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AIBU?

AIBU to hate my very large areola

33 replies

MoonStar07 · 16/07/2016 23:31

I know we come in ALL shapes and sizes. My breasts have been very analysed due to loads of BFeeding issues every time medical professionals have pointed out my large areola (3 inches across) so no baby can miss the 'dark' area and issues I have with inverted nipples. Anyway this is totally a first world issue and I have fully functioning breasts that do what they need to do. But I absolutely despise my areola they literally take over the front of my breast like espresso cup saucers. Massive. If I had money I would get them reduced. Nuts I know AIBU I know. First world problem I know. I should go to sleep really

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Junosmum · 16/07/2016 23:33

Yanbu. There are loads of things about my body I hate, that people would think I'm being silly about.

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justdontevenfuckingstart · 16/07/2016 23:35

Well if it helps any I bought a lovely nipple shield for my piercing and after trying to stuff my abnormally large nipple (the other one is inverted, haven't seen it for years) I gave up. Damn you large nipple!

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Foolscapped · 16/07/2016 23:35

I think it's the BF issues that are making you hyper-critical of your own body. Your breasts sound exactly like mine, in fact - inverted nipples, large areloas and all - and it never occurred to me to bother about them until BF didn't work for me at all - no supply. I felt awful about it for a long time.

Best wishes, and glad your BF worked out. I feel quite jealous of yours!

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MoonStar07 · 16/07/2016 23:36

Thanks I should say breasts
Not breast. It was so difficult to BF in public as these areola were so so visible and it was impossible. Thanks I'm glad I'm not BU

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justdontevenfuckingstart · 16/07/2016 23:37

Stuff it into it that should say. Whilst the perplexed bloke looked on wondering what the hell I was doing!

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MoonStar07 · 16/07/2016 23:38

I did give up in the end because of low supply. Literally I was feeding and pumping up to 16 times a day even up to 3 times a night. I took various herbal things and even something was prescribed to me on advice of midwife that makes your milk come. It didn't. They are quite floppy too (my breasts) and I think I don't actually have enough breast tissue and then these saucers on the end and inverted nipples!

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MoonStar07 · 16/07/2016 23:41

Domperidone that was it

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SansaClegane · 16/07/2016 23:45

Yanbu. Though I have the opposite problem - my areolas are hardly discernible! My skin is fishbelly white very fair and my areolas/nipples a very very pale pink so you can't really tell where the 'normal' skin ends and where the areola starts.
The billions of BFing consultants/MWs I saw about my BFing issues liked to point out that the lack of melanin in my skin meant it was extra sensitive and prone to cracking and bleeding (a lot of them said this just by glancing at my hair as unsurprisingly it's a common problem with gingers).
BFing issues aside, I've always felt like a bit of a freak as I don't have 'normal' boobs Confused until I realised there's probably no such thing!

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Out2pasture · 16/07/2016 23:58

I had a huge complex about my large dark areola's as a teen. I understand the issue very well.
with my first I honestly thought I had to fit the whole thing in my ds mouth to breastfeed well.....

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CattDamon · 17/07/2016 00:11

I totally have been paranoid about the same thing since I breastfed my son. I hate them. Even looked into surgery but decided to just deal with it I guess. I get very self conscious with new partners but luckily no ones ever made a bad comment. Otherwise I'd probably cry!

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Butterchunks · 17/07/2016 00:20

I can understand where you're coming from, especially with the bf issues.

I'm not such a fan of mine these days. At least if had done their job I might have felt they had earned the right to be a bit worn out. Nope, they did fuck all, never produced enough milk for a single feed that didn't also require a top up. I couldn't find a nursing bra in my size for love nor money, and I got absolutely sick of the sight of them through hours of pumping and hand expressing and rejections from a newborn who couldn't latch. I hated the sensation of trying to bf. I hate their colouring, their shape. I never attempted any feeding in public as I had nothing to offer and was repulsed by the idea of showing myself.

Now my breasts are not just saggy and ugly but they were absolutely useless too. So no, yanbu. I'm not speaking to mine either these days, they can fuck right off.

I'm sure you have many beautiful and interesting things about you and your body.

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milpool · 17/07/2016 00:28

Mine are the same, OP. I hated them for years and years. Especially during my teenage years. Every time I got with a new partner I'd be really nervous about them seeing them.

I once saw a programme on tv about plastic surgery and there was a picture of someone's breasts that were basically the same as mine. And this surgeon was like "oh well yes very large areolae, we could move this and do this blah blah" so that obviously made me feel even worse. Like I did need fixing Sad

I also have quite flat nipples and struggled with bfing to begin with. It always makes me laugh with the leaflets and stuff, "make sure your baby takes the whole areola into their mouth". Nobody's mouth is that big!

I've come to terms with them over time. I'm not sure what changed. I guess I just accept that I can't change them (without some kind of invasive surgery or whatever).

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Zuccarelli · 17/07/2016 00:33

I have the exaxt same issue with mine! I've always felt abnormal. Now of course I know there is no normal! But it is something I'm self conscious about.

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AnotherPrickInTheWall · 17/07/2016 00:41

Don't get surgery they will look terrible. The thing is we are all different; just look at peoples faces, arms legs hair whatever. There is no " average" or "normal".
We are all unique; do you have functioning limbs? Can you see, hear ,smell, feel?
There is nothing wrong with you.
We are all different yet beautiful in our own way.

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TroysMammy · 17/07/2016 00:45

I don't have children. Mine look like jelly tots and I have to wear padded bras so I don't show everyone that the temperature has dropped.

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AnotherPrickInTheWall · 17/07/2016 00:50

My friends DD hated her flat chest; no bust all but she breastfed all her three DC's.
Had an expensive boob job and recently confessed that she hates her spherical tits and wished she had invested in chicken fillets instead .
This is after years of research.
A friend had her fanny flaps reduced years ago on the NHS, but it has caused umpteen problems; thickened scar tissue, numbness and a pulling sensation on her clit .
I'm not against surgery for medical reasons but I think you have to embrace your areola .

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NeedATrim · 17/07/2016 00:56

I have big areolas! And they are dark. I was conscious of the fact thwy were different when a teen and Early adulthood just because every tit I saw via media outlets - films, videos, page 3 and so on were sporting dainty areolas and small, light coloured nipples. Made me feel like the way i was made was wrong.
I've grown to be ok with them now. My DH loves them truly and his appreciation has grown my confidence. You aren't wrong or weird by having the breasts you do.

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HoundoftheBaskervilles · 17/07/2016 01:08

Is this really a problem? I just asked DH and he said, 'It wouldn't be a problem'

I really can't see how this would be a problem.

STOP IT, areola are beautiful!

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herecomesthsun · 17/07/2016 01:24

They sound just beautiful, they are supposed to be recognisable as you say. painting - why would that not be beautiful?

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herecomesthsun · 17/07/2016 01:26

PS I don't think you are being silly though, but there are things about my body that I hated when I was younger that I just accept now. You don't have to look like an airbrushed model!!

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steff13 · 17/07/2016 01:31

Mine are large and dark, too. I'm self-conscious about them.

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BlueFolly · 17/07/2016 01:45

herecomesthsun the woman in that painting has perfectly normal sized and in proportion areola.

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milpool · 17/07/2016 04:27

Hound well, the OP clearly sees it as a problem. If only it were so easy as to make a flippant remark for her to change that...

here the woman in that painting has really small areolae!

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bluebelle2662 · 17/07/2016 08:03

I feel exactly the same, I could almost have written this. Flowers

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BillSykesDog · 17/07/2016 08:09

I could have written this too. Same nipples, same breastfeeding problems. I hate them.

sun, that's really patronising and no, they are not large aerolae.

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