Big boobs - breast feeding

[wawabear]

I have big boobs, there I've said it.

A lady I know who has had two children has told me I may have difficulty breast feeding, holding up examples of other women with big boobs who have not been able to manage it.

I am fairly relaxed about whether I will or not. I haven't got my heart set on it although admittedly I will probably be a bit miffed if I have carried these puppies round nearly all my life only to find out they don't work.

Just wondered if anyone else had heard this, or any big boobed lovelies want to share their experiences.

Thanks x

My boobs aren't small -34D when not preg. Mahoosive when preg.

If I may so myself, they are brilliant at breastfeeding. Make a tonne of milk, no latch issues. Rather proud of them even if they are saggy suckers now

Based on my circle of friends, there doesn't seem to be any relation to size of boob and breastfeeding ability!

Same here...ginormous when pregnant and feeding and no problems feeding once we got through the first few weeks. I fed all three for nearly a year with these melons

30f pre preg. Hard the first time, but I was damned if I was going to carry them round for my whole life and not step up when the time came. Fed all my 4. You might have to experiment to find the right position. I fed a lot lying down and never got the rugby hold or feeding in a sling.

Mine are massive (34jj normally) and crazy big at the moment. My DD is 3 weeks old and we're cracking bf together. I like rugby underarm and I find it easier to use a rolled up muslin underneath as 'scaffolding' to get my nipples in the right place. I struggle with cradle hold but can feed laying down.

I don't think there is a correlation between breast size and ability to breastfeed, you just have to experiment with positioning and learn with your baby. Good luck.

The thing I hate is nursing bras - they make mine look hideous if I can even get one in my size. There's money to be made on large sized nursing bras! I dream of an underwire!

Only problem I ever had was keeping them covered for BFing toddlers, who were shockingly cavalier about their mother's modesty.

I'm afraid the lady who told you that is talking bollocks. I have 3 children, 2 of whom are under two and both still bfing. I am a 34EE, I think.

However, PP are talking loads of sense. Go with them.

I had this concern (34J at the mo and 37 weeks pregnant) and mentioned it to the NCT breast feeding counsellor we had a class with on Monday. She said exactly what others have already said, it takes time and effort to get the right latch and position. BUT this is the same for every first time breast feeder. She made me feel a lot more positive, a friend had joked about me smothering the baby with my boobs. Not so funny!

I have big boobs and managed to feed dd2 okay. I found that I had trouble getting a good latch with the traditional cross body position but no problems when I switched to a "rugby ball" position (ie with dd under my arm)!

I think big boobs are easier! Be aware that when people don't breastfeed it may make that decision easier if they have a 'reason' for it.
Big boobs are great for laying down and feeding

Thanks so much ladies - I really appreciate the responses and putting my mind at rest.

There's nothing like a good bit of scaremongering eh!

Big boobs here too - g cup atm. I'm currently breastfeeding my 16 week old and the only issues at the start were with latch and position both of which can happen to anyone. My advice would be take baby to your breast/nipple and try different positions - the rugby ball hold worked well for me too in the early weeks by lying ds on a pillow under my arm. I also ditched the nursing bra cos it was easier to slip my boob out of a normal bra. And I had to squeeze my nipple and push it into ds's mouth to help him latch but he soon figured out the latch.

Ask for help if you need it that's what mws and hvs are for and remember it's hard for everyone at the start

I have massive norks (ok, there are larger, but at 32E, going up to 34HH post-partum, they sure as heck aren't small....!) and had no trouble bf-ing.

BFn 3 dcs until 6-12 months, tons and tons of milk and found it easier than most of my flatter less well-endowed friends.

Good luck, and don't worry :)

34f before babies, 34j now!

I fed both of mine for almost 6 months exclusively and another 6 months each combined with solids and one bottle of formula before bed.

I had a few latch issues to begin with with DD1 but fine afterwards. Neither were fast feeders but apart from that it wad a dream!

36h here and breastfeeding now quite happily. Not sure mine have changed size significantly though, which seems a little strange.

I don't think there is a correlation... but good bras help! Someone upthread mentioned needing underwired nursing bras and I just wanted to mention the Anita underwired nursing bras. They are completely brilliant!

Just stopped feeding my ds at 28 months the only problem we had was getting the hold right, due to where my nipples sat when free from a uplifting bra.

Mine went from an F cup to an H cup when I had DD. We did have latch issues at first (supply was always plentiful though!) but we persevered, and we're still going strong 14 months later. The MWs recommended the rugby to me, and said that larger-breasted women often prefer it. We didn't get the hang of it at first, but managed lying down quite quickly.

I gave up on nursing bras though, I've only ever found one line of bras that I'm completely happy with, so just bought those in my new size and scoop my boobs out of the top of them when DD is feeding.

You might spend a lot of your pregnancy being told myths and scare stories- just smile, nod, and ignore.

34DD before, 36H now - I had no problems whatsoever breastfeeding. I mostly used the rugby hold in the earlier weeks, otherwise it helped to have a cushion under the baby. It's nice and easy to feed lying down. Don't listen to anyone that tells you big boobs are harder - that's rubbish but bear in mind everyone has different experiences in getting to grips with breastfeeding, no matter what size their boobs are.

K cup and fed for 10 months ... did a sort of pinch (index finger across top of nipple, middle finger underneath) to point it further upwards to improve the latch. Good luck!

I'm glad to read these posts as it was something I'd been worrying about too. For me though it's also that my areolas are quite big (as in, massive). Has anyone had problems in this respect? I worry that baby won't be able to get enough of a proper hold (if that makes sense).

avocado I think as long as baby has a good amount of boob in its mouth, it doesn't matter. I remember just telling mine "Big mouth!" then shoving it in. this may not be the official method

32gg and I'm still feeding my 2 year old... No issues at all! Maybe you might need to support your boobs a bit more than our less ample chested cousins but it shouldn't stop/hinder breastfeeding!