Very saggy boobs - can I breast feed?

[jungandeasilyfreudened]

I am expecting first DC at end of August so have no previous experience of feeding.

I am really keen to give breast feeding a go but I am concerned my breasts are just too saggy to be of any use. I'm not talking at all within the realms of normal sag, I look like those photos of women before they have uplifts after losing tonnes of weight.

Not wishing to labour the point, but I looked up some old threads and the women really didn't sound to have anywhere near the same shape as me - I really cannot wear bras other than push up, very padded and structured styles to pour myself into. My nipples point towards the floor with no tissue kind of underneath the lowest point if that makes sense, which is where I thought the baby would latch on. So aside from the horror of having to wear nursing bras which really don't help my body confidence, will I actually be able to feed my baby with such saggy spaniels ears?

Any tips on maybe positioning or if I should have formula at the ready in case the baby just can't cope with them would be marvellous.

TIA

they'll firm up

my friend was only commenting yesterday about having to use the rugby ball hold to feed her DS because her boobs are humongous.

and you can get feeding bras that have loads of padding :)

there is no reason why you shouldn't be able to feed. the shape of your breasts shouldn't have any real bearing on milk production or feeding your baby.

Some mums with relatively downward pointing boobs get on better if they make a sort of sling for their boob - tuck a silk scarf under the boob, and tie a knot at the back of your neck, iyswim.

Wow thank you. Shall look up the rugby ball, padded nursing bras (hurrah!!) and pack a scarf in my hospital bag as I think that sounds like a very practical solution. I was feeling quite down about it before I posted

I have very saggy boobs and breastfed both mine. In fact when I was in hospital after having dd1 the midwife who came to help with feeding commented on my 'lovely equipment'. They were her exact words

She was an older lady and was so kind and helpful.

ooh, and i bet you'll find lying down feeding easier too - i have small boobs so find i have to lean quite far forward over DD when we're lying down.

I remember reading that nipples point more downwards during pregnancy anyway to make it easier for the baby to latch, so maybe yours will be better for feeding rather than worse! I am a big cup size and I sort of put an arm under a breast to help support it when my babies were tiny, somehow felt more comfortable. You will work out a way to feed that is comfy for you. As to bras, I only wore the nursing type for the first couple of months, after that I switched to a wired bra with a low centre front (not a push-up type though, that might cause blocked ducts) and that was fine, easy to pull the cup aside and as long as you choose a bra fractionally large for you when deflated, then you have enough room to inflate. So you aren't doomed to a hideous unsupported wire-free hell...

Yeah. it shouldn't be a problem. My bra size is a 40 Extra Long and I managed just fine.

I have long toegazers. I found that a lot of the 'official' advice didn't help me. Midwives advising me not to hold the breast etc. - impossible.

Personally I have DD on my lap and hold my boob with my hand. I sort of roll the nipple into her mouth to get the latch right.

It's important not to try and pull the boob up to where it is in all the pictures, and not to grip too tightly.

Good luck!

I hold my breast up. Mine are huge AND downward pointing. Still feeding at 15 months. All issues I had were to do with having too large breasts and flat nipples. If I'd had smaller breasts DS would have managed to latch more easily.

I have to hold my boob while feeding. A the end of pregnancy my boobs seem to get fuller and firm up a bit, so I can cup my boob without too many problems. It's seen me through 3 DC's so seems to be working ok. I did find I couldn't feed lying down though as I couldn't hold my boob properly without being a contortionist - which I'm not sadly.

Just wanted to add that if you've struggled with living your boobs behold one of the nicest things about breast feeding is that your baby loves them just the way they are which for a lot of us ladies is a new experience! Good luck all shapes and sizes can work' I fed 3 with a completely inverted nipple'

Loving your boobs oops nit living!

Aaah stupid phone not not nit!!!

Aaah stupid phone not not nit!!!

Have you spoken to your midwife about it? In general size and shape can be worked around by experimenting with positioning, but some women don't actually develop much breast tissue and this can affect your ability to produce enough for your baby. Even if you are in the less than 1% who have this problem you should still be able to mixed feed. Obviously we haven't seen your boobs but the comment that there doesn't seem to be much breast tissue at 8 months pregnant would slightly concern me.

There is a condition called insufficient glandular tissue, otherwise known as tubular breasts. You can google image this and see if it is anything like yours. Women with this condition tend not to produce enough milk - can still feed but need to top up with formula. Ifyou don't have this rare problem, then the size or appearance of your boobs is neither here nor there.

I have huge south pointing boobs! It's all about "the angle of the dangle" forget tummy to mummy advice.

DD2 feeds laid on her back across my lap latching from
Under my boob (yep I can sit straight and my boob reaches my knee!).

I also do rugby hold (doing it now in fact :))

On a pillow:laid down a lay her on her side and lay my boob across the pillow/bed to her with a folded muslin underneath.

Bf counseller did say having her down and under the boob was the best way for her to drain it and get full.

You'll be fine xx

Oh and I own underwired nursing bras from fig leaves otherwise it would be droop city!

Agree with the scarf suggestion! I have droopy boobs and it was hurting to latch because I couldn't see my nipple properly. Only had to use the scarf for a week or so to get used to latching.

You'll be fine with breastfeeeding. I have huge boobs (J cup) that are quite saggy and I'm still feeding and ds is 6 months old. I ws lays worried that I would smother him with hem!