Breastfeeding in public - new mum - huge boobs

[anonforthespies43267]

Any tips?

They’re just huge. I’ve gone from 32e to god knows what, need to go out & get measured when I feel well enough to leave the house.

Breastfeeding is going really well at home, baby born Monday by EMCS.

When I’m finally feeling ok to go out long enough to have to feed in public do you have any tips or things I can practice at home so I don’t fully flash everyone everytime I feed? X

[Whisky2014]

Watching with interest. I'm due end of aug and have large breasts so I am also worried about this. I was thinking of buying a breastfeeding cover.

[Sadie789]

I have bigguns too and always felt so much more self conscious than the other mums I met with wee perky ones that fitted nicely into bras and vests and could be discreetly whipped out in public.

I used muslins or found a quiet corner where I could rummage without fear of too much flesh showing, or expressed if I knew it was going to be a lunch say with relatives where I just didn’t want to risk everyone seeing my huge jug hanging out over dinner...

It’s annoying but just another part of life with the big boobies. It’s all a distant memory now and I doubt anyone really remembers inadvertently seeing my mammaries.

[anonforthespies43267]

I was thinking that but it’s so hot & I’m sweating constantly as it is!

It’s the initial latch I’ll struggle to cover I think, once she’s on I could get someone to chuck something over. The c section wound is limiting me on positions at the mo x

[Sadie789]

Just to add, I also tried the fancy cardigans from JoJo and a special wrap/cover thing supposedly to cover me, neither worked, was just complicated and made it all more obvious I was trying to hide.

Simple nursing type tops are okay, coupled with a muslin over the shoulder work best.

[anonforthespies43267]

@Sadie789 yep a lot of my friends literally just pull their top up or down and baby discreetly latches on. My nipples are huge too. Even my mum was like bloody hell theyre massive 😂
Baby was 9lb1 and they make her look about 4lb lol

[butteryellow]

Rugby hold was easiest at first (making sure not too much boob was resting on the baby! Made that mistake once)..

Then I just got used to wearing a vest under a t-shirt (which was fine in August - actually better because the vest stopped the sweat soaking the t-shirt) - unclipping the bra cup and then reaching under my t-shirt to pull the vest down. Yes, at first there was a fair bit on show (just upper boob though - no worse than a low cut top really), but as the baby got bigger and I got more used to it that improved.

[Leggyfrog]

Best under everything. Loose top on top.

Pull down vest so boob on top, lift up top - i don't think anyone ever saw my boob especially if top loose so the spare material drapes iyswim

[Boobahs]

I also have huge boobs and have to hold the extra breast tissue away from his nose so he doesn't suffocate

I do the "vest under a top" trick too, and use a muslin if needed.

It will get easier and you will start to care less too!

[Leggyfrog]

M&S long line vests are good - you need some stretch, as are the H&M mama ones even though they are maternity.
Buy enough so you can wear one every day.

Means you never need to buy special breastfeeding tops so saves you a fortune.

[idlevice]

I was 32GG before so I was also unbelievably huge. With DS1 I spent loads on all sorts of covers & aids etc. DS2 I got decent nursing vest tops & used a massive square muslin with two adjacent corners tied together, put it over my neck with the knot on the opposite side to the feeding side, and then had loads of space to faff underneath it with both arms and could see down into the top of it to see what I was doing. I couldn't do it one handed with a coffee in the other hand like everyone else seemed to but at least I felt ok.
I also found in a park sitting down cross legged like at school meant I could rest him on one knee as my boobs were so massive they just hung down straight into his mouth!
This was when I lived in Australia so yes to feeling sweaty & gross too!

[Megasaur5keeper]

You could try a vest under a top - vest goes down under, top comes up over; mine aren't small either and this seems to work most of the time. You just need to expose what you need to expose! Makes things a bit hotter though which is annoying in the summer.
I remember thinking I'd never be able to get the baby latched on without massive fumbling and carry-on (and I was using nipple shields too for another layer of carry-on) but actually, once you both are in the way of it they often go like exocet milk seeking missiles and leave very little time for anyone to see anything!
Your wound healing will help with getting baby on too I expect. A muslin tucked into bra strap can be useful too
Oh and the sweating calms down eventually. Mine was born at the height of summer last year and I remember being drenched every night and really hot and sweaty and uncomfortable all day. Ah, the glamour.
Congrats on baby and a good start to feeding.

[Tsubasa1]

I use an extra large muslin cloth that covers that area while breastfeeding but also lets air in for the baby/ isnt too thick. It works pretty well.

[Pipandmum]

I don’t understand the vest going down - if your breasts are big I don’t see how it can fit over them without taking the arm out too!
I wore large loose tops or an open big shirt with vest underneath. I first breastfed my 10lber baby second day back from hospital in a restaurant. It was during a massive heatwave. Practise doing it at home - really no one will be paying much attention and a muslin draped over your shoulder will help too.
People are usually really positive about breastfeeding in public. I did it all over the place, and with just a bit of practise you’ll be fine.

[SquigglePigs]

I have huge boobs and I didn't get on with the vest trick. I also didn't like covering DD when feeding as I had to make sure her nose wasn't being covered by my boobs (not a problem after a few months but it was to start with). I wear a loose top that drapes well and a cardigan or light shirt and tuck her in one side so no side boob is visible, then the top drapes nicely to cover anything else whilst feeding.

I also decided (after a few weeks of worrying) that if anyone caught a glimpse of anything when I was latching her or removing her then so be it. To be honest now (DD is 7 months) the bit I find hardest to do discreetly is getting boob back into bra and done up!!

[KTD27]

I was a 36 M (yes you read that right) when both my babies were born and fed them successfully though needed help at first. Felt like I was going to smother my first born and the cross cradle hold didn’t work at all until he was 6ish weeks old and had a bit more meat on him.
Things that worked
Rugby hold at first
H&M or Primary very thin strap long line vests and other tops on top so a double layer. I simply pulled the vest neck down under bra and popped boob out IYSWIM. Meant I was covered up and could drape my top top over the top of my breast. (Too many tops in that sentence!)
It was this sort of vest I used and probably also helped my bra was a whole detachable cup style thing
m2.hm.com/m/en_gb/productpage.0812525001.html
With this sort of bra www.nursingbra-shop.co.uk/royce%2Dcharlotte%2Dblack%2Dspot%2Dmesh%2Dnursing%2Dbra%2Dstyle%2D822%7E201

[Celebelly]

H&M nursing vest under a t-shirt. Lift t-shirt up, unclip vest strap, there you go. I'm currently a HH but this method works fine for me.

[Celebelly]

And I don't wear a bra as the H&M vests have inbuilt support and nursing bras are a pain if you've also got layers on top to deal with.

[rosydreams]

i bought button up shirts that are very baggy so i can cover myself or a nursing cover cheap from ebay

[PerfectPeony2]

It’s all about your outfit. You need to kit yourself out with a breastfeeding wardrobe.

When I first had DD I tried to cover her with a muslin and it just didn’t work and made me more prone to boob flashing.

Buy loads of plain strappy vest tops and do the one up one down method. I find if I’m wearing a high neckline it make me less self conscious as the baby covers your actual nipple anyway.

One year on I don’t really care now anyway! I’m so confident with it and wouldn’t think anything of flashing my boobs by accident. The more you do it the more your confidence grows.

Also no one is really interested whether you breastfeed in public - I think that’s more of a media thing trying to be negative.

Good luck. Breastfeeding is amazing - glad it’s going well for you.

[anonforthespies43267]

Thank you everyone really appreciate the tips. Going to have a nap now then get online & order myself some new tops.

Doubt I’ll be feeling like going anywhere until the middle-end of next week so have some time to practice.

DH opinion is you are going to get the odd person look or stare but that makes it their issue if they see anything & not mine!

[Boobahs]

I exclusively breastfed my first until he was 21 months when he self-weaned. I never received any negative comments, only positive ones and I'm currently feeding my 7 week old and again, haven't received any comments so far.

To be honest, lots of people are too busy to notice! I think if anyone did make a negative comment, I'd just tell them to stop looking!

[hammeringinmyhead]

Happy Mama does loads of breastfeeding "lift flap" tops so you can fiddle with getting bra cup down under the flap and then just lift it up while leaning forward. They do get better at latching. Alternatively tuck a muslin in your bra strap and fan it out.

[caoraich]

Are you in the can I breastfeed in it Facebook group? It has been so helpful for me, lots of friendly helpful people and tips.

Happy mama have some good tops with vertical slits. Pulling a vest down has never worked for me as I can't get the whole boob out even of the stretchiest. There are tops which are basically open at the front but with a loose panel on top that has the added benefit of being forgiving on the tum. I got two sleeveless ones in the jojo sale recently that have been amazing for summer as nice and cool. It's very easy to expose just a wee bit of boob wearing them, despite them being about the size of dinner plates...
Here's a link www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk/palm-pleated-vest-d5944.html

[anonforthespies43267]

Thanks everyone lots to try x

[Monsterinmypocket]

I will breastfeed anywhere now.

Just get a muslin cloth or scarf, tuck it into your bra strap the side you are feeding which covers the top part of the breast. You could also put a hat on baby too.

You could also get nursing tops, but I find them a bit frumpy to be honest.