How to Choose Between Boppy and My Brest Friend

How to Choose Between Boppy and My Brest Friend - Or Battle of the Breastfeeding Pillows

Which breastfeeding pillow to use is a hotly debated topic. Is the Boppy better? Or the My Brest Friend? Will a rolled-up old towel from the trunk of the car do in a pinch? (OK, maybe they're not debating the last point, but show me a breastfeeding mother who hasn't asked themselves this question.) I will help you decide. And I will also let you in on a little-known secret: you don't really need one. Proof? Have you ever seen a breastfeeding pillow in National Geographic?

But most new moms in America are going to buy one, or receive one as a gift, so you need to know the pros and cons of each.

The My Brest Friend (MBF) nursing pillow fits a wide range of bodies. It has a strap that goes around your back to hold the pillow in place and it's adjustable. So the pillow will still fit after your post-birth, geez-I-still-look-pregnant belly disappears. The MBF also has a firm, flat surface which helps with positioning the baby. And it has a pocket - great for stashing snacks, nipple cream, breast pads, a small bottle of water, and, oh, did I mention the breastfeeding mother's real best friend: snacks? (As you, too, will soon discover, having snacks nearby that can be eaten one-handed is extremely important.)

The number one biggest con of the MBF is the name. Come on. Don't you feel ridiculous saying it? Some knucklehead probably suggested it as a joke and some bigger knucklehead actually liked it. Other than that, MBF is cumbersome and way too big to slip discreetly into your pretty new diaper bag. And some mothers (namely me) found it to be too high. The space between lap and boobs just wasn't big enough for the MBF and the baby.

Boppy is the hands-down winner - if color coordination is your top priority. It comes with a removable slipcover, you can buy additional official-Boppy slipcovers, and I've even seen custom Boppy slipcovers offered on sites like eBay and etsy. The slipcover-angle isn't all color-coordination though: removable = easy to clean. And as soon as baby arrives, easy to clean will knock color-coordinated so far off the top of your priorities list it may take years to regain its former standing. What's more, Boppy multi-tasks. It's great for propping up and tummy time.

Though less cumbersome relative to MBR, the Boppy isn't slipping into your pretty new diaper bag either. And it's too small for many bodies. I wear a size 6 pants (OK, occasionally I wear a 6. More often I wear an 8) and when I put on the Boppy it bends at the center, and when it bends, it makes an awkward surface for baby. The bending (on anyone bigger than Nicole Richie) plus the Boppy's rounded surface, can sometimes roll baby too much toward mom to get a good latch.

After all that, here is my recommendation. If you are trying to keep it simple and not buy into the consumerism-crazy baby industry, don't get a breastfeeding pillow. Use a bed pillow. Use a rolled up blanket. Use your buff, prenatal yoga arms. If you can't help yourself and you're dying to have all the cool baby stuff there is to have, get both. Use MBF for breastfeeding and use Boppy for propping up and tummy time. How's that for a decisive answer?

Either way, breastfeeding is one of the best things you can do for your baby - and it's one of the best things you can do for yourself. Breastfeeding gives you a reason (not that you needed it) to cuddle and gaze endlessly at the miracle that is your beautiful new baby. Breastfeeding releases hormones that give you a warm, happy feeling. And breastfeeding is darn convenient. Wherever you and your baby go - diaper bag or not - you have all the baby food you need.

By Melissa Glorieux