Breastfeeding positioning method and device

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention is a method of supporting a breast in the correct position during breastfeeding by utilizing a device which supports a nursing mother's breast during breastfeeding. This invention automatically places a nursing mother's breast in the correct position for feeding to ensure the flow of milk, allows the baby to latch on to the breast more easily, assists the mother and the baby to control the breast during breastfeeding, leaves the nursing mother a free hand and enables her to move around while breastfeeding.

When a mother is nursing a baby, she needs to support her breast. The support of the breast generally serves several functions. First, it puts the breast in the optimal position for feeding. This position ensures the flow of milk and helps to avoid sore nipples. Second, it allows the baby to easily “latch on” to the breast. Third, especially for mothers with larger breasts, it assists the mother and baby in controlling the breast while feeding.

Currently, the recommended method for positioning the breast during breastfeeding is commonly called the “C Hold.” While one hand is used to hold the baby, the other is used to support the breast in the correct position. The thumb is placed on top of the breast and the fingers are placed below the breast to lift and support it.

The problem with the C Hold is that it is very awkward and difficult for a new mother who is nursing for the first time. In addition, holding the baby and performing the C Hold occupies both of the mother's hands and restricts the mother's movement. Nursing is a learned activity and is usually difficult when attempted for the first time. Learning how to nurse and having both hands in use while learning makes it all the more difficult. In addition, even for experienced mothers, using the C Hold means that the mother cannot do anything while feeding. This is especially inconvenient for mothers who have additional young children who need also need attention.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment of the invention, the method of supporting a breast in the correct position during breastfeeding comprises the steps of utilizing a support member that has a generally trapezoidal cross sectional shape. The support member forms a back surface which is placed against a nursing mother's body, a top surface which engages a nursing mother's breast, a bottom surface that is opposite the top surface, a front surface that is opposite the back surface and engages the portion of the breast not supported by the top surface, and first and a second side surfaces which are opposite each other and interconnect the other surfaces.

The current invention avoids the problems that are inherent in the current methods for positioning a mother's breast during nursing. The current invention, unlike current methods, automatically places the breast in the optimal position to ensure the flow of milk, allows the baby to easily latch on to the breast, assists the mother and baby in controlling the breast while feeding, leaves the mother a free hand and enables her to move around while breastfeeding.

It is an object of the current invention to provide a method of supporting a breast in the correct position during breastfeeding that will automatically place a nursing mother's breast in the correct position for nursing therefore ensuring the flow of milk and helping to avoid sore nipples.

It is a further object of the current invention to provide a method of supporting a breast in the correct position during breastfeeding that allows the baby to easily “latch on” to the breast.

It is a further object of the current invention to provide a method of supporting a breast in the correct position during breastfeeding that assists the mother and the baby in controlling the breast while breastfeeding.

It is a further object of the current invention to provide a method of supporting a breast in the correct position during breastfeeding that leaves the mother a free hand and enables her to move around while breastfeeding.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1

is a side elevation view of a preferred embodiment of the breastfeeding positioning device utilized in the method of the current invention.

FIG. 2

is a top view of the breastfeeding positioning device.

FIG. 3

is a perspective view of the breastfeeding positioning device.

FIG. 4

is a perspective view a cover for the breastfeeding positioning device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The preferred embodiment of the breastfeeding positioning device utilized in the method of the current invention shown in

FIGS. 1-3

provides a device which includes a support member

10

which has a generally trapezoidal cross section and includes various surfaces. The support member

10

acts as a support by creating a ledge that the breast lies on and places the breast in the proper position. The support member

10

is placed directly underneath a nursing mother's breast and against her body and provides the proper support for the breast while breastfeeding.

The support member

10

includes a back surface

12

that is placed against the mother's body just under her breast. The back surface

12

is flat so that it will comfortably fit against the mother's body. In alternate embodiments, the back surface

12

could also be slightly concave. In addition, the back surface

12

must be wide enough to provide support for the entire breast and high enough that it will be able to hold the support member

10

in place when the weight of the breast is applied to the support member

10

. The top surface

14

is placed directly under the mother's breast. The top surface

14

is used to support the breast and place the breast in the correct position to ensure the flow of the milk. Again, the top surface

14

must be wide enough to provide support for the entire breast and long enough to that approximately ¾ of the breast is supported by the top surface

14

. In order to ensure the proper position of the breast, the top surface

14

should be approximately perpendicular to the back surface

12

. If the top surface

14

were to vary too far from perpendicular to the back surface

12

, the breast would not be placed in the correct position. Opposite the top surface

14

is a bottom surface

16

. The bottom surface

16

is also approximately perpendicular to the back surface

12

. The angle that the bottom surface

16

forms with the back surface

12

is not critical as long as the support member

10

still retains the general shape and size that will support the breast in the correct position. Opposite the back surface

12

is the front surface

18

. The front surface

18

runs from the top surface

14

to the bottom surface

16

at a down angle from the top surface

14

. The front surface

18

is used to comfortably support the front portion of the breast that is not positioned by the top surface

14

. The angle formed between the top surface

14

and the front surface

18

is obtuse and the angle formed between the bottom surface

16

and the front surface

18

is acute forming the general trapezoidal shape of the support member

10

. A first side surface

20

and a second side surface

22

are opposite each other and interconnect the back surface

12

, the top surface

14

, the bottom surface

16

and the front surface

18

completing the support member

10

. The first side surface

20

and the second side surface

22

are parallel to each other and are perpendicular to the top surface

14

, the bottom surface

16

and the front surface

18

.

The support member

10

is made from a solid piece of premium density foam having the shape and surfaces described above. In alternate embodiments of the invention, the support member

10

may be constructed from multiple pieces of material that are interconnected to form the shape and surfaces described above or can be formed by a thin material so as to be inflatable. The manner in which the support member

10

is constructed is not critical as long as the support member

10

has the general shape and surfaces described above. In addition, alternate materials may be used to construct the support member

10

as long as the material is strong enough so that the support member

10

can support a nursing mother's breast, soft enough that the support member

10

is still comfortable for the mother, and has a non-slip surface so that the support member

10

stays in place while in use. In addition, since in all likelihood the support member

10

will get wet and dirty during use, the material used to construct the support member

10

should also be washable.

Because the size of nursing mothers' breasts vary, one size support member

10

will not comfortably fit and properly support the breasts of all nursing mothers. The support member

10

is therefore sized according to the breast cup size of the nursing mother. For example, a support member

10

used for a D breast cup size will be wider than a support member

10

used for an A breast cup size to provide complete support for the larger breast. The support member

10

, or more specifically the back surface

12

, would also be taller to provide greater leverage and support for the larger breast and the top surface

14

and front surface

18

would be longer to fully and comfortably support the breast.

The device may also include a cover

24

as shown in FIG.

4

. The cover

24

protects the support member

10

from damage and helps keep the support member

10

clean and dry. In addition, if the entire device were to get wet or dirty, the cover

24

may be removed and washed instead of washing the entire device. Washing only the cover

24

saves wear and tear on the support member

10

that may occur from frequent washings. The cover

24

is constructed with various flaps to completely surround and conform to the shape of the support member

10

.

The top flap

26

, bottom flap

28

, front flap

30

, first side flap

32

and second side flap

34

each have a size and shape to conform to the top surface

14

, bottom surface

16

, front surface

18

, first side surface

20

and second side surface

22

respectively and are constructed so that the cover

24

conforms to the shape of and snuggly surrounds the support member

10

on all sides but the back. This leaves an opening in the cover

24

which shows the back surface

12

of the support member

10

.

The back flap

36

of the cover

24

is connected only to the top flap

26

so that the back flap

36

can be move to an open and closed position so that the support member

10

can be inserted and removed from the cover

24

. The back flap

36

and the bottom flap

28

each contain a strip of Velcro®

38

to keep the back flap

36

in the closed position when the support member

10

is inserted into the cover

24

. In alternate embodiments of the invention, the back flap

36

can be kept in the closed position with pins, tape, glue, buttons, or zippers.

The cover

24

is made of cotton. In alternate embodiments of the invention, the cover

24

can be made of any material that is strong enough to resist the wear and tear of use and the constant insertion and removal of the support member, is soft enough that the cover

24

is comfortable for the mother, is non-slip so that the device stays in place while in use, and is washable.

The foregoing description of a preferred embodiment of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description, and is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. The description was selected to best explain the principles of the invention and their practical application to enable other skills in the art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention not be limited by the specification, but be defined by the claims set forth below.