Bfing with massive boobs - latch help!

[Flappityflippers1]

Hi all,

I had my second baby on Monday, and despite no intentions of direct nursing this time around, baby latched while in recovery! (Much to my astonishment!)

The feeding plan was loosely to exclusively pump if I could handle the schedule, if not then formula/mix, and offer the breast if I felt able (prev bfing experience caused severe MH issues for me and big problems with eldest, so was keen to avoid that again)

Anyhow, exclusively pumping is going well, I’m up to 800ml a day on day 5. Schedule is manageable right now and I’m finding it very satisfying. Baby is thriving and then some (actually gained weight when weighed yesterday, rather than a loss!)

He isn’t thrilled with bottles it seems however 😳 he’s constantly rooting for the breast. I have been offering every so often and when we manage to latch, he feeds great. (We use MAM bottles but have offered the spectra bottles and tests and he's fuming with them too)

The problem is getting him to actually latch - I’m so shit at breastfeeding 🙈 I simply cannot get him in the right flipping position! Every time he’s gone on has been pure luck and no idea what did it. I’ve only managed to get him on in cradle hold and then I’m having to press my boob away from his nose, so I know I haven’t got the latch right

I’ve tried laid back feeding to no avail, and he was absolutely livid with the attempt at football hold, which was the only way that worked with DS1!

I’m recovering from a section so lots of time skin to skin in bed. I’ve read to just let him explore and have a go, but he gets so frustrated trying to latch he ends up screaming. I am keeping a bottle of expressed milk to hand to placate him at these times. I’m also squeezing a bit of milk out by hand to help him.

My boobs are a 36G - how do I breastfeed a tiny baby when I have moon boobs? They’re a good 3 times the size of his head 🙈

Any help appreciated- I’m sick of watching YouTube videos with the same tips nose to nipple bring baby to breast which aren’t doing the trick - what am I missing?

Thank you in advance 🙏

Check FeedEatSpeak on Instagram - she has loads of great BF advice, including ideas for ladies with large breasts

Good luck OP

I had the same problem and was in tears and nearly giving up when someone suggested holding my breast from the side with baby across the knee. Hard to explain, but basically, holding the breast from the side to direct it to baby's mouth worked well and I ended up feeding him for nine months. I could only feed from one side, though - couldn't get the position right on the other side, but I felt he was at least getting some and I topped up by pumping.

I have same size boobs and I started by using my finger to kind of keep my boob from going over my daughter's nose when she was feeding. Did this for a while then just let her feed without holding my boob back. She didn't seem to have breathing problems.

Maybe try keeping your boobs in your bra and just taking your nipple out. This might help keep breast in a better position? Good luck! You'll figure it out eventually

Baby does need a decent amount of breast as well as nipple. Your breasts don’t sound too large. Can you lie back on the chair and lift baby up to you on a pillow?

Thanks so much all, I really appreciate the tips and advice!

@DobbyTheHouseElk my midwife has just been over this evening to do my injection (I’m a wimp and won’t jab myself 🙈) and she’s spent a bit of time watching me try and latch him and given some great tips - I wasn’t holding him firmly to me and she’s also agree holding my boob away from his nose if needed. She agrees with me that he seems very keen for boob and is trying super hard for a tiny baby!