positioning with bigger boobs

[harverina]

Looking for some advice from mums with bigger boobs. My dd is almost 12 months and positioning has always been an issue for us. I have relied on a v shaped pillow since the early days. I'm not sure I would have fed as long without it as trying to get in a good position was so stressful for us. I have basically carried our pillow about with us for almost a year! I am trying so hard nut to use it when we are out and about but its rotfl difficult. I find the cradle position hard as my nipple is lower than my dd and I end up having to hold mg boobs up :(
Any tips would be appreciated.

When I had DS a midwife used rolled up muslins to prop my boobs up. I gave up a 4 wks. I am watching this thread with interest

Sorry for the typos I have a new phone and its driving me mad!

If you sit up straight, are your nipples actually on your lap?

When using a pillow, do you always hold your breast?

According to an infant feeding specialist I saw - and backed up by watching other people bf - one big mistake people make with cradle hold is not sitting up straight enough (the other common mistake with new mums is not wanting to press the baby in firm enough). I'm FF fwiw.

Thanks for replying. My nipples dont quite reach my lap so if I have my dd on my lap I do slump a bit. Yeah I hold my breast when using my pillow.

Someone suggested the rugby ball position to me. Actually didn't find it that helpful but we're all different and might be worth experimenting. Lots of pictures/ instructions on google or have you got a local lactation consultant at the hospital/ local breast feeding support group or alternatively phone the local NCT breast feeding support line (can get the number from google again). Doesn't matter that your dd is older - they'll still be keen to help!

Good luck!

I also found that i had to hold my boob and used cushions at home. If out i would cross my knee to try and lift them up a bit.

Didnt find the rugby ball position much help and defo not a discreet position whilst out. TBH this was the main reason that i hated feeding when out...its one thing with your baby snuggled up to you all discretely but i found it very emabarrassing having to hold my boob in the right position, or if i didnt they didnt latch properly and that was equally nightmareish.. I ended up giving bottles instead, either EBM or formula.

You have done amazingly well to have got to a year, so well done!

What about a rolled up blanket or one of those small round bolster cushions that you could keep under the pram?

I use a cradle position, leaning forward slightly with my leg crossed ankle over knee to lift baby up to nipple level, or leaning back with a baby head on my arm. dts are 5mo though, and I don't remember what happened with ds1. if you need to hold your boob though it suggests your baby is not at right height, can you try something thinner to raise her just to be level with nipple?

I only ever used to feed lying down at that age (me lying down, that is). I just used to manage things so I never really needed to feed her while I was out and about, by that age anyway. Boob holding was definitely necessary for me if sitting up and that's not conducive to feeding "on the move". We did keep going until she was 4 in the end so I never felt she was missing out!

My midwife told me I wouldn't be able to BF as my boobs are too big. I sm 38g. Was a 38j immediately after birth though. She thought I would suffocate the baby. I am therefore FF. I was in no position to protest following a difficult birth.

I am a GG and was a J cup at the time my DD was born. BF can be tricky with bigger boobs when the baby is tiny but once you get the positioning sorted it's fine. I know plenty of people with small boobs who have had difficulties and plenty of people of more generous proportions who have managed it just fine! Pity your midwife was not able to offer you more support Sierra19.

Thanks for all your replies.

I am g cup just now.

I suppose I just want to be like other bf mums and feed without my pillow, i get a bit embarrassed tbh whipping out my pillow! However, it won't stop me continuing. I will keep practising and try some of ur suggestions. I find the rugby ball worked when my dd was much smaller, don't think we could to it comfortably now though.

I used to cross my legs, with the highest leg on the same side as the boob I was feeding from, if that makes any sense?
That way the child is tilted up towards the boob and their legs can still rest on your knee so you don't have to lift the whole child, just hold the head end up.