Lying Down May Help Breastfeeding

Many women struggle with breastfeeding and give up after a few weeks. Would it be useful for women to know they can try different positions? Is there a reason not to try breastfeeding in different positions that might improve their chances of success. Should women experiment and find a position that suits them best?

A study of 40 mothers breastfeeding in different positions found that babies' natural reflexes kicked in more easily when the mothers were lying down.

A conference held at the Royal College of Nursing reported that the position seemed to trigger primitive reflexes usually seen in young mammals.

A technique called biological nurturing advises women to lay down and let the baby lie on its tummy on top of her.

Dr. Suzanne Colson, senior midwifery lecturer at Canterbury Christ Church University, video-taped 40 women breastfeeding their infants to test the reflex action in a sitting-up position and lying down or reclining position, in the first month of life.

Breastfeeding in a sitting-up position only promoted the three normally seen reflexes, routing, latching and sucking where as Dr. Colson spotted 17 reflexes in babies when they were breastfed lying down, including reflexes normally associated with other mammals who feed their babies in this way.

A majority of women in the study initially reported problems with breastfeeding but mothers who breastfed lying down seemed to have more success. All the women in the study continued to breastfeed.

Dr. Colson said the current study could not prove the technique was more successful than the standard sitting-up position, but it challenged the view that the "correct way" to breastfeed is sitting bolt upright.

"I found that mothers who breastfed their infants semi-reclined or flat-lying (as opposed to side-lying), in positions that mirrored the feeding positions of other mammals, had the greatest success."

"When mothers were lying flat or semi-reclined, babies could find the breast easier and in many cases attach themselves and feed whilst asleep."

"The research suggests that babies when they are on their tummy display these primitive reflexes, head bobbing in particular, that is seen in other mammals who are abdominal feeders."

Dr. Colson advised mother to do what feels comfortable.

For mothers who are experiencing difficulties feeding their infants, this new research could go a long way in helping by suggesting other easy-to-adopt positions as apposed to the conventional breastfeeding positions.