Why Everyone Should Have a Breastfeeding Stool

I have a funny story to tell. Do you like funny stories? Well, this story will give you insight into the inspiration for this post. 

A few babies ago, I purchased a Medela brand breastfeeding stool to ease back pain and increase comfort when taking care of my sweet little babies. It was the one tool (even more than a boppy) that was a huge help and blessing for those days and long nights of nursing. 

We’ve had this stool for a long time. I haven’t nursed any babies for a while now and yet, I still have and use this stool. 

In fact, whenever we purge and participate in the declutter challenge each season, Alex asks, “Can we get rid of this now?” and I reply with an emphatic, “No!” 

You see, this stool has saved me. 

It has saved me money by being able to nurse longer comfortably vs. formula, less pain meds/essential oils for pain, chiropractic visits and more, the need for expensive back belts or anything else. 

It has saved my back and shoulders from pain and discomfort from being misaligned while sitting, thus saving my neck from pain too. 

It has saved me from headaches due to my back and neck being in a comfortable working position. 

All of the above reasons are way beyond my days of nursing. Yes, I bought this for nursing, but I use it EVERY DAY for the other reasons. When I am sitting, the stool helps align everything comfortably when I am working on my computer or reading or watching television, or whatever. 

In fact, it is so practical, that I don’t understand why it isn’t marketed mainstream?!? 

So, even just this week as we were purging again to get ready for summer, Alex came across my stool again under my computer desk and asked, yet again, if it was time to get rid of it. I said, “No! Now I have said I am not getting rid of this stool. I have told you that it helps my back, shoulders, and neck when I am sitting and working and yet you keep asking me. I have also told you to sit there and try it. Sit there and work on your computer and then maybe you will understand why I don’t want to lose it!” 

So he finally did. 

He finally understood. 

It makes sitting super comfortable! Whether you have an adjustable computer chair, living room chair, couch, kitchen chair, etc. it doesn’t matter, it is an amazing tool to have under your feet for ease and comfort. 

After he has waited all of these years to try it himself, he finally agrees that “it’s a keeper.” 

So I asked him two questions: 

1. Why did you keep asking me the same question?
2. Why would you just not try it yourself?

The answer to the first question was that he thought I was really keeping it for sentimental reasons and making the excuse that it was comfortable for my back the excuse to hang on it. To his defense, baby things are the hardest for me to get rid of. I do stink at being decisive regarding when I am ready to rid my basement storage of baby stuff. So it’s an understandable reason. 

But the second one had me rolling my eyes. He wouldn’t try it because, well, “it’s a breastfeeding stool!” It’s just like when I would drink Mother’s Milk tea when I was nursing, Alex refused to even associate with the tea even though the plants used in this mixture are the same ones used to help with other ailments that would help him at that time. I would tell him over and over, “You won’t start having a flow of milk all of the sudden, calm down.” He still wouldn’t because he would say, “it’s just the thought of it being for milk production that creeps me out.” 

Well, since the stool is called a “nursing stool,” he refused to try propping his feet upon it while sitting at my desk, even once.

It really got me thinking, “Why is this not made and marketed mainstream?”

Perhaps it is, but it is traditionally called a nursing stool.

What makes a nursing stool different from other stools?

The biggest factor is that it is propped at an angle. This raises your knees so you can support a baby, or a laptop up a little higher and not put all of that strain on your back, shoulders and neck. 

Traditional stools do not work the same unless you are sitting directly over the top of it. Most of us have our legs and feet stuck out at an angle from our sitting position. Especially when we are sitting in a couch or a chair.

Do a test right now. Extend your legs in the “comfortable extended position.” It might be comfortable for a moment, but the strain on your back (especially the lower back) and neck long-term is painful.

If you legs are propped up slightly, it releases some of that tension. And it’s at a slight angle for even more comfort. 

Now it’s time for a second test. Sit in a position where you would prop your laptop, tablet or even a child for reading time on your lap. If you knees and legs are at  90 degree angle, it’s only doable comfortably for a short time. The strain on your body is hard. 

But by propping your feet up slightly at an angle releases that tension in your feet (angle vs. flat) and your back and neck. 

I am telling you, this might all be silly to you. But this is serious!

I am being serious! 

I am telling you because you can get one of these for $20 or less and save yourself lots of money and aches just with a simple solution. 

In fact, save even more money and make yourself an angled foot stool. It’s not a deep angle because this will cause the same problem, it’s just slight, it’s just perfect. 

So after Alex tried to get rid of my stool again this week, I came down to my living room to work because it is FINALLY a beautiful day and my kids wanted to play outside and I watch them from the living room while I work. I sat in the living room chair, leaving my stool and desk in my home office. Within 60 seconds of sitting down, I had to run to my desk and nab that foot stool! It is my right hand foot tool. 

I tried to find the prices for you today. The Medela one I have is super expensive now. I used a gift card I received as a gift from a baby shower and bought it at Babies R Us, but I do not remember it being over $25 in-store. It is very sturdy and very well built. But I have seen other nice, adjustable nursing stools for $20 HERE. 

I am curious, am I the only non-nursing person using a nursing stool? Surely I am not the only one to think about how practical these are everyday. 🙂 

Save your money by saving your back, shoulders and neck and invest in a $20 or less stool! You might just appreciate this little savings tip more than you realize!