When my wife and I found out we were expecting twins we knew that breast feeding would be tough. A few friends had mentioned how a breast feeding pillow might help so we got researching.
We're so glad we purchased a breast feeding pillow as it has helped my wife avoid unwanted back pain that she may have otherwise got without one.
The purpose of this guide is to walk you through what to look out for when shopping for a breast feeding pillow, benefits of using one and a pick of some of our favourites.
The Benefits of Using a Breast Feeding Pillow for Twins
Sitting breastfeeding
In a bid to provide better latching support for babies and enable a convenient access to the nipple, a breast feeding pillows provides a comfortable sitting position for your babies to feed and latch onto the breast.
Reduced Body Pain
As you transition to being a new mother and away from your old way of (hopefully) sitting in the correct upright posture, you will begin to arch your back more as this enables the baby to better latch onto your breast. By using a breast feeding pillow you can look to provide better back and beck support to hopefully avoid any pain.
Edge over Conventional Pillows
Some people argue that using a conventional pillow is fine for breast feeding. Once you introduce twins into the equation your conventional bed room pillows quickly struggle and almost become dangerous from your babies potentially falling off.
Breast feeding pillows for twins have been carefully designed to help support and hold two babies without the risk of one falling off. We also loved that breast feeding pillows come with a strap to tighten around your waist which essentially keeps the breast feeding pillow from moving as it's tightly strapped to your body.
Improved Baby Position
Breastfeeding a child without a breastfeeding pillow can prove to be a daunting task as babies do not have neck strength at that stage of their life to properly support themselves. A breastfeeding pillow helps to keep a child's head steady and well raised in proportion to the nipple, on the platform provided by the breastfeeding pillow. This goes a long way in helping with proper lactation and the reduction of reflux action.
Dynamic use
We quickly learned that a breast feeding pillow can actually be more than just as a breast feeding pillow! We've been known to use our pillow even as a conventional pillow for those afternoon naps when your sleep deprivation is kicking in!
Another great use of a breast feeding pillow is to slowly introduce your babies to the idea of using a pillow. We will sometimes let one of our twins sleep on top of the breast feeding pillow as if its a bed whilst we are sitting on the couch watching TV.
Comfort During Pregnancy
We also used our pregnancy when my wife was in her third trimester when her belly was growing super big and creating all sorts of back aches. With a breastfeeding pillow, you can place the pillow right in front of your belly, lay on your side and make your belly rest on it. It worked a treat for us!
What Makes a Good Breast Feeding Pillow
Shape
A look at the varieties of breastfeeding pillows available for purchase in the local stores around you and on the internet will only make one thing crystal clear; they come in different shapes and sizes tailored for different users.
For instance, the breastfeeding pillows which wraps around your body as a mother are aimed towards giving your back a great support system. You may also see curved breastfeeding pillows which provides great support for your baby’s head.
Mobility
Sometimes you need to breast feed on the go so why not have a pillow which you can take with you during these times? Some pillows on the market are more designed for on the go feeding and compress down nicely for this purpose.
Stain Resistance
It's no surprise that babies of all ages are known for one thing - they can be messy! This is one thing to consider when getting a breastfeeding pillow as you want to ensure the pillow can be easily cleaned. To tackle this problem, it is important for you to factor in the purchase of a breastfeeding pillow that is stain resistant and easy to wash.
Strap
It is important to look out for breastfeeding pillows with a strap that goes around your stomach as it helps to keep the pillow in a firm position and avoids any unexpected movements. We've also found that by having the pillow strapped on, my wife can stand up and move between rooms without having to even pick up the pillow.
Fit
Look for a pillow which suits your body type. Some pillows are more heavier than others and might not suit someone of a smaller frame.
Twin Z Pillow
The Twin Z Pillow is one with three legs, oh, I know that look, I’ve been there. The three legs of the twin Z twin breastfeeding pillow is a great way to provide great support for a breastfeeding mother’s back as the middle leg goes behind your back to act as a comfort stand while you breastfeed.
This pillow comes in two versions; with a removable non-waterproof cover and a waterproof non-removable cover.
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San Diego Bebe ECO Twin Deluxe Nursing Pillow
The is a breast feeding pillow that's slightly different to others we've encountered. The pillow comes with detachable parts which is helpful for getting the pillow comfortable just how you want.
Like other breast feeding pillows on the market, the San Diego Bebe comes with an adjustable strap and a soft cushion for your toddler to rest on.
The breastfeeding pillow comes equipped with a nursing cover which is aimed at the privacy needs of mothers. Even better, you get pockets to keep in your water bottles and other things you might want to keep in there.
The fabric is soft as it could be and it provides enough room for you to nurse the two bundles of joy you just delivered.
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Currently available on for .
Peanut & Piglet
The Peanut & Piglet breast feeding pillow is one of the very few twin breastfeeding pillow that is centred on firmness for holding the baby up to a certain height while strapped to your body. This works great for taller people
One of the things we love about the Piglet Nursing Pillow is the fact it comes designed for women who have had a cesarean section at birth.
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Affiliate Disclosure – This post may contain affiliate links where we may receive compensation if you purchase products linked below. As an Amazon Associate, I can earn from qualifying purchases. This doesn’t cost you anything and helps keep our little blog running. Read our privacy policy for further information.
My name’s Alex and I’m a husband, dad to beautiful identical twin boys, cyclist, photographer and connoisseur of great coffee!
Help I’m Having Twins has been created for me to share what I found useful as a new parent and dad to twins.