Embarrassing question about breast feeding and large boobs etc!

[angelcake99]

Okay, was going to name change but not sure how to!

I'm currently expecting my second child, I didn't breast feed Ds due to him having a cleft lip etc and the fact that i was quite ill after the birth. Now facing the breast feeding debate once again, I'd like to try it, but i have rather large breasts which i am ashamed to say are rather saggy (ugh) and my nipple seems to point downwards getting ever closer to my waist as i type! All very embarrassing, and I absolutely dread having to feed infront of anyone as I am so ashamed of my boobs. Has anyone had this problem and still gone on to breast feed?

[mrsmalumbas]

I have big boobs too. I was always quite envious of the mums with little perky boobs in vesttops who could nurse their babies discreetly. In all honesty I was never massively comfortable about nursing in full view of other people, although I have nursed in front of a class full of expectant parents for demonstration purposes! Anyway I got into the habit of just turning slightly to the side, or just finding a more private spot. In shopping centres and supermarkets there are usually benches or mother and baby rooms, or you can nurse in the car. Soft slings can be quite good for privacy, although with "low slung" breasts this can be more difficult. I have also seen some people throw a muslin or sarong over their shoulder and "hide" beneath it but I never got the hang of that. If it's any comfort at all I think if you are in a room full of women, say at a coffee morning or something, nobody will really pay much attention to your breasts, everyone is different, some have saggy ones, some have veiny ones, some have big nipples, some don't. I did find it more difficult in terms of positioning etc than my less well endowed friends but it can be done - my DD is 3 next month and still nursing (although not in public!)

There is some good info here as well www.plus-size-pregnancy.org/NursingWhenWellEndowedFAQ.htm

The most important thing IMO is, if you are struggling, get help quickly - make sure you find out what breastfeeding support there is your area before your baby is born, there is the la leche league and the breastfeeding mother's support group, NCT as well. Good luck - you can do it!!

[Quootiepie]

My boobs are quite big and not really very pert but I had no problems, infact it made it nice and easy to feed lying down. Feeding sitting down was fine too, I didn't do anything special. I did use a feeding pillow (a V one) which helps, and usually if you wear a nursing bra, when you unhook it it still supports the underside a little.

[Quootiepie]

I fed from up and under my top also, I don't know if other people feed by pulling their tops down abit, but I didn't - DS covered me up quite well, or a blanket over him hid my belly

[JackieNo]

I had the same problem, and found that I couldn't feed one handed, iyswim - I always needed one hand to hold the baby, and one to support my breast. As the others said, makes it more difficult to be discreet, but not impossible. Best of luck - give it a shot, and see how you go - expert advice from someone who can actually watch you feeding is always good too - much easier to advise someone when they're right there, iyswim.

[terramum]

Boobs that point downwards are a good thing imo - means the baby can get at the nipple easier

I have always been a little embarrassed about my boobs...I was a DD cup before whilst I was still at school and at my largest after having DS I was a 44J/K . They are still not much smaller now...maybe around 42H/G & I am happy to feed in public, although now I have the added problem of DS groping me ...he is 3 btw.....

I felt very awkward when I first starting bfing DS - worried about exposing too much flesh etc...but tbh once we got the hang of it & I felt confident holding him & all the problems we had with bfing went away I really didn't mind so much. Kind of like driving with passengers in the car - I'm fine with it now - but was soooo nervous after I passed my test.....

[Oblomov]

When I went to my local hospital, for a bf, 'desperato' session. With dh. And she suggested a cushion, or a sling. Saying " ladies with ... large breasts, sometimes require, support".
Dh and I still giggle about it now.

[Mumpbump]

Much easier to bf, I think! I didn't have to prop ds up on piles and piles of cushions and feeding him lying down was dead easy. By the time you've got your baby on your breast, you'd be surprised at how little you can actually see when you're bf. If you feel self-conscious, then drape a muslin over your shoulder or wear cardigans/zipped sweatshirts to make it more discreet...

[hockeypuck]

I had some trouble when I had DD. I found I couldn't feed holding her across me, or lying down as I couldn't see the nipple properly to latch on and couldn't hold her, the nipple area and support the boob all at once. The midwife helped me feed in the rugby ball position with DD lying to one side under my arm on her side and me holding my boob until she was latched on. Then, lying her on a v-pillow I eventually only needed one had and that left the other hand free for phone holding, remote using, glass holding etc.

To be honest it was pretty difficult to feed in public like that, so I used to shove a pillow under the pushchair or sit next to a table, lying her on a coat or something on the table and using that to support her weight but I found it pretty tricky in public.

I did get over the showing my tummy bit by wearing quite a loose vest top (loose enough to pull down lower than the boob) and then wearing a normal top on top of that. I would then lift the normal top up to just above my nipple and the vest top down to just below my nipple so she could feed without anyone seeing any skin!

I breast fed DD until she was 15 months! but in the end I didnt breast feed DS beyond 2 weeks because he lost too much weight and also because I wanted to be out and about more with DD being older and needing a social life so thought it would be too difficult to breast feed in public and then end up topping up with bottles anyway.

The bit of advice I would give you is to give it a try and see how it goes.

[terramum]

Hockeypuck's mention of not being able to see the nipple has reminded me....when we first started bfing in the early days I used a little hand mirror to check his latch and I also occasionally sat in a chair in front of my full length mirror just to see how it would look to other people - I was really surprised at how little could be seen.

[angelcake99]

Thanks everyone for all of your advice, some good things for me to think about and try there! I feel a lot more confident about feeding now and will definately give it a go. Will invest in a v pillow and try the trick with vest and a normal top Hockeypuck, and i will look into la leche league. I just feel so much better knowing that other women have overcome simliar problems to feed succesfully

[harpsichordcarrier]

hello angelcake sorry to come along late!
In my experience having large breasts is no problem at all. latching on a baby seems to be easier in some ways.
I use the vest top/shirt trick and I have also used a pashmina/shawl to give myself a bit of confidence when out and about.
good luck with it all
HC xx

[Jenkeylovesdazzy]

I have big breasts and found the cradle hold impossible - when your nipple is almost down to your belly button you end having to cradle the head on your wrist or hand which isn't so easy. I think with big breasts you absolutely need a good pillow - not just one of those floppy v-pillows that you can sit up in bed with but a good firm breastfeeding cushion. I used to lift up my breasts, pop cushion round my waist then kind of lay of my breasts on top! also means you are hands free to use the phone, wipe toddlers bum etc!

this is the kind I used:
cgi.ebay.co.uk/NURSING-FEEDING-SUPPORT-PILLOW-BRAND-NEW-PINK_W0QQitemZ120146074873QQihZ002QQc ategoryZ66675QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[lulu25]

i am quite well endowed and found the whole thing got massively easier at about 8(?) weeks when DS could sit up on my knee to feed. i use a sarong (knotted around the back of my neck so it doesn't slip off), or vest top pulled down at the front/big jumper over the top pulled over his head. i was embarrassed too at first but he is now six months and i really can't bring myself to give a shit any more, and anyway most of the time people are falling over themselves not to look. don't give up!

[lulu25]

oh and at the beginning "my breast friend" nursing cusion was ace. not much use in public but i wasn't going out anyway.

[ejt1764]

I am also 'well-blessed' in the nork department - and when bf ds, I found that if I stuck a pair of socks under my boob, it helped to support them!

[loolop]

I have large breasts also (36G) - I used the 'rugby ball' hold with DD until she was about 8wks

[InTheseShoes]

Another massive norkette here - 38L in my nursing bra thank you very much! I have successfully breastfed DS2 for 8 weeks and counting and have some tips, some may have already been mentioned, so apologies

• I fold a muslin/small sheet under my breast to lift it when feeding
  
• to help with latch, I used to press my nipple into a sort of liquorice torpedo shape between my finger and thumb
  
• I feed in rugby ball position on my left breast, but manage fine across the body with the right one. I am trying ds across the body on the left now I am more comfortable
  
• feed in public whenever you can - it only gets easier the more you do it. Honestly, no one looks and if they do, stare 'em out.
  
• bravissimo does big nursing bras, although I really hate nursing bras and would love to find some better ones if anyone has any tips!

[angelcake99]

Thanks everyone, I feel so much more optimistic about feeding now. Definately going to get a feeding cusion for at home, and good tips about putting something under the breast to lift it up a bit!
I feel like i was looking for excuses last time not to breast feed as i felt so bad about my body, but actually realising that not everyone is the same and other people just get on and do it lol

Also, did anyone wear underwired bras whilst pregnant and nursing? i have a maternity bra from M&S and it feels like i have no support whatsoever.

[RoseParade]

Yes, I've worn normal underwired bras through my pregnancy and up until now; nearly 6 months of breastfeeding.

I did buy one maternity bra, to wear in hospital (in case I got told off by midwives ) and actually I did wear it a bit in the early days, but if you're used to underwiring I think it's horrible going back to a non-wired bra, I found it offered little support and I felt like I had one huge nork instead of two (slightly!) smaller ones.
I have had blocked ducts a couple of times, (cleared within 12 hours thankfully) but bizarrely I usually got them when I'd been wearing the nursing bra - I think wires are fine but you must make sure the bra is the correct size and that the wires don't poke in anywhere. Oh and be prepared for shocked looks if you fess up to underwires .

[agnesnitt]

I find big boobs an advantage, just shove small child up top and they find their own way about


Agnes

[lulu25]

roseparade, i really want to go back to underwires but can't seem to get my norks out without pretty much undressing. what's your secret?

[crokky]

Big boobs might be a great advantage for you - I have tiny ones and had to always move the baby not the boob when trying to get position right. You will be able to move the boob - much easier!

[RoseParade]

Hi Lulu, I'm trying to think how best to describe this. Basically put opposite hand up sleeve and grasp top of bra strap, pull bra strap out of your sleeve until it's at about elbow level and then sort of wriggle your arm out of the strap, elbow first. Feed the strap back in to your clothes under your arm. You can now just pull the cup down and then lift your top just enough for baby to get access!
Putting it back takes a bit more practice but you just put your hand in through your sleeve under your arm, pull the bra strap out (a little brute force and ignorance required here) and put your elbow through followed by your hand and then put strap back up on shoulder. It really is very hard to describe. I should also point out that I pretty much live in t-shirts, I don't think this method would be much good for delicate designer blouses or dresses .

[lulu25]

what is a "dress"?

[Jenkeylovesdazzy]

I've just ordered an under-wired nursing bra from here: www.thematernityshop.co.uk/anita_bras.htm

It's a bit expensive but I just can't manage breastfeeding in my normal underwired bras and i'm fed up with my horrible grey floppy nursing bra - I'm a size 44f so don't have a lot of choice on the high street - it's plain white cotton saggy unsupportive mothercare, or plain white cotton saggy unsupportive M & S!