Breastfeeding advice for ladies with large breasts.

[Yellowcar107]

Hi.

My baby is due next month and want to try breastfeeding when they arrive.

I have large breasts and all the examples everyone has given me has ladies with small or regular size breasts. Mine aren't perky to say the least lol

Anyone with large breasts breastfed, with any advice on how to feed them or how you got on with it?

I'm just concerned I am going to smother baby with them or not be able to latch properly.

Thanks in advance.

Hi a midwife in maternity showed me how to breastfeed with baby in the 'rugby hold' position. You are probably best googling this to see what I mean or watching a YouTube baby.

Basically if you place a pillow by your side put baby under your arm with their face looking up at you and turn them slightly to which ever side your BFing. It's quite easy to get baby to latch on. I found this really easy to get onto and baby wasnt getting smothered by my boobs!

*YouTube video 🙈

When my DS4 was born his entire head was about half the size of my breast (he was preterm) and he managed just fine. In a conventional breastfeeding position you bring the baby to the nipple and they take a big mouthful of breast tissue. The way a baby's nose is shaped keeps the airway clear of the breast. If you lie on your side with the baby facing you (tummy to mummy) then it's even easier. They're are also other positions such as the rugby hold or laid-back with the baby on top of you. So lots of different ways to explore to find what works best for the two of you.

Rugby hold worked best for us, as it was easier to wrangle baby and boob into position when his body was supported by cushions. Popping a rolled up muslin under the boob can help too
Now he's a bit bigger cradle and cross cradle positions also work. We never did get the hang of the laid back position as he would faceplant in my cleavage and be unable to stay on the nipple.

I have large boobs and bf'd both my DCs - just a normal cradling position. Never had any problems.

I held my babies in the usual position but had to support my breast too as my nipples pointed down and my breasts are too large to get sufficient support from a muslin stuffed underneath (as suggested by a midwife).

I second the rolled muslin cloth under the boob, DS1 and 2 loved rugby ball hold, DS3 fights it all the way and gets upset 🙈

Just to add... midwives weren’t keen on my supporting my boob, they were worried it could cause blockages but it was the only way I could breastfeed my first born. He couldn’t latch on otherwise as he just couldn’t get to my nipple. When my twins came I just went straight for “my” method and they fed well from the off.

We did rugby hold, as DD was prem we used nipple shields too as it just gave her something extra to latch on to 😊

Yeah I had to hold my breast with the other hand as the baby was feeding. I used cushions to prop the baby up too, and used to carry around a very squishy bag which served the same purpose when out and about.

Turned out I also had inverted nipples (who knew) and found this kellymom.com/bf/concerns/mother/rev_pressure_soft_cotterman/ reverse pressure technique very helpful (even when not engorged).

Good luck!

It's hard to know what will work until they're here. As PPs have said, try to familiarise yourself with different positions.
I currently BF my 9 month old in a cradle hold but when newborn it just wouldn't have worked as they feel so small and you literally have to hold their head/neck steady. I also used rugby for a few weeks when newborn (only worked on one book weirdly).
My advice would be to ensure you get support in hospital and with your community MW as they can watch you and advise. Also have number of local BF support service so you can ring them for help in early days. The best thing is for someone to observe and help you physically adjust you or baby.

lol i had this problem first time around i realised my little girl hated getting smothered by my breasts.So i would place one hand down on my breast wile feeding to stop it covering her face and it was fine .Dont worry you will be fine

F cup here! Once my lb was big enough I used to feed him completely upright straddling my leg. It worked wonders for his gas too. It can be done x

I'm a 34GG when not pregnant but during pregnancy they go up a bit and while milk is coming in then they return to normal size once established. I used the normal cradle position and no issues here. ( my boobs are definitely not perky either)

Try a few positions and see what works best but definitely don't worry too much that big boobies will make the process hard.. your boobs are designed for your body and your baby.. it will be all good xx