This post contains affiliate links. All products were purchased by mean; opinions remain my own.
From the minute I got pregnant, I knew I was going to breastfeed my baby (you can read about our nursing journey here!). I imagined looking into those sweet eyes as he drifted off to sleep; I imagined lovingly stroking his head as he gazed up at me; I imagined holding his as he slept peacefully. What I didn’t imaging was how difficult getting him into a good position would be! In my effort to pack a minimalistic labor bag, I had neglected to include my nursing pillows; and getting a newborn baby to latch in a hospital bed while finagling pillows as a first time mom is hard enough!
So coming home to my nursing pillows was a huge relief. I actually had 2 nursing pillows waiting for me; both a boppy and a my breast friend. I had received the Boppy as a gift at my babyshower; the my Breast Friend was purchased at a consignment event after my prenatal yoga instructor raved about it. I figured having two, one for upstairs, one for downstairs would make my life easier anyways.
The Boppy Nursing Pillow and Positioner
The Boppy Nursing Pillow (affiliate) is a donut shaped pillow designed to fit around a nursing mama’s body to aid in positioning a baby to the breast. It can also be used as a baby lounger, tummy time support, and sitting support for baby. The top and bottom of the pillow ‘curve’ in comparison to the My Breast Friend. The cover easily comes on and off for cleaning; and there’s a variety of patterns to suit every mother and baby. Per the manufacturer:
This must-have is designed to give you and baby the support you need throughout the first year. The versatile Boppy pillow lifts baby to a more ergonomic position for comfortable feeding, then transitions to the perfect spot for propping, tummy time and learning to sit.
The Boppy is simple to use and quick to place into position – even if you are cradling a baby. The vast selection of slipcovers ensures there is a pattern to match every room and mood. When needing to nurse my baby, I found the pillow was very easy to wrap around my body while cradling my infant in the other hand. However, I found keeping the pillow close to my body was difficult as it would start to slip away and my baby would roll in towards my body. I’m not sure if this is because I was a plus sized mama after the delivery of my son, or if other women also have the same problem. The curved pillowtop also created a weird angle when trying to get my baby to latch that wasn’t conducive to the nursing problems we were already having. I actually shyed away from using the boppy for nursing purposes, using it much more often for lounging and tummy time. I absolutely loved it for hanging out with baby though. It was great for lounging baby on his back and tummy time (we even had a mini tummy time boppy that fit in our diaper bag just for him).
Even though it wasn’t my go to nursing pillow, we got many months of use out of our boppy.
The My Breast Friend
The My Brest Friend Breastfeeding Pillow(affiliate) is a flat top firm pillow that has an adjustable strap to keep the pillow in place. It wraps fully around the body providing lumbar and elbow support while you hold your baby. There are multiple slipcover options, and each one also includes a small pocket. I often kept burp cloths in mine for easy access after a feeding.
Per the manufacturer:
It is the only pillow that stays securely in place and does not shift or slide like crescent shaped nursing pillows. The wrap-around design secures the pillow to the body, helping mom and baby maintain ideal positioning for latch-on while preventing back and neck pain. The arm and elbow rests eliminate shoulder stress and there is even a convenient pocket for nursing supplies and other accessories. The firm, flat-front cushion and adjustable, silent-release strap eliminate any gap between you and your baby. This keeps your baby from rolling in or away during breastfeeding.
During my son’s first couple months of life, this was hands down my favorite of the two nursing pillow. The flat, firm service ensured that my son was always at the best angle for nursing. The adjustable strap could be tightened to ensure the pillow didn’t slip away from my body. The strap is easily adjustable and can adjust up or down depending on the size of the mama. I was about a 14/16 after just giving birth and there was still a fair amount of adjusting I could do; although I don’t think this would work past a 22/24 (US), but I am not positive. The lumbar support and room for my arms was an added plus. The biggest complaint I had with this pillow is it is cumbersome to get on. Even with the easy on/off velcro option for the straps, I still found it difficult to get on and off when I had a baby (usually upset) in my arms. This meant that once we got the hang of nursing, I would grab for an available pillow rather than seek out My Breast Friend. Unlike the boppy that can also be used for an infant to hang out in, the my breast friend really only works as a nursing pillow.
Overall, both nursing pillows worked out very well for us, although for different reasons. If you’re looking for a nursing pillow to help nurse a newborn, I recommend the My Brest Friend, as the straps allow it to sit snugly against the body, and the flat top creates the ideal angle for nursing. If you are looking for a versatile nursing pillow that can grow with your baby, the Boppy is probably the better choice for you.
The Boppy retails for $29.99 (USD) for the naked, and up depending on the slipcover. It is available at Babies R Us, Buy Buy Baby, The Amazon.com(affiliate), and most other places baby items are available. The My Breast Friend retails for $34.97 (USD) and is available at Babies R Us, Buy Buy Baby, Amazon.com (affiliate), and most other places baby items are available.
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