The size of mother’s breast, large or small, makes no difference in the ability of mother’s body to produce milk. While the amount of mammary glandular tissue varies in a small breast versus a large breast, and consequently, the volume of milk produced may also vary by size of breast, both mothers with small breasts and large breasts are able to produce milk. It may be challenging though for a mother with large breasts, especially in the early days and weeks to breastfeed her baby comfortably and with ease. But with practice over time and some tips on how to nurse when you have large breasts, the breastfeeding will hopefully become easier for you and baby.
Try different breastfeeding positions to find a few that are comfortable for you. Finding a position that supports your breast and baby, leaving your hands free to sandwich your breast tissue and guide into baby’s mouth, will take practice. Additionally, whatever breastfeeding position you choose, your breast should not rest on baby’s body for support.
1. Laid-back position:
Create a nest of pillows behind your back and on your sides of body, to make yourself comfortable nursing baby by laying on your back in a reclined position. Place baby at your breast on top of your body in an angled position comfortable for you. Because you are on your back, your body helps to support your breasts. Moreover, if you have overactive let-down of milk, being in a laid-back position will help reduce the intensity of milk flow to baby.
2. Side-lying position:
When lying on your side to breastfeed, rest your breast on the bed or couch to help support your breast during nursing. Place baby at breast along the side of your body. Make sure baby’s head and body are facing the same direction, toward your side-lying body. For additional support for baby, place a rolled up bath towel behind baby’s back from his shoulder down. This will help to angle baby in a comfortable position to feed.
3. Football position:
Use pillows to help support your arm and baby in the football hold. Use a sling to help support the weight of your breast, so that you may focus on using your free hand to help baby latch.
4. Use a table at the height of your breast, while sitting in a chair:
For padding, place a blanket or flat cushion near the edge of the table where you will place baby. Position yourself with your breast laying on the edge of the table, sitting in a comfortable chair. Place baby on table in front of you, positioning baby at an angle or on his side, with his head and body facing your breast. Use a rolled-up bath towel to help support baby, by placing rolled-up towel along his back from shoulder down. Breastfeeding with the support of the table to place baby and support the weight of your breast, will allow you to use both hands to maneuver baby’s position and help him latch well.
Besides using your hands, there are other ways to support a large breast to nurse. Try these suggestions:
1. Use a sling to hold up the weight of your breast while you are nursing baby. You may create a sling using a scarf or piece of fabric. Place the sling under the breast and tie it behind your neck, after adjusting sling to a comfortable level which pulls up and supports your breast.
2. Use a small rolled-up hand towel and place under your breast to help lift and support your breast while nursing. The rolled-up towel lifts and supports the breast upward, so that you have a free hand to sandwich your breast tissue to help baby latch.
3. Cut a hole in a bra that fits, exposing nipple and areola. The bra with cut-out helps support your breast during nursing. A bra with a hole may also serve as support of breast pump shields during pumping, so as to pump hands-free. Create a DIY pumping bra by recycling an old sports bra. Cut a small hole in the sports bra, at the level of your nipples to hold the breast pump shields/funnels in place while pumping.
Latching baby with a large breast takes practice, but you can do it! Use your hand to sandwich the breast tissue by compressing on opposite sides near the areola’s edge or just beyond it. Sandwich enough breast tissue between your thumb and other fingers, so that baby has a shelf of breast to latch onto. Maneuver and guide your sandwiched breast tissue which includes nipple and areola, into baby’s mouth. When baby opens his mouth wide, aim toward the roof of his mouth, and fill baby’s mouth with the shelf of breast tissue for a deep latch. Even a mom with flat or inverted nipples may try to latch baby using this technique.
Baby only needs a sliver of space to breathe at breast. There is no need to hold your breast down near baby’s nose to help baby breathe. But if you feel you have to give baby more breathing space, push down gently toward baby’s nose. Position baby so that you observe a small space between baby’s nose and your breast and between baby’s chin and his chest. As mentioned previously, the weight of your breast should not rest on baby’s chest. Use your hand, small rolled-up towel, or sling to support your breast while nursing.
Depending on your breastfeeding position, another suggestion is to nurse with a wall mirror at your side. This will allow you to see your breast and baby’s latch from another angle, especially if you’re having trouble seeing over or around your breasts.
Ask for breastfeeding help from your doctor, midwife, nurses, and lactation consultants soon after birth of baby at the hospital or birthing center. Contact a lactation consultant (IBCLC) for assistance and support as you begin your breastfeeding journey, especially if you are having difficulties when you first get home. Early and continued lactation support will help you reach your feeding goals.
Momma & Babe Lactation Consulting, LLC is here to help you succeed in your breastfeeding goals. REGISTER NOW for our SPECIAL OFFER, “NEW MOM MINGLE” ($100 fee), which INCLUDES a BREASTFEEDING CLASS to be held on Thursday, SEPT. 12th, at 6:00 pm in Waco, AND an IBCLC CONSULTATION to be scheduled by appointment at a future date. Learn about breastfeeding in a group class, meet and talk to a local IBCLC (Waco), and at a later date, schedule a lactation consultation for you and baby to get additional breastfeeding help one-on-one. Whether pregnant or postpartum mom, we invite you to join us for “New Mom Mingle”! REGISTER here at Classes/Events for SEPT. or future dates: https://mommababelactationconsultingllcwacotx.com/upcoming-classes-events