Abstract:
An improved nursing aid device and methods of using the device provide support over a person&#39;s lower abdominal area while also providing support for the person&#39;s arm while nursing in a chair or in a bed. The shape of the nursing aid device acts like a substitute “lap” for the person and the nursing aid device is configured to tuck under her arm for comfortable nursing sessions. The nursing aid device may include a covering having a short length, a long length opposite the short length, and a wing on each end of the long length. The covering may define a trapezoidal shape or a triangular shape, and may include a plurality of undulating curves on an outer periphery. The nursing aid device is designed to fit within or on a person&#39;s lap, rather than around her torso.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/049,273, filed Feb. 1, 2005 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,010,820. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to improved nursing aid devices and methods of use, and also to an improved nursing aid device designed for use after a Cesarian section and methods for using the same. 
   BACKGROUND 
   After giving birth, new mothers typically require the use of a pillow to support the infant while nursing. This need is particularly acute when mothers give birth by Cesarian section. Currently, one out of every four births is performed by Cesarian section procedures. With a Cesarian section, the incision used to access the uterus is extremely sensitive and tender as a result of the surgical procedure, and mothers who give birth by this procedure require a flat support over this area so that the baby lies comfortably. For example, the baby often kicks and snuggles, and recovering mothers need a nursing pillow to prevent the baby from injuring the incision area. 
   The nursing pillows currently on the market are shaped in a half circle, or a half donut, that wraps around the midsection of the mother. Not all mothers desire a nursing pillow that is designed to wrap around their midsections. Furthermore, many of these mothers are unable to properly position the pillow due to the weight and bulk of the pillow. Additionally, the size of the current nursing pillows prevent comfortable use of the pillows in many chairs such as glider and rocking chairs. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the size of the current pillows (PA) prevents the pillows from resting on the mother&#39;s incision when the mother is sitting in a glider or rocking chair. Not only are the current pillows unsuitable for optimal use with glider or rocking chairs, when a mother uses one of these pillows while sitting in a glider or rocking chair, the pillow fails to cover the incision and also places the baby at a position that is too high for nursing. 
   The current nursing pillows are also designed to support babies as they learn to sit up because the pillows are firm and provide support for the babies. With Cesarian sections, however, these pillows are disadvantageous due to the heavy weight and firm nature of the pillows that are necessary to provide support for the babies. For example, mothers who give birth by Cesarian section are instructed to not lift heavy items. 
   Therefore, there is a long-felt but unmet need for an improved nursing aid device that may be used comfortably over a Cesarian section incision. 
   There is also a long-felt but unmet need for an improved nursing aid device suitable for use in a wide range of chairs, including glider chairs and rocking chairs. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   One embodiment provides for support over a Cesarian section incision while also providing support for the mother&#39;s arm while nursing in a chair or in a bed. While nursing the child is positioned on top of the nursing aid device. The shape of the nursing aid device acts like a substitute “lap” for the mother and the nursing aid device is configured to tuck under her arm for comfortable nursing sessions. When other children are around the mother, the mother may also use the nursing aid device for defense and comfort. Also, after a Cesarian section procedure, mothers often experience increased levels of discomfort when coughing, sneezing, or laughing due to increased tension being placed on the stitches closing the incision. In these the situations the nursing aid device may be positioned in the mother&#39;s lap with the nursing aid device covering the incision device. The mother may then use the nursing aid device to decrease the tension exerted on the incision. Other nursing pillows are unsuitable for such uses. 
   In another embodiment, a nursing aid device is provided. The nursing aid device includes a covering. The covering includes a short length, a long length opposite the short length, and a wing on each end of the long length. The nursing aid device also includes a filling within the covering, with the filling being a substantially soft material such as polyester fiberfill, cotton, and the like. The covering may define a trapezoidal shape or a triangular shape. The covering may also include a plurality of undulating curves on an outer periphery. The covering may be constructed from fleece, cotton, polyester, and the like. 
   One embodiment also provides for a method of using a nursing aid device having a covering with a short length, a long length opposite the short length, and a wing on each end of the long length, and a filling comprising a soft material within the covering. The nursing aid device is placed on a mother&#39;s lap. The short length of the nursing aid device is positioned over a Cesarian section incision, and the long length of the nursing aid device is positioned across the mother&#39;s stomach and under the mother&#39;s arm. The mother&#39;s arm is supported with the nursing aid device while nursing a child. This method may include distributing the child&#39;s weight across the incision using the nursing aid device. 
   Another embodiment provides for an additional method of using a nursing aid device. The nursing aid device, which includes a covering having a short length, a long length opposite the short length, and a wing on each end of the long length, and a filling comprising a soft material within the covering, is placed on a mother&#39;s lap. The long length of the nursing aid device is positioned over the Cesarian section incision, and the short length is oriented towards the mother&#39;s chest. While nursing, the child&#39;s back is support with the nursing aid device while holding the child within the crook of the mother&#39;s arm. 
   Other objects and features will become apparent from consideration of the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  illustrates the use of a prior art nursing pillow. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates an embodiment of a nursing aid device. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates another embodiment of a nursing aid device. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates one method of using a nursing aid device. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates another method of using a nursing aid device. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a method of using a nursing aid device 
       FIG. 7  illustrates another method of using a nursing aid device. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Nursing aid devices specifically designed for use by mothers who have given birth, including via Cesarian section, are provided. Methods for using the improved nursing aid devices are also provided. 
   Turning to  FIG. 2 , an improved nursing aid device  100  is illustrated. The nursing aid device  100  may be trapezoidal or triangular in shape, and has an outer covering of suitable soft material, such as, e.g., fleece material, cotton, polyester, and the like. The nursing aid device  100  is filled with a material that results in a nursing aid device  100  that is soft and firm, but also very light compared to prior art nursing pillows. The nursing aid device  100  must be light in comparison to prior art nursing pillows in order to allow the nursing aid device  100  to be comfortably placed over a Cesarian section incision. Suitable materials usable to fill the nursing aid device  100  include, but is not limited to, polyester fiberfill, cotton, and the like. 
   As noted, the nursing aid device  100  is preferably trapezoidal in shape. Accordingly, a short length  102  of the nursing aid device  100  has a smaller length than a long length  104  of the nursing aid device  100 . For example, in one embodiment the short length  102  of the nursing aid device  100  may measure approximately 10 inches in length while the long length  104  of the nursing aid device  100  may measure approximately 20 inches in length. With this embodiment, the short length  102  and the long length  104  are generally parallel to each other. Additionally, the long length  104  defines first and second wings  108 ,  110  of the nursing aid device  100 . 
   The width  106  of the nursing aid device  100  between the short length  102  and the long length  104  may be approximately 12 inches, and the nursing aid device  100  may be approximately 5 to 6 inches deep or thick. Preferably, the depth or thickness of the nursing aid device  100  is such that the mother&#39;s arm may comfortably rest on the nursing aid device  100  while the nursing aid device  100  still provides support on top of the incision for the baby. 
   In addition to these dimensions, the nursing aid device  100  in other embodiments may have different dimensions so long as the trapezoidal shape of the nursing aid device  100  is maintained. Unlike present nursing pillows designed to be positioned around a mother&#39;s torso, the nursing aid device  100  is sized to fit on the mother&#39;s lap and if desired between the arms of a glider or rocking when she is sitting in the chair, as seen in  FIG. 4 . By being configured to fit within the arms of a glider or rocking chair and on the mother&#39;s lap, the nursing aid device  100  provides improved support for a baby when the mother is holding the baby while sitting in the chair. Preferably, the nursing aid device  100  has a thickness that enables the baby to be positioned at a plane substantially the same as the top of the arms of the chair, thereby supplying continuous support for the baby across the top of the arms and the mother&#39;s lap, as seen in  FIG. 5 . 
   Turning back to  FIG. 2 , the sides of the nursing aid device  100  may incorporate an undulating shape or pattern. In embodiments with sides having an undulating pattern, the undulating pattern serves to provide additional comfort during use by enabling the nursing aid device  100  to more snugly fit in a mother&#39;s lap. 
     FIG. 3  illustrates another embodiment of the nursing aid device, nursing aid device  100 ( b ), that does not incorporating sides having an undulating shape or pattern. As with nursing aid device  100 , nursing aid device  100 ( b ) is preferably trapezoidal in shape. A short length  102 ( b ) of the nursing aid device  100 ( b ) has a smaller length than a long length  104 ( b ) of the nursing aid device  100 . Similar to nursing aid device  100 , the short length  102 ( b ) of the nursing aid device  100 ( b ) may measure approximately 10 inches in length while the long length  104 ( b ) of the nursing aid device  100 ( b ) may measure approximately 20 inches in length. The short length  102 ( b ) and the long length  104 ( b ) are generally parallel to each other, and there is a width  106 ( b ) between the short length  102 ( b ) and long length  104 ( b ). Additionally, the long length  104 ( b ) defines first and second wings  108 ( b ),  110 ( b ) of the nursing aid device  100 ( b ). The dimensions of the nursing aid device  100 ( b ) may be relatively the same dimensions of the nursing aid device  100 . 
   With respect to the methods for using the improved nursing aid devices, the methods describe the use of any nursing aid devices disclosed or within the scope of the invention, unless otherwise noted. For example, descriptions of methods with reference to nursing aid device  100  are also intended to encompass the use of nursing aid device  100 ( b ), and references to elements of nursing aid device  100  are intended to encompass corresponding elements of nursing aid device  100 ( b ). 
     FIG. 6  illustrates one method for using the nursing aid device  100 . With this method of use, the mother is in a sitting position. The short length  102  of the nursing aid device  100  is placed in the mother&#39;s lap and over the Cesarian section incision, and the long length  104  of the nursing aid device  100  is oriented across the mother&#39;s stomach and under her arm. With this method, the long length  104  of the nursing aid device  100  provides support for the mother&#39;s arm while nursing and holding the infant to her breast. As the infant lies across the nursing aid device  100 , the nursing aid device  100  evenly distributes the infant&#39;s weight across the incision area to reduce the discomfort felt by the mother while she is nursing. As a result, the mother&#39;s arm is supported and nursing is made more comfortable for the recovering mother. The child is also nestled on the nursing aid device  100  thereby providing comfort for the infant as well. When the mother switches the baby to the other breast (or other side), she can simply move the nursing aid device  100  across her body to support her other arm and continue to hold the baby on the nursing aid device  100  without fear of the infant pressing or pulling on the incision area. 
     FIG. 7  illustrates another method for using the nursing aid device  100 . Here, the nursing aid device  100  is used to implement a “football hold.” The “football hold” is one recommended method of nursing for mothers who have had Cesarian sections. This hold is often recommended because mothers have a difficult time holding the infants on their laps over the incision area. When implementing the “football hold,” the nursing aid device  100  provides additional support and comfort for the mother and child thereby facilitating a mother&#39;s efforts to hold an infant more comfortably on her lap. Here, the nursing aid device  100  is placed on the mother with the long length  104  over the Cesarian section incision and the short length  102  towards the mother&#39;s chest. The baby is held within the crook of the mother&#39;s arm while the slope of the nursing aid device  100  supports the infant&#39;s back and the mother&#39;s arm while holding the infant to the breast. The nursing aid device  100  continues to provide support and coverage for the Cesarian section incision. When the mother switches to the other breast (or other side), the nursing aid device  100  remains over the incision and the child is moved to the other arm with the slope on the other side of the nursing aid device  100  supporting the infant&#39;s back. Here, the nursing aid device  100  provides support for the mother&#39;s arm as well as for the baby during nursing. 
   With another method, the nursing aid device  100  is used to alleviate discomfort caused by a Cesarian section. For example, after having a Cesarian section procedure, coughing, laughing, or sneezing increases discomfort in the area of the incision due to stress being placed on the stitches of the incision. To alleviate this discomfort, the nursing aid device  100  may be positioned over the incision and the mother may hold the nursing aid device  100  in place by placing an arm on the first wing  108  and the other arm on the second wing  110 . With this method, the mother may exert pressure down on the incision, by pressing down on the first and second wings  108 ,  110 , while coughing, laughing, or sneezing in order to minimize the stress on the stitches of the incision during these acts. Placing downward pressure on the incision by holding the nursing aid device  100  over the incision limits the stress that may be placed on the incision stitches during a cough, laugh, or sneeze. 
   If the mother has an older child or toddler, the nursing aid device  100  may be used for support when sitting with or holding the other child as well. The older child cannot see the incision, but the mother can hold the nursing aid device  100  over the incision with the short length  102  snuggly between her legs in her lap and the long length  104  resting across her stomach. This will help the older child or toddler have a visual reference as to where not to touch or push near the incision. 
   While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific examples thereof have been shown in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should, however, be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the particular forms or methods disclosed, but to the contrary the invention covers all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.