How I cracked breastfeeding

Nicola found breastfeeding easier when lying down

Breastfeeding newborn babies lying down may boost the chances of success, UK research suggests.

Nicola Adolphe is one mother who can vouch for the effectiveness of the approach.

Nicola had a "horrendous time" trying to breastfeed when her daughter Deborah was born.

As manager of a play centre she knew that breastfeeding was best and, after having a home birth, wanted to do everything as naturally as possible.

"I had about six weeks of pain, I had a bleeding nipple on the right and fed on my left the whole time which then became really sore.

"It was really unbearable and I was half way to giving up at six weeks, and that's a big thing for me to admit."

Through an online mothers support group Nicola, who lives in Watford, found out about Biological Nurturing - a programme promoting different ways of holding babies to encourage breastfeeding - which offered her advice over the phone.

I was half way to giving up at six weeks and that's a big thing for me to admit Nicola Adolphe

Fortunately she also had a meeting with Dr Suzanne Colson, senior midwifery lecturer at Canterbury Christ Church University, who advises on the technique.

"We tried lots of different positions, she told me to stand up, hold the baby and then lie back and get some pillows around me.

"I could lay down on the sofa, gradually reclining my body, which would take the weight of the baby and it's much freer."

Crying

Nicola also discovered she had thrush, which was causing Deborah to cry a lot, but once she changed her diet the baby started to sleep through the night.

By 12 weeks, breastfeeding in the new position had made life much easier for mother and daughter.

Nicola, 26, also explained that the new position helped with an old figure-skating injury.

"I realised that I couldn't sit straight and that had been causing pain in my back."

"Lying down doesn't suit everybody but it's about trying to be as relaxed as possible."

There is a good breastfeeding support group in Nicola's area which is keen on the Biological Nurturing programme but she admits not everyone is as lucky.

"There aren't enough support groups, there needs to be better access and better training."

Deborah is now five months old and Nicola is planning to breastfeed her for a year.

"It's comfortable and she's so happy now," she says.