Big boobs breastfeeding nightmare

[Hungus93]

I'm a mum to a beautiful three and a half week old baby girl, and currently EBF her. We've had quite a rough ride with breastfeeding to begin with as she wouldn't latch, I tried to get some support from midwives in the hospital after giving birth but didn't, however something seems to have clicked and we're doing it. It still is a nightmare though. I have really big boobs (40H), which are nowhere near being perky and have massive nipples /aureola and just can't get her to latch properly, so our feeds take a bloody long time. She's gaining weight beautifully and produces plenty of wet/dirty nappies, so looks like my supply is good enough but I'm so so tired and frustrated! Feel like giving up. I even went to see a lactation consultant and she seems to have given me some tips but they don't always work. My little one doesn't seem to want to open her mouth wide enough. Any tips? How do I not give up!

Fellow big boober (GG when breastfeeding) and like lots of other have said its always been hands on for me. I sandwich my breast and latch him on. Those first few weeks are HAAAARRD but if you can get through them it gets so much easier. We're on 19 months now!

Another one, big boobs. It took til about 2 month til we were feeding easy. I have to do the hamburger thing to get her latched but also did with my son. Then I can be hands free. I think it's a mix between big boobs and big pointy down nips that made it harder for me (I make them sound attractive right haha).

I think what I often forget is that the adjustments you have to make are often only needed for a short while. I used a muslin under my boob in the early days to get a bit of a lift and remember thinking god this is going to be a pain in the arse every feed for 2 year but in reality it was only needed for a fortnight.

I had a size mismatch (big nipple, tiny baby) with DC2 and the 1st 6 weeks were really tough as she found latching really tricky and wasn't getting enough.

I had to pump and use formula but kept nursing as much as I could.

Had her checked by a lactation consultant who found no tongue ties/issues.

Thankfully as she grew, it got easier and by about 8 weeks was a "normal" bfing experience like I had with DC1 (bigger baby).

It will get easier. You’re early on and boobs still need to adjust due to milk supply. Once established, they’ll become more manageable. Hang in there x

I could have written this. I had similar size boobs and an enormous footprint for areola. With cluster feeding it's no joke. DS did not leave my boob for 7 hours at a time. I was exhausted.

Another one recommending to stick with it, unfortunately I succumbed to the pump on day sooner than planned (3.5 weeks) and I had such a good supply that I was amazed to get more than 20oz in a 20 minute pump. Over time I gave up fighting the latch, and just exclusively pumped.

It didn't help as a new mum that when I met with my mum friends they all lifted up their T-shirts, popped the baby on mid convo and carried on conversing, barely looking up, not showing any areola. As you well know, the 'C' shape or burger cup exercise is not something done discretely, the babies head does not cover the areola on heavy boobs and then there's the nose too close too boobs and suffocating part!

I felt validated that I would not breast feed in public and exclusively pumping was for me. I was so much happier! However, I can confirm after 3.5 weeks EBF and then 2 weeks mixed pumping and BF, then 4 months EP, there is nothing easy about EP. It was the Bain of my life! So much sterilising, I dreaded putting the pumps on, I felt more self conscious being an EP than if I just bought a cover to breastfeed under (even though no one else did this I knew).

Was so many emotions as a FTM but stick with it and do whatever works for you. I don't think I would have BF longer than 6 months as I cried over the size of my boobs from early pregnancy and couldn't wait to get them back to normal!

Pregnant again and they're not as bad this time and I'm ready to EBF next time.

G cup here! Yeah I struggled so much with my newborns as they just had such tiny tiny mouths compared to my seemingly huge boobs.
Lots of experimenting with holds (rugby ball or side lying with a muslin under the boob were often good), a good feeding pillow and alot of bloody mindedness.
It generally got better both times around the 6 week mark. But I second the suggestions to find as much support as possible. Even if it's just being able to vent to others who can relate to how you feel it helps.

That's what my midwife did. I was at my wits end after two weeks. She came out on boxing day bless her. Squeezed it flattish put her hand on the back of his head and pushed him on. Apparently my boob was covering his nose so he couldn't breathe. So I had to depress it with two fingers above the nipples so that he could breathe and latch on.

Thankfully they grow fast.

Totally forgot until reading this that I had to use pillows and get baby at the correct position. Rugby hold also used to help if my nipples were sore
i could never do lying down or any elaborate comfortable positions. Massive boobs needed certain positions for it to be successful. Definitely could never just pop one out and stick baby on 😂

Can you squash your boob flat like into a sandwich (not my words lol, was taught this when I had my twins) so it's easier to get in her mouth? Might be worth seeing a lactation consultant if you can afford it, to see her latch on and they might be able to give you some tips :)

Big boobs here too and another vote for the rugby ball hold.

Get comfy - sofa or sat up in bed with plenty of space around. Then pile the pillows under baby to get the right height and then I would sit with one arm lengthways along the back with legs poking out under my armpit and hand holding under baby's head in position. Other hand would be guiding the nipple and holding the top of the boob out of the way of baby's nose.

Once I was comfy and used to the position and with the right combination of pillows I could eventually use the supporting hand to hold a drink or a phone instead of the baby's head. Out and about is harder but you'll get there.

Big tits here too. Breastfed 2 babies and pumped for one (tongue tie and just a bit of a shitbag newborn... not sure what clinical term is for that!)
Check out Bryony Gordon's 'One Fat Mother' series on YouTube, it'd from about 10 years ago. In it a lactation consultant called Claire something shows you how to make a 'sandwich' with your nipple. Lifesaver for me (36gg). Also rugby hold, for those of us with nipples on the sides of our boobs!

I'm afraid I ended up bottle feeding 25 years ago for that very reason!

You're doing so well! The wet & dirty nappies and weight gain is excellent.

My boobs were big, but not as big as yours, and it was quite tricky as first and probably for the first 8-10 weeks, because they were so engorged. DD used to slip off all the time or struggle to latch, particularly on one side.

But it does settle down, and by 6 months it should be much much easier.

There are benefits to breastfeeding for you & baby, but they're not the be all and end all. Whatever you feel is right for you & baby is the right decision.

Very similar to @Elephantsareace with pressing and holding the top.

I had to use a different hold for each side - rugby hold for my left side with lots of pillows and the flip for the right side.

At home I did lot of lying down feeds too.

I’m also tall so found a breastfeeding pillow from Thrupenny Bits on Instagram absolutely essential.

Ended up breastfeeding for 17 months, just needed a bit of trial and error for the first couple of weeks.

I was a laid down breast feeding too.

I had exactly the same problem with my first DC. I also have huge boobs (H/HH) and large areola. My nipples are possibly also a bit flat? Difficult to know how to compare to others! But when DC1 was born he just wouldn't latch - it was a nightmare. I was determined to breastfeed, and eventually (after much panic and tears) I started using nipple shields, which gave him enough to grab onto in order to feed. Eventually I weaned him off nipple shields as he became able to latch when he got a few months older.

What I really wasn't prepared for was how painful it would be, and how long the feeds would take. I seemed to be feeding constantly, and it hurt, a lot. I ended up combination feeding just to give my nipples a break and some time to heal. Eventually I think I got back to exclusive breastfeeding, but it took a lot of time. By 5-6 months or so the pain went and it was plain sailing, but those first few months were incredibly hard and traumatic. If it's any consolation, breastfeeding with DC2 and DC3 was much, much easier, and the feeds got much shorter - probably 15 minutes on average.

Your post - and the other replies here - have made me wonder whether having particularly large boobs was the cause of DC1's latching issues, or is related to how painful it was.

Anyway, if you want to keep breastfeeding then hang in there, it does get better. And if you want to stop, or combination feed, that's ok too. It sounds like you're doing brilliantly so far. x

Fellow giant boob here. What worked for me was:

1. rugby ball position
2. putting a muslin underneath boob to prop it up a bit for extra support I didn't get lying down until bigger as i felt boobs were suffocating them!

You've already had some fab advice so I can't really add to it except to say -- remember your baby will get bigger so quickly and their mouth will grow so fast, so before you know it, latching will be far easier for her and for you.

Also I never had any pain really, and my boobs are KK/L.

I had big boobs/nipples when my DD was born. They were always engorged, she had tongue tie and wouldn't ever open her mouth wide enough and my nipples would crack and bleed. I dreaded every feed. She had her TT cut, that made no difference.
All of a sudden around 6 weeks everything just seemed to start getting better, she seemed to grow and her mouth grew too and this seemed to help with the latching. I remember being on the verge of giving up around 5 weeks but persevered and then by 12 weeks I felt like a pro. So things definitely could improve for you, I totally understand the frustration though.

When I look back on my breastfeeding journey i just feel so proud that i did it and amazed that it worked and when she stopped wanting booby at around nine month in favour of warm cravendale i so was sad. Its the greatest gift you can give. I felt just the same - couldn't imagine going for 9 months in the beginning- i literally went day by day thinking if i get through today without formula it will be a miracle until it just became easier. I liked the LLL page on facebook for encouragement. I liked pumping and feeling i was boosting supply. The stuff is magical - well done you x

Agreed. Babies grow bigger very quickly. However, mum's breasts stay the same size

Hi OP,
I don't have big boobs but struggled to latch DD at first. Keep going. It will click.

I remember being told to SHOVE WITH LOVE. I.e when baby opens her mouth, shove it on 😂. I kept getting told there was too much nipple showing but she latches the same now so it works fine. And my nipples are bloody massive so of course her little mouth can't take it all!

I also found it helpful to use a nursing pillow to prop baby up. A health visitor I saw wasn't keen on them and maybe they get in the way for some people but I still use mine.

I also still hold my boob. Doesn't annoy me. I cup the boob from the side in a C shape like a burger. It helps flatten the boob out so more can go in baby's mouth.

Hope this helps!

Thank you for all the replies, apologies I won't be able to reply to each of you individually (the newborn joys) but I really appreciate all the advice and encouragement. To answer some of the most mentioned things:

• I did see a lactation consultant who gave me the tip to shape my breast in "u" shape which we're trying to do. Again, I just feel like I can't get her to open the mouth wide enough, so while she's getting something I don't think it's as efficient as it could have been.
• side lying is unfortunately absolutely not an option for us, I tried a lot of times but unless I hold the top of my boob, it would suffocate her and I'm worried I would fall asleep and release the hold in this position.
• the lactation consultant checked her and diagnosed a slight tongue tie and a lip tie but said she would probably leave it as they're not that severe.
• I'm going to a breastfeeding cafe today, to see if I can get some support, also decided to go to NHS infant feeding team on Monday to see what they say.
• think I will try to give rugby hold another go.

Even a slight tongue tie can have a big impact on feeding. My baby had a slight tongue tie, I have smallish boobs I have the issues you're describing with this baby that I didn't have with my last child who has no tongue tie. He also has a tight jaw so we'll be seeing a cranial osteopath.

Tongue ties can be snipped. Otherwise there are potential long term consequences related to mouth breathing.

You may wish to see a tongue tie practitioner.