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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

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Original poster

Breast feeding from small boobs ? is it really possible??

42 replies

Zil131 · 21/10/2009 11:11

I?ve never been blessed with boobs (AA normally), although TBH it?s never really bothered me.

However with DC1 I tried to breastfeed, but after 12 days and nights of endless screaming, 1.5 hour feeds and coming off hungry, drastic weight loss by DC, and still no poo; a midwife suggested I try a bottle ? and suddenly there was my happy smiley baby, and I never looked back? (although like so many I still have feelings of being a failure)

I now have 7 weeks to go to DC2, and am struggling to fill an A cup! I?ve read all the ?anyone can breastfeed leaflets?, and it?s ?best for baby best for me?, but how can that be possible?
I really want to give it another go, but am dreading the stress again, and feel I will give up even sooner this time round.

Anyone got any success stories / advice for me??

Or 100 years ago would I be one of those women with a thin sicky child desperately searching for a wet nurse??

OP posts:

lou031205 · 22/10/2009 20:35

I am usually a 30A, and have 3 under 4. Despite the close gap I returned to an A cup during pregnancy each time. I fed DD1 for 7 months (stopped to go back to work ), DD2 for almost 11 months, and DD3 is 6 months old, feeding as we speak.

ScreamingMormolykeia · 23/10/2009 11:21

Zil, "Yes I had a very long labour, succumbed to an epidural, and had a large bleed!"

Just a lucky guess, but stress impacts on milk let-down, an assisted or medicated delivery can leave baby traumatised, sleepy or uncomfortable which can disrupt the feeding/sucking instinct, a difficult delivery generally makes mum and baby tired, which in turn makes skin-to-skin and cuddles/feeds in the first few hours unlikely or short-lived, which can also impede milk supply and feeding instinct, and a PPH or even a significant bleed can leave mum dehydrated and in clinical shock, which can also reduce your milk supply. Add to this the implications of labour drugs, including epidurals and syntocin and you have lots of reasons why your breastfeeding didn't work out for you last time, and none of them are anything to do with the size of your boobs!

Feel more confident now?

ScreamingMormolykeia · 23/10/2009 11:34

(sorry, this is GreenMonkies in Halloween costume!!)

cleanandclothed · 23/10/2009 13:57

I am normally a 32AA and have breastfed DS for just over 12 months. TBH the fact that I am now (just) an A rather than an AA is a fantastic incentive to carry on - I am not looking forward to being completely flat chested - I have loved my figure for the last year, even though I dont think I got over an A cup really!

Fruitbatlings · 23/10/2009 14:06

If you have the type of breasts shown in notquitecockney's link, please get some help. I had no idea I had this (just thought they were a bit weird looking but assumed all boobs were different) and desperately struggled to feed DS1 and DS2. Unfortunately my GP was useless and so were health visitors.
Next time I will be fully prepared and will fight these people to give me the help I need to exclusively BF before I give birth.

I still have trouble accepting it

Fruitbatlings · 23/10/2009 14:07

obviously I won't be BFing before I give birth I meant will get organised before I give birth

RainRainGoAway · 23/10/2009 14:08

I am 32A and found it absolutely easy as anything to BF mine. Often much easier than my big boobed friends.

deleting · 23/10/2009 14:11

I'm 32AA usually and they don't get any bigger during pregnancy - only when milk comes in. I'm now feeding dc3 and it was difficult in the beginning because he was early and small, so couldn't latch and took a few weeks to get going. I did breastfeeding with expressed top ups. After a few weeks he got better at it and I've stopped the top ups. You could try that if you have problems this time. It's unlikely to be a supply problem just because of the size.

Skillbo · 23/10/2009 22:11

Just wanted to second what RainRain said - smaller boobs can actually be far easier for little ones to get to grips with..

I have rather large bosums (currently 38F) but had no end of problems getting bf established. I must admit, I was a bit naive and thought I would just get stuck in as I had such a big pair... if only.

There is a latch called the breast crawl which is brilliant if you're struggling with latching.. you basically put them on your belly and they find your nip and latch themselves on. Tends to only really work for small chested ladies so could be worth a go if you're struggling a bit as you get to lie down and is great for skin to skin (we got it working once and it was lovely to watch but poor DD just didn't have the energy to climb my boobs every time!).

Best of luck though!

bb99 · 23/10/2009 22:29

I'm flat chested and have small nipples - but have managed to BF.

Shot up from an AA to a D cup with DD and it was the first time anyone talked to my chest (quite disturbing...)

Good luck and hope you get the support/help this time around.

Original poster

Zil131 · 14/01/2010 21:09

UPDATE...

I just wanted to thank you all for your repsonses above.
DS2 was born 16th December, and we are now 4 weeks into what looks to be a positive breastfeeding realtionship.
The only probs we've had have been sore nipples for me - he seems well fed and happy; and we are pretty much over that now.
I've found a great 'Baby Cafe', and lots of midwife and HV support.
So thankyou. I went into it with renewed confidence and have really surprised myself.

OP posts:

Hadeda · 15/01/2010 13:21

Zil131 -- I didn't reply to your first thread, but just wanted to say congrats on your DS2 and on bf him. I'm really glad it's all working out for you.

DrDoobs · 15/01/2010 14:11

i'm also A/AA but have fed 2 girls and am now feeding 1 1/2 day old DS [tired emoticon]. I don't get much bigger during pregnancy/feeding (prob only a B still - most feeding bras still too big). Both girls put on weight during 1st week (when babies sometimes lose a bit of weight) and in fact 2nd DD put on weight despite being in PICU and nil by mouth for 2 days.

So it is possible from small boobs - hope it all works out for you this time around.

Snarf02 · 15/01/2010 15:59

hi i was a 34a cup before getting pg went up to a b cup when pg and a c cup once bf and fed both my children for 19 months. Good luck with the rest of your pg and birth.

sambo303 · 16/01/2010 09:06

zil my sister has AA and never needed a bra even when pg/bfing - she had no problems at all bfing with her first and a few latch issues with her second but fed both for 4 months (gave up as returning to work).

she always fed lying down as holding babies up to small boobs was too much effort she said!

I had 12 days of screaming, weight loss etc with my ds (size JJ boobs at that stage so it;s not size related.
mw suggested bottle too - but also a baby moon which I decided to try first where I spent 24 hours in bed with ds not moving doing skin to skin which sent my supply right up (hormones apparently kick in when you do skin to skin) then next day I went to see an excellent nct bf counsellor who watch a whole feed and made small adjustments and gave me back my confidence. Good luck , I can really recommend getting yourself straight to a bf counsellor or get one to come to you, they really help!

NotQuiteCockney · 16/01/2010 09:13

Thanks for coming back for an update - I'm glad to hear it's gone well this time!

PetiteMaman77 · 31/10/2012 12:59

Hi, my baby was exactly the same until he was diagnosed with a tongue tie and got it cut. So i don't think it's boob size that matters! Hope it went better for you the second time round :) if you need any smaller sized nursing bras check out www.petitemaman.co.uk

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