Nursing Pillows for Breastfeeding Mothers

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Nursing Pillows

Nursing pillows are a must have item for all new mothers. You may think you can master the art of nursing without a specially designed pillow. Take it from an experienced mother of three however; the nursing pillow is a lifesaver.

A nursing pillow like the Snoozer nursing pillow provides you with much needed support while nursing your newborn infant. Why do you need support? Over time, nursing your infant without adequate arm and shoulder support is much like lifting a 500-pound weight over and over again.

With time, the very act of nursing can lead to strain in your neck, shoulder and back pain. Many women report after several months of nursing they experience a chronic burning or aching pain in their shoulder. This may feel worse on one side or another depending on the side your nursing infant favors.

You can use an ordinary pillow to help support your shoulder and neck while nursing, but by and large these pillows don't work nearly as well as a maternity pillows or nursing pillows like the Snoozer nursing pillows.

I find that conventional pregnancy pillows simply lack the support necessary for proper nursing. Often they are too firm or too soft. You may need to layer several pillows to get the desired effect.

Fortunately, the Snoozer nursing pillow is specially designed just for nursing. It is the right consistency, firmness and shape to support your baby's head and provide your neck and shoulders with some much-needed relief.

Even better than one nursing pillow? Two! If you are a first time mom I recommend having one pillow for around the house and one pillow upstairs (if you live in a bi-level home) or for travel. There is nothing worse than trying to nurse your infant at the park with no support.

Another idea? If you are on the go and don't have a nursing pillow handy you might try an infant sling. While some parents find them uncomfortable to nurse in, by and large they are a better bet than trying to nurse without any support.

Benefits of Breastfeeding

Breast milk is one of the most nutritious foods you can provide your newborn infant. Breast milk naturally contains all of the vitamins and nutrients your baby needs to thrive during the first few months of life. In many countries it is quite common for mothers to breastfeed their babies for the first few years of life.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that parents breastfeed their children exclusively if possible for the first six months of life and through the first year if possible if desired by parents. Breastfeeding provides parents and children with many benefits including reducing the risk of chronic diarrhea, infection, food allergies and even asthma and obesity.

You might consider enlisting the help of a lactation consultant after delivery. They can help you position your nursing pillow and learn the most comfortable position to breastfeed your baby! You may find your baby has an easier time latching on when you use a support pillow like the Snoozer support pillow. Using the pillow routinely will help ensure you and your newborn baby enjoys a long-term breastfeeding relationship.

As an added benefit, the nursing pillow can be used to help support your newborn baby as he learns to crawl, enjoy tummy time and even sit up straight! You can also use the nursing pillow as a personal neck support pillow as your baby grows and starts enjoying toddler foods. So don't think of the nursing pillow as a short-term friend. Think of it as a lifelong companion!

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