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.