sling round so she was in line with my boob more and then lift my boob up to put it in a better position but wearing feeding vests with stuff allsupport while bf Jocelyn for 2 years mean the boob I fed with unravels down to my ankle hence the need for positioning rather than it being a sling thing per se! My only concern with that for you would be you’ve already had mastitis a couple of times so would need to make sure your breast could be drained equally..
Happy to give you a hand getting him in a good position on Friday if you want? (if your hubby is better enough to have visitors in the house!)
I’ve never mastered the mai tai for tinies thing. Your supposed to froggy the legs right? Why does that never work for me? I may take you up on that offer Rach, it’s really kind of you. You might have to answer a good few help emails too though! I only have a diy and molly still fits it so perhaps it’s the wrong size…
Sunflower, yes please!
No, 12 isn’t big (although I’m a stone heavier than I’ve ever been before) but I have e cups whilst feeding when I’m size 8 so with an extra two dress sizes on top of that I have JUGS!
I’ve always had to hold a boob whilst feeding because of size, I worked it by having the same hand to boob underneath to rest it on, so long as you relax your hand completely once she’s latched on, it shouldn’t cause a problem re mastitis, if you feel your hand is squashing into the boob, that’s when you may block something.
Getting the baby a little higher than you think you need to and using a rolled up tshirt under the boob to raise it is the only way I can be hands free nursing. FWIW. I’m now about a 16 and a 34H. I love nursing in slings, but yes hands are usually involved to either hold the boob or the baby’s head when they’re teeny. Me having a hand inside the sling is STILL the only way hubby can tell I’m breastfeeding (and often he still can’t lol). As long as you’re not compressing in one spot it shouldn’t cause problems with blocked ducts, think whole hand and moving your grip often rather than pinching/clamping!
I am normally a 32J with a newborn so my experiences might be relevant!
I much prefer a mei-tai or ring sling as I have never clicked with adjusting a wrap well enough to change positions or do a cradle carries in one.
DD2 was only carried and fed upright because of oversupply issues and sheer lazyness! Not hands free, but found that wasn’t a problem - just make use bumbag or rucksack so that you have hands free.
Loosen straps so that baby is lowered down, then put your hand in side of sling and support breast with your hand in a c shape - thumb on top whilst baby latches on. You may be able to let go once baby is on and their position supports the breast. It is important that the most support is across baby’s shoulders - not head. This way baby’s head can lean back to get in a good feeding position.
DD1 I usually used a ring sling, and could feed hands free in a cradle carry.
A few important tips for a ring sling:
1. Make sure the fabric is well spread out so that when you tighten one part of the tail it only tightens the corresponding bit of the pouch
2. You need to adjust middle of the material too - not just top and bottom rails
3. Sometimes you will need to put your hand in the side of the pouch under the ring to move baby and sling separately.
This means that you can adjust the ring sling to any shape you want with baby in. Something I’ve never mastered with a wrap.
To feed I started with baby upright - and well supported and close to me. Material should be tightest round the shoulders - with head more loosely supported. Pull top rail so that top of pouch gets looser - baby will lean over sideways. Keep going until baby is just below the breast, and in a feeding position. You might need to deepen the whole pouch by letting material through rings across the whole tail to get baby’s bottom lower or level with its head.
Alternatively start sitting down with sling on loosely. Baby in sling - latch on etc. Then gradually tighten each part of the material in the rings until it fits baby exactly - remembering tightest support should be around the shoulders not head. I found this was a great way to learn the right position in the sling for feeding - and then moved on to above change from upright to cradle.
With short body/big breasts I did find that other babywearers would comment on the position being too low though.
)
Thanks for making me giggle…...I needed that this eve 
