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

avocado, mine never got all the areola into their mouths, just as much as they could - worked fine! I also used the 'pinch' described by trinitybleu, though as they got older, you don't need to do this as much.

Dh used to amuse himself by aiming DD2 at my boob as he gave her to me for feeding - the little monster used make a hooooooge mouth and grab for my nipple as she landed

I had troubles with it with my bigger boobs but mainly because it was a definite two handed job rather than just plonking her on and having a cup of tea or whatever with my other hand.

I held her in one and then stopped her suffocating with my giant breast with the other hand. Definitely doable but I was never going to be one of those mums who subtly breastfed in a coffee shop while drinking a latte.

32G and I breastfed DD til 7 months. Any problems we had with breastfeeding weren't due to the size of my breasts, they were because she was a milk guzzling monster who would be attached to the boob 24/7 if id let her!

I was huge: 34K, but never had any problems. DS self-weaned when he was four so I had plenty of experience!
They're back to normal size now and don't seem to be any saggier for it either. ;)

Mine are massive. No problems producing milk - quite the opposite in fact - thank goodness for breast pads! DD was BF for nearly a year.

I did hurt like a bastard for the first two weeks when DD latched on. Medella nipple shields really helped until I got used to it.

A smaller-breasted friend says that anecdotally, it's supposed to be less painful if you're not so well endowed as it's apparently easier for baby to find their position, latch and get going quickly. Presumably because it doesn't have to navigate its way around enormous nipples, ha ha!

But as I say, pain wore off within a couple of weeks. I nearly crushed DH's hand quite firmly in the early days with the shock of it!

I am a 30ff when not pregnant. After I gave birth they were a 32hh. My dd was slightly premature and my boob was significantly bigger than her head! I fed her till she was 16 months.

In the early days I had one of those breastfeeding cushions which was very helpful. You will also need good, supportive bras.

I have big boobs (currently 36H and 38 wks pg with DC2)
Bfed DS til 18mo and was difficult first couple weeks but doubt it was because of size of my boobs. Like others have said different positions/techniques work better for larger boobs so it may take time to find your and your baby's particular stride.

I rang NCT helpline in early days and she mentioned a technique for big boobs where you can make a sort of sling/hammock from an old pair of tights and can lift some of the weight from your boob away from the baby's face. I never tried it but it was nice to know about it.

The real problem with big boobs and bfing is the hideous nursing bras!

The best thing is that you can hold baby across your lap nice and relaxed and your boobs hang down to reach their mouth. I've seen women with tiny boobs having to hold baby so high up across their chests to reach the nipple!! I used to get arm cramp just watching them!!

Troyandabed where do you buy your bras? I'm k normally but have gone up to m (and growing). I managed to buy one in UK and a normal and nursing one from the US but they are hideously uncomfortable, unsupportive and with exposed seams rubbing my nipples! Am liking at how hard it would be to make my own.

I was a 34j by the end of preganncy and an still feeding after a year.

YY to are flu positioning, particularly if your nipples don't face forward . I've never let DD find her own way to the breast, but that's never been a problem. Latching is a two handed job but once she's one I can rearrange spare boob into the crook of my arm.

Re: bras, once your supply has settled down find an underwired bra that fits (I'm shrinking back through the ones I wore I pregnancy) and convert it to a nursing bra. The kits are £5 on eBay and really really easy to do. I was so I happy with my shape in nursing bras I was ready to stop until I discovered these kits. There are tutorials online.

I am feeding my baby and have gone up to a K/L cup. We had a horrible first few weeks but I don't think they were down to breast size.

I've been using BonjourMinou's technique of telling him "Big mouth!" then shoving it in. I also squash my boob a bit to get more in.

A lactation consultant suggested using a scarf sling for the biological nursing position. I decided myself to use tights as they're stretchy (interested to see it's NCT approved). Really thick thermal tights safety pinned into a loop work best - thin ones are more likely to become a tourniquet and strangle your neck/boob. It helps keep your nipple in one place which is harder with heavy breasts. Probably not discrete for public feeding but worth a go at home maybe.

I've also found a (unrecommended) position that works for me but I think would be impossible with a B cup. I lie on my back resting on a couple of pillows, sit baby next to me facing me with his bum about nipple level down my body, I have my arm around him to support him sitting upright and then shove a nipple in his mouth. I don't think it would have worked with a newborn when they're very floppy though.

I've also tried getting the baby to latch on while I'm standing up, it can be easier than when sitting down.

36g here and still feeding my 2 year old. Did the same with baby no1. It can be trickier for a newborn with a tiny mouth to get well latched, but with good advice that's easy to overcome.